Samuel Adams Octoberfest - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

vkv822

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into tulip snifter.
Best By: Feb. 2013

Pours a a clear amber red with a foamy off white head with nice retention.

The aroma is malty upfront, cracker and a slight caramel note. There are some grassy hops and nuts in the finish, though a bit subdued overall.

The taste follows the nose pretty closely, though the flavors are more prominent.

Medium body, medium- foamy carbonation.

A solid and enjoyable Marzen. Something I don't mind having a 6-pack of.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 07:57:34 | More by vkv822

DisasterDave

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I had high hopes based on the label that says, "5 roasted malts for a rich hearty flavor...." The flavor was pleasant and had the malt flavor as advertised, but not as hearty as I hoped.

In its favor, not a lingering after taste.

It's a beer I would be glad to drink again, but not one I will be excited to tell my friends about.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 03:03:34 | More by DisasterDave

jtnelson40

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Reddish clear copper color poured from bottle into my mug, off white finger wide head, fades away quick leaving a little lacing.

S: Malty, hint of bread.

T: Toasted malt, slightly sweet, I can taste a little orange. Maybe that is the hops?

M: Some carbonation, smooth in the mouth, goes down almost too easy.

O: I like this beer alot! Goes down easy, love the malt flavor. I could slam several of these in a short amount of time!

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 01:26:16 | More by jtnelson40

Scrylol

Alberta (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice dark orange/copper color with a two finger cream colored head that quickly disappears. Little lacing, and a stream of bubbles on the surface.

Slight caramel sweetness to the aroma, with some roasted malts. Pretty subtle.

Nice toasted malt flavors on the tongue, slight caramel notes, some earthy and biscuit notes. Very little hop presence. Leaves a dry, bready, smoky-like flavor in the aftertaste.

Decent carbonation and mouthfeel, nice but watery finish.

A decent Octoberfest by Samuel Adams.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2012 00:34:23 | More by Scrylol

sAws

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours the colors of Autumn, its a really nice looking beer. Has a creamy head and good carbonation. Smell is very faint and not much going on, I expected to smell the 5 malts stronger than this. Taste is delicious with malts. No single overpowering malt flavor just a complex of many malt flavors. Mouthfeel is almost perfect for this style with a slight creaminess. Overall its a great beer that I enjoyed the more I drank it. Will be a definite buy every fall.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 14:48:37 | More by sAws

magictacosinus

California

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass from a 12oz bottle. No freshness date, but clearly meant to consume by the day Oktoberfest in Germany ends!! Hooray for beer!

Initial pour is highly carbonated, with a generous head, amongst a brownish amber color. Head eventually recedes next to nothing, but carbonation ends up being plentiful. Pretty standard in color - although I could use with a much *nicer* head for a marzen - but overall well presented.

Strong malts make up the backbone of the aroma, but there's other notable flavors to speak of as well, among them biscuits, pumpkin spice, caramel, cinnamon, and brown, burnt sugar. With all those sugars and spices, it's clearly sweet towards the finish, and no alcohol presence is around to overpower those aromas. There's not as much hoppiness as I wished for, but it's still pretty close to how marzens are.

The flavor is exactly the same as the description for its aroma, with the notable exception that it's slightly smoky during the finish. There's a warming alcohol sensation at the back of the throat. Malts are very strong here, with hops playing a minor presence in the beer's main flavor. Did I mention biscuits?? This is very much like a basket of fresh biscuits, but it's definitely more enjoyable than other notable amber ales (such as Fat Tire) due to its nicely thick body, as well as generous carbonation that makes it a delightful drinking experience. I would suggest drinking this far colder under room temperature so the assault of malts don't arrive as quickly as they did for me.

All in all, a very balanced, easily drinkable tribute to marzens and Oktoberfest seasonal beers. While not my all-time favorite, it's still an undeniably well made offering from Samuel Adams. A crowd pleasure for sure, despite being too a little malty for me, personally. Recommended a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 01:54:06 | More by magictacosinus

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer poured a clear reddish amber in a crystal mug. The white bubbly head only builds one finger high and dissipates fast, leaving no lacing.
The smell is of roasted malts.
The taste is dominated by this roasted malt backbone, with hints of spice and caramel. A mild hop gives some balance.
Overall a nice fall brew, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 03:21:26 | More by Hopfenpeter

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a clear dark copper in color with light to moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall off-white head that reduces to a thin ring of bubbles at the edge of the glass. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Light to moderare aromas of caramel malts with an almost maple syrup like sweetness.

T: Like the smell, there is a moderate amount of caramel malt sweetness with just a hint of maple syrup sweetness. The hop bitterness is noticeable in the finish but not overpowering - well balanced.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation.

O: Easy to drink and very sessionable - nothing super here but nothing bad either, very much an average beer in the style. Pretty well balanced in flavors between the sweetness of the malts and the bitterness of the hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 02:27:10 | More by dbrauneis

aspect

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Great looking beer, copper in colour with a nice size head that lasts quite some time, great lacing.

S -Some carmel, sweet malts, brown sugar

T- Can taste exacally as it smells, very nice.. brown sugar and carmel and a slight orange peel note, nice and balanced, smooth beer.

M- Nice and soft on the mouth, a medium in body with a slight carbination

Great beer, I've enjoyed quite a few of these and can always rely on Sam adams for a good brew. Give it a try!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 00:43:20 | More by aspect

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Seasonal bomber poured into a glass mug.

A: Beautiful clear coppery gold with a huge rocky off-white head.

S: Sweeter malts and signature Marzen note of autumn...malt malt and more malt, toasted bread crust slight graininess, faint suggestion of herbal hops...

T: Bready from start to finish, faint hint of roasted malt character but its more toasted...toasted grain, low bitterness, light but constant sweetness.

MF: Watery refreshing lighter medium mouthfeel, low carbonation and clean finish with just the slightest bit of dryness.

O: The sweetness is constant but subdued. Very malty but not the malt profile I prefer. Overall its decent but unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 13:59:32 | More by Scotchboy

jak3676

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Sam Adams - Octoberfest

I'm assuming this one is bottled the same as all their others, in Boston, MA. This is probably the easiest to find Oktoberfestbier in the states. It's about as average as you can come, but that's not a bad thing. Some else was saying its a good way to introduce Americans to the style without being offensive. I'd agree with that - it's good, but not great.

Coming in at only 5.3% ABV this is definately on the light side for the style. Its perfectly clear, with a nice deep amber toward red color. I liked it, it just seemed to be lacking a bit of flavor, not so bad as to call it watered down, but definately missing something.

Only indication of bottling date is a notch out of FEB on the side of the bottle which matches the traditional style perfectly, but maybe that's a "sell by" date?

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 19:52:45 | More by jak3676

BierStein711

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a short pilsner glass.

Four finger snow-white head

Deep amber in color with a lighter red hue at the bottom of the glass.

Smells: hop, malt, and roasted malt

Taste: Sweet start, fades into roasted malt, and finishes with a hoppy biscuit taste

Mouthfeel: moderate, not too light, and not too heavy

Overall, I'm sure this is best on draught! I'll have it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 02:49:59 | More by BierStein711

fields336

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: reddish brown with 1 finger of tan fizzy head that dissipates quickly. The carbonation looks great, streaming off of the bottom. There is little to no head left after 1 minute after pour.

S: mm that nice toasty, bready, roasty smell that lets me know fall is almost here. clean, no diacetyl or yeast is present

T: That nice freshly cooked toast flavor mixed with a slight biscuity flavor. a little bit of hallertau style hop flavor is present, along with a slight grainy flavor, almost like yuengling

M: Great feel, medium bodied, creamy, easy drinking, refreshing. carbonation is nice too

O: Just an overall good beer. I've had better octoberfest's though.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 02:59:30 | More by fields336

n2185

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours a clear copper with two fingers of beige head that almost completely vanishes with no lacing.

S: Munich and pilsner malt aromas up front with sweet biscuit, caramel, and citrus notes following.

T: Munich malt flavors here as well with bread, caramel, and slight citrus. The finish is clean and bready.

M: medium-light body with medium carbonation, this beer is light and dry, though could use a bit more carbonation.

O: a solid Marzen overall. I'd like a bit more carbonation and depth of flavor, but it's still tasty and clean.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 23:35:01 | More by n2185

kangarooAdam59

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Into a pint glass:

A: dark amber colored body with a white head that fizzles out extremely quick with no lacing.

S: malts, grains, and bread, but gives the essence of fall.

T: some caramel, malts, and a decently low hop balance finishes really crisp and clean.

M: light/medium bodied with moderate carbonation smooth and refreshing.

O: this is good for what it is.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 00:31:58 | More by kangarooAdam59

Chiefy770

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed from a Sam Adams glass.

Appearance: Clear, dark amber. Very seasonal. A thick foam head sinks to a creamy haze over the top.

Smell: Mild and malty.

Taste: The malt really drives the flavor of this beer. Faint hints of toasted nuts (I do mean faint). Takes a slight turn towards the sweet side after it goes down the throat. Nothing overwhelming, pleasant aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. They got the carbonation right on this one. Smooth, yet a bubbly texture is defined.

Overall: I am a huge fan of Marzen beers. Sam Adams really gets this right. Comparing this to its competitors... Sam Adams takes the gold in my opinion. There are more complex and, well, I guess you could call them better beers in this style but when all else fails, this one is great.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 01:36:41 | More by Chiefy770

Alextricity

Michigan

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a crystal clear, dark, amber color. It looks like fall, as Jim Koch himself says. It initially has about a two finger head, but it goes down fairly quickly leaving a creamy film on top. Pretty nice.

Smell: Incredibly faint. Malt and and a tinge of spice maybe, but it's hard to detect much from Octoberfest.

Taste/Feel: Heavy on the malt, and I love it. There's also the light spice that I get in the aroma, but it's really just a lot of malt. The carbonation is pretty low, but the feel is pretty good. A light/medium body and it makes this beer actually pretty refreshing.

Just the look of the bottle with the taste feels nostalgic to me, even though this is the very first time I've had Sam Adams Octoberfest. It just makes me feel good, for whatever reason. It's not the best beer in the world, but it's about what you'd expect from Sam Adams, maybe a little bit better. The only other seasonal I've had from them is their Summer Ale, and this is MUCH better than that. I enjoy it.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 02:18:16 | More by Alextricity

chrisjduncan

Virginia

4.73/5  rDev +28.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Everyone I know knows that I am a huge nerd for Sam Adams beer and an even bigger one for their Octoberfest. I wait for it every year and jump up and down like a schoolgirl seeing Justin Beiber when I see the first case in the store. It's like finding a super rare card in a back of baseball cards when I find my first SA Octoberfest.

That all being said, I am going to try, TRY to rate this objectively.

When poured it has an absolutely stunning deep orange/red color into the traditional Sam Adams glass. Decent head, even if it is gone too quickly and good lacing on the glass. The dry notes in the back are a perfect counter to the malt taste in the front and the spice in the middle. Aroma is mild but not to the point of non-existence, and the bouquet of fall season comes out the more the beer is sloshed around in the glass. A wonderful flowery note on the top of the aroma. The carbonation is high, but the beer is pretty full bodied so it doesn't make the beer too soda-y. I have had a ton of Octoberfests over the last few years, and yet every year this is the one that defines the season for me. A wonderful, wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 07:19:32 | More by chrisjduncan

mschind

California

3.73/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Clear orange amber, not much of a head or retention.

S- Caramel malt with faint grainy notes.

T- More coplex than the nose suggested. Toasted malt sweetness fades through a bittering middle to a slightly dry finish. No discernible hop flavor but the bitterness is there.

M- Medium body, smooth and even somewhat creamy.

O- A great sessioon beer for malt lovers.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 23:52:10 | More by mschind

mckenziac

2.35/5  rDev -36.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Samuel Adams Boston Lager glass. Taken from Sam Adams's "Harvest Collection" seasonal variety pack.

Appearance: Pours a translucent copper color. Has a large, fizzy head that dissipates quickly down to a small cap that leaves some spotty lacing.

Smell: Has a faint, sweet, malty aroma. Kind of expecting more here.

Taste: Mildly bitter up front with a sweet, malty taste. Finishes bitter with toasted and sweet malts and nutty flavors. A bit cloying in sweetness at the end.

Mouthfeel: Well-carbonated with a medium body to it.

Overall: Definitely not the best O-fest out there and definitely not one of Sam Adams's standouts. It's fine enough in the fall variety pack, but definitely not something I'd seek out on its own.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 01:20:09 | More by mckenziac

ONUMello

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Dark copper orange with a one-finger head that quickly settles
S: A pleasant malt, with hints of yeast and spice
T: Very malty. Lots of bread/biscuit/take your pick along with a hint of fruit esters and spice.
M: Quite light. Smooth.
O: This certainly isn't bad but seems a bit pedestrian. A nice introduction to the marzen style for those where Sam Adams may be the only craft brewer in the market, but there are far better out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 21:01:57 | More by ONUMello

Vixie

Illinois

3.43/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice clear copper color with a full light tan head. Pretty decent looking beer.

Smell is mainly of the malt and yeast, maybe a hint of lemon.

Very malty tasting, with a bit of sweetness.

Pretty good mouthfeel.

Not a real complex beer, the malt very much dominates. It does go down nice and easy, and is pretty good, but nothing I'd go out of my way for either. If you like malty beers, this is the one to try.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 00:50:54 | More by Vixie

nach0king

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Not a big fan of Oktoberfest style but this was a very good one.

A: Head disappeared way too quickly but it's a lovely dark copper with racing bubbles.

S: Bready, a little fruity - maybe a bit more complex than your average Oktoberfest.

T: Very good. Perfect bittersweet opening and a clean finish with just a little bit of lingering toffee. Extremely drinkable but tasty at the same time.

M: Exciting - a very little bit creamy but mainly bubbly.

Really good.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 00:16:35 | More by nach0king

BucBasil

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the 12 oz bottle into a tall glass.

Appearance: The beer is a nice amber color with a 3 finger thick off white head that stays strong.

Smell: Bready backbone with fruit all over it. Almost a fruit tart but with a bit more maltiness. Not in a too much way though, just the right balance of sweet and malty.

Taste: Light but very balanced. Bready and toasty up front. The middle has just a slight sweetness to it with some brown sugar and cinnamon toast with a hint of caramelized fruit on the side. Nice toasty malt character in the finish.

One of the best widely available seasonals out there. Definitely recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 23:49:20 | More by BucBasil

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

22 oz bottle poured into a nonic pint.

A: Dark orangey amber. Three fingers of off white head stick to the glass nicely, head doesn't stick around too long, fades to a light skim.

S: Earthy, toasty, bready malts, some light toffee and caramel.

T: Malt up front are bready and mixed with sweet caramel and light toffee. Light burst of noble hops make it lightly bitter. Its clean, well balanced, very easy to drink.

M: A bit thin, more so than I remember from last years batch. Carbonation is medium, body is light medium.

A: Not bad, however I seem to remember last years batch being a bit better. Overall, easy drinking fall seasonal, but there are better ones out there.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 16:08:49 | More by Dools9