Samuel Adams Octoberfest - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

champ103

Texas

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a bright and clear orange/reddish color. A large, almost beige head forms and leaves rings of sicky spiderweb lace.
S: Sweet malt that has a big grain, cereal, bread aroma. Some light hops to balance out.
T: Toasty malt that is a little sweet. Lots of bread and biscuit flavor. A metallic aftertaste.
M/D: A medium body with good carbonation and creaminess. Just a tad watery. Easy and smooth to drink. I have been known to session this when in season.

This is a good example of the style. Very malty and easy to drink. Something worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2008 20:29:41 | More by champ103

alexgash

Connecticut

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

Bronze-copper body with a thick, light-tan head. Good lacing.
Mildly sweet caramel malt aroma with cooked vegetables, and peppery hops.
Taste consists of muted, doughy malt flavors up front. A hint of cookie sweetness comes in, but there’s not much. Hops pick it up toward the end—spicy and sufficiently bitter. Finish is kinda short and bitter with a hint of malt. Medium-bodied, kind of creamy feel. This is not a bad beer, just nothing to get excited about, and it’s definitely better on tap.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2004 17:57:19 | More by alexgash

woosterbill

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 vintage; scores 4/4/3.5/3/3
2010: 4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.0
I've averaged these for my overall rating of the beer.

12 oz bottle (2009) into a Duvel tulip.

A: Pours a clear, deep ruby-amber body with good carbonation topped by a finger and a half of sticky off-white foam; decent retention and good lace. Nice but unremarkable looking beer.

S: Rich, grainy malt, with a hint of spice on the finish; smooth, crisp, and refreshing aroma.

T: All malt, much sweeter than the nose; caramel up front, followed by a mellow toastiness and a crisp, dry finish. Not bad at all, but nothing exciting.

M: Medium bodied, a little sharp with the carbonation. A little sticky.

D: I miss hops; even in a malt-forward style like a Marzen, I look for at least a subtle hop profile to keep things balanced. My mouth feels coated with grain, and I know that another sip won't remedy the situation. I'm not craving another one of these (but I suppose a couple more wouldn't kill me).

Notes: I still haven't found an O-fest that I really love (unless you count Avery's Kaiser, but that's a different animal entirely), and this one continues to be one of my favorites - it's tasty and relatively inoffensive. Still, this isn't a seasonal that I get excited about.

Cheers!

Edit: Update for the 2010 iteration.

This year's Sam Octoberfest is considerably better than I remember it being last time around. The malts are dryer and nuttier, there's a distinct German hop presence, and the the mouthfeel is far smoother and better-carbonated. It's an all-around better beer: 4.5/4.5/4.5/4.5/4.0

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2009 00:28:16 | More by woosterbill

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sometimes Sam has this characteristic in their beer that just trips my trigger. This slight dryness going on. This one didn't have it. No lasting head nor any lace. ok typical octoberfest color. ditto body. ok beer, nothing remarkable. ok finish. Let's go guys!

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2007 02:37:49 | More by drpimento

tdm168

North Carolina

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

Pours a dark amber with 1/4" of head that quickly fades to a thin lace. Smells of caramel and possibly toffee. Taste is rich caramel but not sweet; very mild hop character for balance. Mouthfeel is smooth and well carbonated.

This is definitely a sessionable beer; rich and smooth, it's a decent octoberfest brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2011 22:11:22 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

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

I always save 1 or 2 bottles of my Oktoberfest beers for this time of year. It's a good excuse to clean out my beer fridge too.

Pours a reddish/orange with a slight white head.

It smells of spices and malt.

It tastes a bit spicy, not my favorite in the style but ok just the same.

It leaves a creamy spiced taste on the tongue.

I can drink quite a few of these and it's usually one of the first of the style to come around in my area.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2007 22:32:01 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at The Corvette Grill in Annville, PA on 9/4/08. Served in the new Sam Adams glass.

A - Deep amber/copper-colored body with one-finger creamy light beige head that settled into a thin ring of retention and left some nice lacing. Sparse amount of carbonation present.

S - While the aroma is rather subdued, I do pick up on some bready and caramel malt, molasses, maple syrup and some spices. No hop presence at all.

T - Pleasant malt flavor with hints of sugar cookies, molasses, brown sugar, caramel and bready malt goodness. For some reason, I also get ginger snaps from this. Overall, this has a very sweet, malty flavor with vitually no hop bitterness whatsoever.

M - Medium body with lively carbonation and, although somewhat chewy, a mild syrupy texture that borders watery territory. Quite sweet on the tastebuds with no residual bitterness present.

D - Superior drinkability, but overall a really simple style. Sam Adams pretty much hits the mark with this one. Is it any wonder why this is one of the more popular fall seasonals in the world of craft beer?

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2008 04:08:54 | More by ffejherb

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Looks like a nice amber color, semi dark with a nice inch of white foam.

S - Smells pretty sweet full of sweet caramel and rich barley.

T - The sweetness of the caramel and malts make this beer very drinkable. I also enjoyed the small bite of hops and slightly bitter finish.

M - Medium bodied and creamy. Delicious/

D - As of now I only have a few left but they are very drinkable. In fact I love how I had this on tap and its only slightly better than the bottle. Very affordable and drinkable brew that is also in 22oz sizes! Yum.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2010 23:40:12 | More by DrDemento456

merlin48

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2006 edition pours a radiant copper amber body with a small khaki head that retains well and produces some attractive lacing. Aroma is disinctive noble hops and caramel malt. Mouthfeel features spritzy carbonation and a light medium body. Taste is a well balanced blend of toffee and caramel maltiness and noble hop bitterness. Crisp and refreshing. An excellent American Oktoberfest that is tasty and sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2006 19:20:19 | More by merlin48

Vancer

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

You can just about count on SA to produce a good quality brew – and the Oktoberfest is another fine example. Pretty clear amber/red pour, head retention a little lacking, but not bad. Malty in the aroma and taste – along with a lite fall spice finish. Crisp & tangy, medium bodied – an excellent fall drinker brew.

This review was on a bottle, I’ve had some on tap here in STL, even more tasty!!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2005 19:23:48 | More by Vancer

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

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

poured a light copper color with slightly off-white puffy head that lasted throughout the glass.Smell is of toasted malt mixed with a sweet fruitiness. Taste is very strong on toasted malt. I also detect a dark fruitiness that is enjoyable. Finished in a non-spectactular fashion with heavy malt and a light hoppiness. This is a good session beer that I enjoyed, but was not overly impressive.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2005 00:51:23 | More by tgbljb

flagmantho

Washington

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

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Appearance: deep golden amber with a nice two-finger tan head. Attractive.

Smell: lots of grain and malt; quite carameley and nutty, not unlike a brown ale. It's nice.

Taste: quite malty; there is a nice bitterness but otherwise little hop presence. Like the aroma, it's got a fair bit of nuttiness and caramel. It's not bad, but to me it's more like a brown ale in flavor than a lager.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a little bit of a syrupy consistency; an appropriate level of carbonation.

Drinkability: pretty good. This is not a bad beer by any means, but it doesn't entice me as much as some other Sam Adams varieties.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 02:25:33 | More by flagmantho

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz. bottle served in my Harpoon Octoberfest mug. Best by February notched on the label. Poured a translucent copper with a one inch off-white cap dimpled with tiny bubbles. Head eventually dissipated into a soapy swirl. Some lacing, but weak legs. Nose is caramel malt and cereal grains. Taste follows nose with a little hops in the mix. Finish is not as sweet, and much dryer than most Oktoberfests. Mouthfeel is between light- and medium-bodied and evenly carbonated. Easy drinking and one of my personal favorites for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2008 20:50:18 | More by Jwale73

Deuane

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Deep copper with small light tan head that reduced to a thin ring leaving decent lacing.

S-Very light and subdued.Hints of caramel malt sweetness and a bit of brown sugar. Hops non-existent.

T-Sweet caramel malts with hints of brown sugar, maple syrup and biscuits. Hops only an afterthought of a light spiciness.

M-Medium-light body with good crispness and a sweet lingering finish.

D-A bit too sweet for my liking but it isnt annoying. The sweetness works for a pleasant, almost molasses cookie like flavour. A clean, crisp easy drinking and non-offensive brew.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2008 15:24:53 | More by Deuane

Gmann

New York

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper color with an average off-white head. The smell is rather sweet. Caramel malt seems to be the prevailing aroma, no noticable hop presence detected. On the sweet side for an Oktoberfest, a lot of caramel malt. It good use a balance of either toasted malt or a bigger hop presence. It doesn't seem to be as artifically sweet as in years past. The feel is light and fizzy, quite crisp. A solid Oktoberfest and an improvement over past years.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2007 19:19:12 | More by Gmann

mynie

Indiana

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

The leaves are falling at it was so nice today that I didn't need to roll my car windows down. It's time for marzens.

Pours pretty. Pumpkin orange with a nice, two finger head. Nice bottle work, too.

Smells faint but nice. Rich marzen malt. Caramel and cereal. I wish it was stronger.

Almost a macro grain upfront, moving into rich, smooth caramel and ending with cheeri-os. Nice, but like the nose it's far too weak.

Meh. This is a decent offering. If nothing else it's gotten me in the mood for the better o-fests that should be popping up soon.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2005 01:35:39 | More by mynie

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle. Has a pretty auburn color with a 1 inch head. Smell is of caramel malts with considerable sweetness coming through. Taste is mostly of malts, caramel, some spices. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and is very drinkable. Overall this is a good quality beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2009 23:53:29 | More by tone77

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

The 2003 version (01SEP03) is equally attractive. Nose isn't as strong, but still has a toasty malt foundation. Mouthfeel still comes in at a 4, smoothing out the more you drink. Flavor is again good and malty, yet the cloying sweetness of last year is gone. There is a subtle, sharp/spicy characteristic that hits you late, in the back of the throat. Nicely toned-down as the '02 version had a real bite. Poured 3 bottles into a Spaten litre glass stein, and it's going down very well. Zum Wohl!!

overall: 4.1
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

*** ***

Ahhh... the first Sammy O-fest of the season....(16AUG02).... just a prelude to a shit-load of more O-Fest in the next couple of months!!! Poured a luscious dark-copper to amber color, with a huge, off-white, frothy head. Sticks around a bit, with nice lacing! Darker than most O-Fests, including the Munchen originals. Nose has lots of toasty malt, as well as some sharp spiciness from the hops (Tettnang, right?). Body was middle-of-the-road, and slightly rough on the tongue at first, but it smooths a bit as it warms. There is a big, semi-sweet malt backbone to this baby, along with that hop sharpness again. Jumps right out at you! This version has more hop-spiciness than the Munchen varieties, and is quite pleasant. Mmmm-mmmm good! Hello, O-Fest season!!! A big Zum Wohl!!! (Original rating - ?)

307

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2003 17:21:17 | More by Bierman9

Durge

Connecticut

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A deep copper color brew with a thin off-white head and good lace. The aroma is very weak but hints at wheat and a little malt/toffee. Sweet toffee/butterscotch flavor comes out with some grapefruit bitterness. Malty wheat with a bit of grape. Easy to drink with a slightly dry finish. Finely carbonated with a midland mouth feel. OK, a little better I think than when I tried it on tap last Fall.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2008 06:24:57 | More by Durge

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

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.1/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've enjoyed this beer a lot in previous years, but I'm not sure this year's is for me. It's pretty enough, amber in color with a medium white head. I had difficulty with the aroma, as in it wasn't there. Some pumpkin spice, some sweetness like maple syrup. Very subtle. Ditto for the taste. It was sweet, but that was about it. Smooth in the mouth. I've had half of the 6 pack I bought. Maybe I'll give the others to my wife.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2006 15:51:44 | More by lordofthewiens

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An average-size lighter beige head sits on top of a burnt amber/orange color.

Aroma features candy-like malts, caramel and toffee mostly. Really nice, but a little too mild, would like this to be a lot stronger.

Flavor delivers a very malty beer which, like the aroma, reminds mostly of caramel and toffee. Nice richness to it, has a nice toastiness and even a little maple in there. Moderate carbonation delivers the flavors well enough, but like S.A.'s Winter Lager, flavors are more satisfying as it warms.

So very drinkable, so very above-average, like most of the Samuel Adams stuff. And like most of the S.A. stuff, not a mindblower despite its very good qualities.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2006 15:31:30 | More by Metalmonk

Suds

Pennsylvania

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

This beer has grown on me year after year. Medium head that quickly fades. Burnt golden color. Aroma could be more pronounced. Malty, sweet, and satisfying. Good balance with a soft, creamy finish. Subtle bittering hops emerge at the end of a lingering aftertaste. Good beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2002 12:13:56 | More by Suds

ngeunit1

California

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

A - Pours a nice fairly clear copper color with a finger of off white head. The head did not have great retention and leaves behind minimal lacing.

S - Sweet carmel malt smell with some nice toffee elements. Also a hint of bread/yeast in the aroma.

T - Starts with malty sweetness. Followed by just a hint of hop taste and a nice amount of spice flavors. The finish is mostly of the spices and some nice bread/yeasty hints. There is also a nice lingering spiciness.

M - Medium-light bodied with a nice amount of assertive carbonation. Feels really crisp and smooth overall.

D - Very drinkable beer. The flavors are very well rounded the mouthfeel is very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 03:24:21 | More by ngeunit1

canucklehead

British Columbia (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bought a sixer in Seattle and have been enjoying this beer with many Fall dishes. Considering the reasonable price , this is a well made O fest beer that is easy drinking yet packed full of those nutty flavours that occur in this style. The finish is tiny bit sweet which suits the style and I like the balance in the mouthfeel. One of the best I have tried in this style.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2006 01:07:05 | More by canucklehead