Left Hand Oktoberfest - Left Hand Brewing Company

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

pours a beautiful deep copper with a frothy head indicative of the style. the nose is biscuity, definitely malty. vibrant mouthfeel, malty but not sweet. extremely palatable but not a standout amongst the autumn offerings. better on drinkability than most as well, ill enjoy the other 5 tonight.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 00:32:46 | More by StonedTrippin

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Beertopia in Omaha, NE.

Poured into a US pint glass.

Pours a 1cm head that decreases to a ring around the glass with an island of fizz in the center. Lacing sinks slowly back into the ring after each sip. Transparent copper-brown color, not much visible carbonation.

Aroma is fairly bland, but I'm picking up a bit of butternut squash (roasted or baked), caramelized sugars, and malted barley.

Upfront flavors of sweet-ish bread with a bit of hop spiciness, leading to stronger hop presence - not bitter, but spicy - with malt backbone behind, then finishing with a biscuity maltiness with lingering hop presence. Aftertaste of malt sweetness.

Medium bodied with adequate carbonation. Dry finish.

A fair representation of the style, not particularly exciting, refreshing, or inviting to me. I don't think I'd buy this again, but would drink if gifted.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 18:06:23 | More by falloutsnow

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew poured out as a nice orange brown color, perfect for the time of year it's released in. The head was white and a fizzy. There really isn't much lacing here. The smell of the beer has some nice earthy spice notes on the nose. The taste of the beer has a little more of a hoppiness that I wasn't expecting. The mouthfeel of the beer was decent, had a nice balance and everything but just wasn't overly impressed by it. Overall this beer isn't a bad one for the style. I'd drink it again if I saw it around.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 21:00:12 | More by Knapp85

MTNboy

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Not a bad American tribute to a Bavarian classic. It pours a nice red color with an orange hue. There is some light tan head and lace that is a bit sticky with about average retention. There is a good malty aroma. The flavor is very sweet and grainy. There is a bitter finish that is very refreshing. The body is medium and true to the style.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 15:39:26 | More by MTNboy

happygnome

Minnesota

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewing from notes

A: Pours a orange and amber color with an eigth inch of head that disappears quickly leaving a thin layer of spotty lacing on the glass and top of the beer. Carbonation bubbles can be seen rising to the top.

S: Bready and caramel malts, some hop bitterness to balance but the aroma is malt heavy

T: Bready and caramel sweetness, hop bitterness to balance. The taste is more sweet than bitter

M: Medium bodied beer with good carbonation

Overall, this is a pretty good beer, not my favorite Oktoberfest, but very solid

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 14:16:35 | More by happygnome

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle tried 25 Sep 2010. Poured in the Seabright 20th Anniversary mug.

Large spongy orange head. Medium carbonation. Clear dark caramel color. Aroma is sweet, lightly toasted, nutty, a bit astringent. Malty and nutty to start. Some notes of lactose (according to A). Light mineral finish. Some almond skin bitterness in the aftertaste. Medium creamy body, moderate ethanol.

Decent example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 02:20:51 | More by htomsirveaux

ngeunit1

California

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a slightly hazy copper-orange color with a finger of frothy off-white head. The head faded down to a thin ring leaving behind some spots of lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of sweet caramel malts and some floral hops. Touch of dark fruit and some spices in there as well.

T - Starts off with sweet caramel malt and some background honey sweetness. There is just a touch of floral hops and some nuttiness. Through the middle, some stronger hops and a touch of bready malts come through. The finish is a mix of sweet caramel malts and floral hops with some fruit flavor mixed in that lingers nicely.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels really smooth and crisp. The finish has a touch of lingering sweetness.

D - Very drinkable. The flavors are nice and there is a bit of variation on the normal marzen style. The hop presence and fruity additions were very welcomed.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 00:21:50 | More by ngeunit1

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into dimpled glass. One of my top oktoberfest biers. Pours brilliant copper with a solid stand of off-white head. Aroma is fairly sweet with lightly toasted malts and some noble hops (especially on the pour) imparting some nice cherry and oaky notes. Flavor is mild and pleasant with a soft, clean lightly toasted maltiness. Moderately dry throughout, but moreso in the finish. Body is rather light, but the mouthfeel is smooth with medium light carbonation. This is a really easy drinker and pretty solid style-wise.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2011 15:47:34 | More by CuriousMonk

Samp01

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours clear dark amber with a small offwhite head. Aroma of sweet malts, caramel, some fruitiness. Taste is same as aroma with some light hops. Palate is medium body, good carbonation. Finish is sweet bready malts, caramel, some light bitterness. Overall an easy drinking brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 17:09:03 | More by Samp01

secondtooth

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This attractive and arty beer (with complex and creative bottle renderings) pours a deep amber with an average head. The olfactories reveal an odor of fruit and yeast. Quite appealing already! The taste is crisp and even sweet up front, followed by a slight hop zing in the followthrough. Seems stronger and heartier than most lagers, and this one was a pleasure to finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 00:50:03 | More by secondtooth

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Poured into a pilsner glass.

Pours a moderate copper-bronze color with a white head and some pretty good lacing. The nose is some light caramel and bready plus some earthy, floral, and lightly-spicy hops. Really nice. I appreciate what they've done with these beers. While this may be overdone with some styles, I like how there's a fairly-pronounced hop presence in this brew. Good feel and all around this is a nice brew. Also, doesn't hurt that the artwork on the label is totally awesome.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 02:41:38 | More by Thorpe429

riored4v

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed 10/1/10

Poured into a pint glass. Crystal clear, copper colored body. 1 finger, off-white head that faded quick to a thin layer.

Smell was caramelly with hints of raisin. Slight roasty and nutty aroma. Good malty sweetness.

Taste had notes of raisin with a slight roast flavor. Good amounts of caramel. Mildly nutty along with notes of dark fruit. Very mild bitterness in the finish

Mouthfeel had a medium body with carbonation. Slightly chewy with a sticky finish.

Drinkability was good. Strange dark fruit flavor was a little off-putting.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 20:15:44 | More by riored4v

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.2/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - It pours a deep ruby-amber hue, capped with white froth that recedes into a wispy archipelago.

S - A vaguely floral-fruity hop and yeast contribution melds with rich (but not sweet) honey tones and caramel-toffee maltiness. This is a style that is over-produced, and yet it never seems to offer quality; this is seemingly an exception, or the new wind.

T - Very good tasting brew. Take the nose, add slight buttery-nutty impressions, and some light biscuit flavor as well, and you have a delicious Marzen. I can't think of a better tasting example.

M - Good. Richness and maltiness in harmony.

D - Very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2010 05:57:17 | More by ktrillionaire

cpanossian

New York

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 07 08 10.

Poured a clear orange/apricot into a heavy glass mug. Thick 1-2 finger head that settled down nicely. Good swath of lacing on wall, with thin clumpy bit of foam floating on surface.

Aroma is very subtle, earthy, biscuit.

Taste is mellow sweet malt, nicely balanced with a little spicy hop.

Mouthfeel is terrific - could drink large quantities of this no problem.

Nice job overall - fits in very well with the spririt (nice artwork) and drinkability (minimal ingredients) of the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 23:09:59 | More by cpanossian

nrbw23

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a deep, clear amber color with a tall head. Head is pretty dense, has good retention leaves some nice lacing.

S- Smells is malt dominanted especially caramel malts. Toasty and a bit earthy. A rather spicy herbal hop character.

T- Taste is toasty caramel malt sweetness and Earthy. A bit of spicy hops and a bit of a metal taste here.

M- Medium-light body and carbonation seems to be right on.

D- Has pretty unique taste compared to others. I find this one pretty easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 21:28:33 | More by nrbw23

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a clear amber red with a small off-white head that dissipates into a thin layer of bubbles. Slight lacing

S - Sweet rich malt, caramel, vanilla, dried apricots,

T - Follows the nose. Sweet malt up front followed by simple brown sugar syrup and toffee. Some mild bitterness in the middle and finishes semi sweet.

M - Creamy up front and prickly on the finish.

Good malt forward Marzen. It's rich and the complex malt profile will have you guessing.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2010 02:03:39 | More by StaveHooks

AmberMan22

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Guy at the liquor store recommended this one, and I do love me some Märzenbier. I found it to be an interesting take on the style, considerably creamier (thereby sweeter) than some more traditional offerings.

The color looks pretty good, an orange-red/copper tone with an 'antique white' head (imagine just slightly aged paper). The head is gone fairly rapidly, leaving behind only a little lace.

I found the nose underwhelming and distressing. Alcohol came through first, followed by a rather flat malty smell.

The taste was another story, and as I alluded to earlier, different than most. Certainly a buttery beer, caramel malt overwhelming the munich malt flavor. Maybe a tinge of bitterness on the backside. All in all, very drinkable.

The creaminess chimes in a bit too much in the mouthfeel, making this beer feel almost heavy. I would deem this a bit of a puzzle, because despite this, the beer seemed crisp and smooth. Maybe I'm having an off night.

Verdict: one of the more pronounced oktoberfests in terms of flavor. It certainly beats out most of the pale-malted, noble-hopped, domestic excuses for the genre that turn up too frequently.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 18:39:43 | More by AmberMan22

BuckeyeSlim

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle poured into a frosted pint glass.

A - 1-finger head dissipated quickly, leaving circular lace on the surface that remained until the glass was almost finished. Foggy apricot/orange/copper color.

S - This beer really needed to warm up to release the nose, but as it did, it's mouthfeel changed, too. Early on, whole wheat biscuit. As it warmed, fruit candy and honey showed up along with subtle, soft hops.

T - Creamy malt. Yummy. Caramel, apricot, mandarin orange, figs, and buttery wheat biscuit all flowed over the tongue. Light hops on the finish gives it a nice, subtle balance that cleans off the sugar.

M - Creamy smooth, almost chewy at first. Reasonably substantive body with medium carbonation. Palate gets cleaned on the finish from the hops that lingers and makes you want to reach for another taste. Early on while chilled, this would be a great beer to polish off rather quickly after a good bike ride when you want refreshment and carbs. Once it warms up, it becomes more of a beer you fill your mouth with and enjoy on the tongue before swallowing.

D - A delicious, malty sweet Marzen well-balanced on the finish that makes it easy to reach for another. Goes great with buttered popcorn watching movies. Because of its malt dominance, I'd look to pair it with something like brats and sauerkraut.

Are there better Marzens out there? Sure, but you could do much worse than enjoying a few pints of this beer in the cooler days of fall, especially if you're not a hop head.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2010 11:32:44 | More by BuckeyeSlim

OlRasputin989

Arkansas

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured into pint...

A: a cloudy, dark amber brew with a sudsy tan head. has good retention on the way down. The cloudiness causes this one to lose style points.

S: aroma seems faint at first, but as the beer warms, the sweet caramel aroma is met with green raisin and baked apple. this is much better around 50 degrees.

T: very sweet malt and and some dry fruit(plum and apple skins) that fades to a bittering noble hop finish.

M: medium body with a low carbonation making it much fuller. finishes off dry

Overall, a well put together marzen with some unique fruitiness to it. I think I'll have another.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2010 00:54:44 | More by OlRasputin989

uustal

Rhode Island

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark copper, nice red and orange hue. Off-white head with OK lacing and retention. Sweet smell, caramel and toffee mostly. Very malty flavor profile. Big sweet caramel malt, toffee and biscuit. Great malt combination. A hint of the usual octoberfest hops at the finish, but not much balance to be found. Still a very good taste. The malts are really excellent. Very creamy and thick mouthfeel for a Marzen that goes down easy.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2010 02:10:44 | More by uustal

GRPunk

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into a mug.

A- 1-finger, khaki head drops to a moderate-light film that leaves really good (great?), sticky rings. The body is a clean copper with moderate carbonation.

S- It's a nice balance between caramel and bready malts and grassy hops. There's a touch of raisin and alcohol with a little warmth that seems just a touch out of place.

T- Rich caramel initially is cleaned up with spicy hops. While I normally like a really malty Oktoberfest, it's just a touch too sweet.

M- It's a little syrupy. Moderate to heavy carbonation mixed with solid hopping provides a good tingle.

D- It's a decent version of a Marzen. It's quite substantial and malty. It might not be quite as refined as the upper echelon.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 18:16:52 | More by GRPunk

Nerudamann

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Look - Semi-murky, amber in color. About 2.5 fingers of head that dissipates somewhat slowly. Slow carbonation.

Smell - Fairly hoppy-smelling, maybe a little spiced up, but with a sweet, perhaps caramel aroma.

Taste and Mouthfeel - fairly hoppy in taste too, but with a sweetness to balance it out and make it less bitter. Bitterness is still there, mostly present in the finish. Not much of an aftertaste though. Can't define the sweetening agent being used, but I don't think it's the caramel that I thought I smelled. General texture is slightly toward the creamy side.

Drinkability - not a bad brew at all. Not quite as full-bodied as I would have hoped for , but still interesting. Good tasting and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 03:32:14 | More by Nerudamann

Augustiner719

Connecticut

3.23/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a half liter hand glass.

Pours a nice copper color with some red orange and re highlights. The aroma has that peanut shell goodness and lager yeast that makes this closer to it's German counterparts. There is a caramel initial taste but a bitter flavor at the end that leaves the palate dry. Nice carbonation and a nice sweetness that plays well. Overall this is a good example of American marzens and what they can bring to the table. Not the best but good.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2010 02:20:20 | More by Augustiner719

mdcrouser

Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Germans started a good thing with the 'fest. This particular version is the standard 'fest-issue deep marzen color - red-orange, with quickly disappearing head. Like a late night fire blazing from a recent battle, licking toward the sky.

I smelled it and then smelled again, trying to soak it all up. Sweet and highly malted on the nose - like a giant German malt bomb - beer-krieg is imminent.

A frontal malt-assault on the senses - straight to the trenches with sweet a sticky malts. Raisins, toasted sugar, and some nuttiness. Reinforced with a good hop balance though - enough to march across the tongue.

Pretty big on the tongue - grander than a traditional 'fest - like a whole brigade. It works really well in that context though.

Though it was bigger than expected, I enjoyed it for a change from the traditional 'fest seasonal.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2010 02:38:25 | More by mdcrouser

Kiwano

New York

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is for the 2012 Left Hand Oktoberfest Marzen Lager:

A - Tan with orange red tinge

S - nutty with a tang

T - nutty slightly smoky, a tiny bit of sweetness but with a good balance

M - slightly fizzy

O - nice, good balance of nutty, smoky and tiny bit of sweetness would have again

Older 2010 bottle

A - reddish orange tinge no head at all - thin layer of bubbles that dissipated immediately

S - the faintest hint of sweetness and a tiny bit of malt but barely any smell at all

T - Sweet almost no bitterness at all - a tiny bit of citrus and barely any malt at all (until it warmed up a bit then the malt came through better) - can't taste any hops - almost sugary. Got a little less sugary and a bit more flavor as it warmed up. Definitely needed to warm up a bit to let more of the flavor and depth come through. The sugar mellowed and darkened as it warmed up.

M - nice set of tight bubbles that keep it perky. Really enjoyed the carbonation.

D - Not much depth but it is tasty - very smooth and light , has just enough body. Could drink several of these without feeling full over overloaded. Would drink again but would wait for the beer to get more close to room temperature first.

Would probably go well with Chinese, Japanese, or Thai food - though I have no way of knowing this

(chilled bottle poured into a pint glass)

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2010 03:09:28 | More by Kiwano