Left Hand Oktoberfest - Left Hand Brewing Company

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

1.98/5  rDev -46.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

12oz bottle, bottled on 7-18-07, served in a pint glass.

A - clear, light amber color with a white head that thinned out pretty quickly, leaving thin bits of lacing.

S - kind of funky malt aroma for a beer that's just a month old.

T - that same funkiness is in the taste as well, this was one of the first Oktoberfest beers available this year and I look forward to the German versions yet to arrive.

M - thin, light bodied with low carbonation.

D - ¾ of the glass was enough of a taste for me.

Final Note: it seems to me that in the rush to put out an Augtoberfest beer, some breweries miss the target with their Marzen. This one was way off the mark

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2007 23:47:56 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Beaver13

Colorado

2.03/5  rDev -45.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle. Pours red orange amber with a large creamy off white head that retains well and laces the glass.

The aroma is toasted malts and maybe a touch of alcohol.

The flavor is sweet toasted caramel malts and some weird off flavors that increase as it warms (nitrogen?). The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation.

Overall, it's just pretty bland and uninspiring and the off-flavors make it rather unpleasant.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2008 03:49:40 | More by Beaver13

crossovert

Wisconsin

2.17/5  rDev -41.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I lied in my last review when I stated I was finally done with Oktoberfests this season, somehow this bottle landed in my lap so I ought to review it.

Pours a lot more reddish than most Oktoberfests, with a big dirty white head.

Smell is typical but with a hint of toecheese. The smell is awful for an Oktoberfest

This is one freaky tasting Oktoberfest, hops are there but it is ultra fruity and metallic.

One of the worst Oktoberfests I have tasted.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2009 23:09:00 | More by crossovert

ibashmuck

Wisconsin

2.42/5  rDev -34.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Purchased as part of "build-your-own-six-pack" at local grocer. Not usually a fan of Oktober's, but tis the season (sorta). Poured a nice color, darkish amber. Smelled strong of malts, and taste was "malty" as well, but not overpowering. Last drop of bottle was same as first. Didn't get the spice or fruit smells others have with this beer. Though not a favorite, not terribly bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2007 15:42:08 | More by ibashmuck

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

2.5/5  rDev -32.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12 oz bottle poured into a pint glass

A- A slightly hazed golden orange. A big bubbly off white head.

S- Smells like a lager, a bit of grain, some grass. A bit of caramel. Not much on the nose.

T- Very grainy and quite skunky if im to be honest, and mine is as fresh as they come. Lager yeast flavor. Light caramel. Almost bitter or sour.

M- Light mouth feel, high carbonation. Dry and bitter aftertaste.

O- This is a bad beer. Im usually optimistic when reviewing beers but this one is just plain bad. I hope the bottle I got is just a rotten one because left hand's beers are usually pretty decent.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 21:39:41 | More by TwelveOunces

williamt

Iowa

2.58/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A- Poured a clean copper gold with slight amber hue. Thick off white head that settles back to a very thin cap and ring at the glass.

S- Mild malt but just a hint.

T- I think not enough. Just a slight Vienna or Munich malt taste with a little hop bitterness in the finish.

M- Thick, syrupy, coats the palate and stays there.

D- Only bought this one, that will probably be it.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2009 02:05:23 | More by williamt

denver10

Colorado

2.58/5  rDev -30.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a cranberry red fused with a touch of amber. A quick living greyish white head that leaves rather quickly leaving behind a sampling of it around the edges. A sweet and spicy aroma, malt forward 110% of the way. Bready, caramel, nutty and cloves, cloves, and a little more cloves. Flavor is strong on the clove, the nuttiness, caramel and bread is definitely right there with it too though. A crisp medium to full body to this. Overall, meh. Not too familiar with the style but I do believe Great Divide's Hoss is a similar style, but with rye malt included, and I prefer that to this for sure. Glad I only bought a single of this...though not even sure I care to finish this one bottle of it.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 22:30:09 | More by denver10

LairdChisholm

Illinois

2.63/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Pours a deep orange into my glass. A small, half finger, tan head bubbles up at the end of the pour, which bubbles down to a ring around the edge shortly after. Hardly any carbonation bubbles here.

S - Very faint sweet malts. Maybe some pumpkin or cinnamon. Nothing special here.

T - A really odd taste here. I don't know if I have a bad batch or something but I get some sweet malts up front. Maybe mixed with some cinnamon. The aftertaste is what really got me though. It was pumpkin mixed with a mealy fruit. If I had to guess I would say watermelon. Really wasn't expecting any of this.

M - A real lack of carbonation on this one. I feel like it makes the beer lacking some punch, thus making it feel thin.

D - With the odd taste and the lack of carbonation, finishing these is not the easiest task.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2010 19:28:06 | More by LairdChisholm

Buebie

Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -28.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

In my opinion they should have kept their old label art, because the new one is odd. It looks like a winter beer, all cold colors of blue and a weird white tiger???

Pours a redish deep amber with about an inch of white head. Settling to leave a thin cap of retention. Brilliant color here, enjoyable.
Thin rings of lace line the glass.

Aroma is fairly sweet with a juicy yeast apple fruit aroma. Kind of odd and not fitting.
A bit of caramel there as well, but mostly not much to say on the subject of aroma, muted.

Taste seems boozy and peppery at first sip. Some cereal grains come through as do more caramel. Then more peppery spice and boozy warmth .

Not a fan of this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 23:12:00 | More by Buebie

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

2.65/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

On tap at Maduro. $3 pint poured into a Bell’s pint glass a bit too cold for my liking. I tend to like Oktoberfests at near room temp.

Appearance: Very nice Marzen orange with some reddishness and a thick, creamy white-tan head. Good retention.

Aroma: Initially hit with the same sweet strawberry fruitiness in that I find in the saw tooth ale. It’s really overpowering and not befitting of an Oktoberfest. That is followed by a more generic fruitiness, caramel, toast, and a nutty finish.

Taste: Sweet light fruit, caramel, a pinch of toast, and a slightly drying/nutty finish. Much too light on flavor for me even when warmed up a bit. There is also way too much fruit flavor for an Oktoberfest.

Moutheel: Well carbonated but too light and not creamy enough. Overly sweet and somewhat unbalanced.

Drinkability: Sessionable but somewhat bland.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2007 15:09:31 | More by DaPeculierDane

malty

Michigan

2.7/5  rDev -27%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

The 'bottled on' section on the side of the front label was empty, but I'm guessing this is a very fresh bottle (?).

Pours a briliantly clear russet color with a massive fluffy off-white head that stays around 2". Little visible uprising carbonation. Beautiful bold rings of clingy lace all the way down.

The scents are clean and minerally (like wet river rocks) and a malty sweetness.

The taste is surprisingly rigid, colliding with an almost void malty sweetness as I detected in the nose and a weird astringent alcohol flavor that is very unpleasant. As I sip more of this, I'm baffled at how awkward tasting it really is.

Mouthfeel has basicaly no carbonation with a lighter-than-medium body that's oily. Definitely not the way this style should feel.

Drinkability is bad. I don't think I'll finish this bottle.

Overall a great looking beer and then it goes down hill very steeply and quickly. I am glad I only bought a single of this. Many more much better O-fests out there for sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2009 21:49:37 | More by malty

nick76

Florida

2.73/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The aroma is papery and metallic, with cereal and herbal hops. The appearance is amber with a nice head. The flavor is like the aroma and strange. The palate is typical for the style. Overall this proves vet again why I am not in love with Oktoberfest beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2008 19:03:36 | More by nick76

BigD1972

Rhode Island

2.73/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I had Left Hands Octoberfest for the first time last year. This year it tastes alot different. I found this years to be less flavourful. It almost tastes like a watered down version of a lesser quality Octoberfest. Very dissapointed with this years brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 20:59:07 | More by BigD1972

explosivebeer

Washington

2.75/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

This beer pours with a thick, creamy white head that dissipates to a thin, lasting layer. It has a typical light amber color for the style. Very light malty aroma with some alcohol present. The flavor is a bit bland and the finish is unspectacular. It's a decent beer but I probably won't be getting it again anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2008 00:37:08 | More by explosivebeer

kojevergas

California

2.78/5  rDev -24.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a true imperial pint glass in high altitude Denver, Colorado. Reviewed live. Expectations are moderately high.

A: Pours a two finger head of good cream and thickness, and good retention. Colour is a semitransparent amber.

Sm: Nuts, caramel, cream, and heavy toasted malt. A mild strength aroma.

T: Toasted malt, badly balanced caramel, and light cream. In classic bad Marzen fashion, it's simple and boring. Maybe some light candied sugar. Strangely balanced and badly built.

Mf: Smooth and wet, suiting the flavour generally. Nothing special here.

Dr: Very drinkable, like most Marzens, but also simple, boring, and scattershot on the balance. It's alright but I certainly wouldn't have it again. Meh.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 07:06:54 | More by kojevergas

rajendra82

Georgia

2.83/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The clear, amber colored body topped by a one finger thick head gave this pour into the mug a classic look. Smell was also authentic, which is to say quite malty with a touch of spice. Taste was a little too sweet and underattenuated to be a good fest bier. Oddly earthy hop bitterness kept lingering on, and felt out of place for the style. Was this only 6% ABV, as it became too much of a tedium to drink rapidly. Is this a bold interpretation of the style, or is it good intentions gone wrong? Hard to say for sure.

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2006 03:41:29 | More by rajendra82

CharlesDarwin

Rhode Island

2.85/5  rDev -23%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Originally reviewed on December 23, 2005. 12 Oz Bottle. Pours clear amber orange, wita whitish head. Aroma of lime rinds and dusty malt. Sweet dusty malt and sour corn flavor, with a hint of old fruity tones. Not much depth. Palate a little dry, but mostly clean sweet. Meh.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2006 01:50:14 | More by CharlesDarwin

bluegrassbrew

Georgia

2.85/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a dark copper color. Darker than other O-fests I've had. No head retention or lace.

Smell is of subtle toffee and bread. Very subtle.

Taste is way off for an Octoberfest methinks. Bready malt and a hint of coffee and chocolate in the finish.

Way over-carbonated.

Overall, the worst O-fest I've had so far this year. Does not come close to the German versions. Doesn't even resemble other American versions.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2007 23:51:04 | More by bluegrassbrew

CRichardsMN

Minnesota

2.85/5  rDev -23%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Appearance:
Typical bright orange with a light creamy head and mild lacing.

Smell:
Weaker than expected by the color (typically the darker orange, the heavier the scent and taste). Caramel malts present and light alcohol.

Taste:
Sweet caramel malts and alcohol. Very average.

Mouthfeel:
Pretty fizzy but goes to smooth with a medium body.

Drinkability:
Average oktoberfest flavors with a decent ABV. Not too high but with all sweet beers, this can get you in trouble. Good stuff.

Comment:
Was expecting a bit more from Left Hand but still a decent effort. Try their Milk Stout.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2009 00:02:53 | More by CRichardsMN

BradLikesBrew

Missouri

2.88/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Consumed last fall when it was still fresh.

A: Amber body, creamy head.

S: The aroma is caramel malt, not too much more.

T: Sweet malt upfront with a lightly spicy hop finish.

M: Clean and medium bodied.

D: Not a bad beer overall, but I noticed a great deal of residual sweetness in this beer that really killed it for me. Won't be grabbing a second bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2009 19:35:18 | More by BradLikesBrew

Vendetta

New Jersey

2.9/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Original Rating Date:
September 26, 2008

Pretty average marzen, here. Pours decent with a good head and a typical marzen hue. Smells like a bit of bready malt, but overall a weak nose, nothing impressive. Tastes pretty average, nothing stands out. As it warms some sweetish candy caramel flavor comes through, which is pretty much the single standout flavor of this beer. Overall pretty average with a few special notes, but passable when compared to Flying Dog and Hacker-Pschorr's marzen brews.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 18:33:18 | More by Vendetta

drpimento

Wisconsin

2.98/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Nothing wrong with this beer; serviceable. But nothing special either. Copper colored amber, like its commercial description. Light hop. A bit more sweet and less roasty/dry than I prefer, but not bad. Carbonation is ok. Finish is ok. Body is ok. Ok? ok

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2007 01:01:10 | More by drpimento

EwaldEichstaett

Jordan

3/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Second beer in my Oktoberfest tour:

A: Dark copper color, not much head... the beer is rather flat.

S: Not much nose, a bit of caramel malts...

T: Tastes of roasted caramel malts. There is a bad aftertaste, sour and a little hoppy. Not a fan.

M/D: Medium body, average in every way... The beer is definitely not as malty or full flavoured as it should be. average, average, average...

So far, flying dog's offering was much better...

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2010 02:53:43 | More by EwaldEichstaett

guinness33

New Jersey

3.03/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

As mentioned in my previous review, a lot of O'Fests can tend to inadvertently lump themselves together in that most aren't poorly made, but their just bland/average overall. The Stoudt's O'Fest that I just reviewed bucked this trend, the Left Hand one did not.

It pours a decent looking copper/orange colour with a very thin head that leaves a bit of residue on the glass.

Aroma is sweet but faint: caramel leads the way with s barely noticeable hint of hops and some malt as well. Very simple overall.

Flavour is more of the same but caramel gives way to a bit more earthiness and even a bit of a rubbery flavour. Mouthfeel is light bodied but a bit chewy and flat at the same time.

This one is not bad in any area, just bland and doesn't do much for me. It's a typical O'Fest. It won't offend but it won't wow you.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2006 04:16:49 | More by guinness33

kshankar

District of Columbia

3.03/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours an amber with smaller head. Retention is okay. Layer film at the top.

Aroma is of sweetish caramel malts.

Taste is following the aroma. Its fine and is a little syrupy with the caramel sweetness. But its not that complex. A bit one dimensional

Mouthfeel is medium and coats your mouth as a marzen should

Drinkability is eh. Its not bad, its just bland. Not robust enough.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2009 04:31:47 | More by kshankar