Summit Oktoberfest Marzen - Summit Brewing Company

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Burnt orange with sparkling brass at the margins. The beige colored cap is tidy, but firm, with a heavily pitted look that I like. What appears to be an acceptable amount of lace is beginning to form on the upper few inches of the glass. This looks like a standard Marzen; perhaps a little lighter than most.

The nose, as well, is standard issue for the style. Malt leads the way (natch) with faint caramel and earthy Munich notes. Since there isn't a great deal of power, a more detailed description isn't possible.

I feel odd drinking an Oktoberfest during late winter, so from now on I'll call this beer a Februarfest. Okay, bad idea. The flavor is enjoyable if you like the style. I can appreciate lightly toasted, earthy, whole grain bread; tea-like notes and a minimal spicy hoppiness. There's actually quite a bit going on.

The hop lineup isn't anything overly original (Northern Brewer, Tettnang and Saaz), but then tradition is tradition for a reason. Simcoe or Amarillo would turn this beer into something else entirely; good maybe, but not really an Oktoberfest. Sweet and bitter are present in roughly equal measure and the beer is the better for it.

Despite the rather lofty 7.7% ABV, I don't really notice alcohol; a tribute to the brewers' skill. The mouthfeel falls within the wide range of medium and is firm rather than smooth or silky. Again, classic for the style. A (tending toward) bitter, drying finish enhances drinkability.

Summit Oktoberfest Marzen and Millstream Oktoberfest are two of the better domestic versions that I've run across. Maybe it has something to do with the high concentration of German immigrants in the Midwest. In any case, this is a beer that I can easily recommend. While it didn't impress the lederhosen off me, it's a definite keeper.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2006 17:04:22 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

not bad at all for the first beer of the night. served cold and poured into a pint glass, this one was consumed on 10/06/2010.

pours a nice rich clear dark amber color.nice big head of white pops up right away to a height of around three inches before fading back down and coating the sides of the glass rather nicely.

aroma is deep caramel malts, lots of earthy tones and hints of dark hops. warming brings out a rich grainy and malty character that really shines through. clean and crisp flavor as the sweet malts really steal th show here. earthy with loads of bready malts and a light hop bitterness in the finish that seals the deal for me.

overall a very solid example of the style. nothing at all to complain about at all here.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 00:28:18 | More by mikesgroove

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.6/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Contains enough Oktoberfest character to fit the style, but not enough to compete with classic German examples. Begins with aromas made up of part malty grains, bread, yeast, and earthy hops, but also partly with ester, fruity ale characters and American hops. Brilliantly clear with a pale copper hue. Sparkling carbonation with fair head retention and lacing. Tastes go back and forth from bready / saaz, to fruity / spicy. Body does lack creaminess, and maltiness, but the beer does finish clean except for a mild metalic hop character late. Good beer but not what I will go for when wanting an true Oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2006 19:23:00 | More by BEERchitect

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A clear, deep amber/copper body is punctuated by the creamy vanilla head that rests above it. It appears with an almost reddish cast while resting on the bar, but it's clearly more of a straightforward amber with golden highlights when held to the light. The nose displays a grainy, very toasty maltiness and some grassy/floral hops. The body is medium; and its fine carbonation leaves it crisp in the mouth. The rich, distinctly toasted Vienna malt is slightly sweet but well-balanced by a solid bitterness and some limited grassy/piney hop flavor; and it finishes dry with a lingering note of malt, then hops, and finally bitterness and a splash of alcohol. An enjoyable beer with a bit of a bite to it!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2003 02:18:48 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a flared pokal at Bliss.

Yet another Oktoberfest beer to sample. 'Tis the season, I s'pose... It pours a clear light sunrise sienna topped by a finger of dirty off-tan foam. The nose comprises buttery caramel, grass, light greens, earthy flowers, and dry wheat. The taste brings in more of the same, though the caramel's sweetness is amped up and the graininess steps up enough to duel with it for the duration of the taste. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a grainy feel. Overall, a decent O-Fest, but it doesn't really pop much at all. Not bad at all, but not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2011 03:53:56 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Now in it's third year of existence, Summit's Oktobefest only becomes more popular, and good reason. I liked it the moment it met my lips, and my passion fails to flag!
Appearance: nice light bronze color, a deep amber, you could say, with a fluffy, creamy, though short and swiftly settling, head.
Aroma: spicy, super-sweet, noticably alcoholic, but still soft, and herbal and utterly delightful.
Taste: Mmmm!
How was that again?
Mmmm, mmm, Mmmmm!
Or perhaps I meant to say, sweet, rich, malty, with a thick, even treacly texture, though rather light-bodied, but full-flavored, and with a tidy, toffeeish, almost buttery finish that rings through the mouth and clings to the senses.
Bright and tasty and yummy, yum, yum!

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2003 11:12:19 | More by feloniousmonk

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Translucent and bubbly, this copper colored octoberfest had a thin, small, khaki colored head. It left minimal lacing on the pint glass.

S - A nutty, grainy aroma with strong caramel notes. There was also a floral scent.

T - It tasted very much like the aroma; caramel, nuts, grains. It also had a sharp, bitter hop bite.

M - It was crisp and smooth. A medium bodied beer that hides its ABV very well.

D - This is a very good octoberfest. I'm glad I was able to get my hands on some.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2009 02:03:29 | More by zeff80

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours amber/orange with a 1" off white head. Minimal head retention & lacing

S: Fruitty & then some grainny notes

Taste: Malt sweetness, then fruittyness with a faint alcohol burn up front. Slight alcohol & caramel follows. Finishes sweet, dry & slighltly grainy

MF: Medium with some pricklyness & a syruppy feel as it warms

Drinks pretty good, not a bad take, but I'd preffer a little more finese versus the alcohol/grainy taste hammer. Still worth seeking out

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2006 04:18:47 | More by russpowell

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Clocks in at 7.4% this year per SummitBrewing.com. I've tried this a couple times recently, but I'm drinking a bottle right now. The draft, by memory drank smoother, but wasn't all that different. This beer is a deeper red than most O-fest and has more kick in the finish. The flavor starts with the usual caramel malt, but there's a touch of alcohol burn with grassy, earthy hops. This is a big beer, and not your typical Oktoberfest, definitely not sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2009 06:13:42 | More by tempest

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a two finger white head that vanishes leaving no lace. Cloudy amber color. Light carbonation and medium bodied. Sweet malty nose. Starts sweet but balanced, subdued caramel finish, higher ABV totally hidden. 99¢ for a 12oz bottle from Chalet Party Goshen, In.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2006 23:37:01 | More by jdhilt

ppoitras

Massachusetts

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

12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity...

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/2" beige head over the dark orangey amber brew. Head hangs at about half height, with average lacing. Aroma is sweet somewhat wet grain, with a tinge of alcohol. Flavor is upfront brash fruity malts, with closing bitterness, relatively balanced overall. Mouthfeel and drinkability are about average, although the perceived alcohol in the taste seems high for the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2006 21:38:01 | More by ppoitras

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.83/5  rDev +32.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Re-rated on October 3, 2007:

I upped my ratings for appearance, aroma and taste. This is a top of the line Ofest. One of my favorite. Such a meaty flavor (not literally). Such a thick maltiness and great lager yeastiness. Very hearty. This and Staghorn are my 2 favorite bottled Ofests.

Crytal clear copper in color. Slight off-white head that has good retention. Fairly large grain, subdued malt and a slight yeastiness in the aroma. Really nice toasted malt taste. Yeast off-flavors (similar to their maibock?) acentuate nicely. Very clean tasting and very drinkable. The slightest hint of alcohol is actually present in this brew. This octoberfest is medium to full bodied and a very enjoyable brew. I only wish they hadn't canned their alt to introduce this beer last September.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2002 20:43:28 | More by Bighuge

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out an auburn, amber and brown color, solid mild beige head that stands tall over 1". Great retention, nice looking lace.

Mild aroma of nutty honey grains. Lightly sweet.

Good toasted malt presence, average sweetness. Earthy and floral. Not bitter. Caramel toast. Pretty clean. In some ways it is fairly pedestrian, and in others, it is very true to style. You can pull some hop notes out of it if you look for them. A slight tinge of dark fruit note in the mouthfeel.

A little stronger in the alcohol department, but it isn't really all that noticeable. This is definitely made in the traditional sense outside of that aspect, lots of Germanic types in the upper midwest, this beer definitely has a following while I was in the area.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 16:24:15 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Gusler

Arizona

3.93/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The color an unblurred burnished copper as it rest in my glass with a substantial head that is semi-creamy in texture and a very light tan in color, as it dissipates a silky veil is left to conceal the glass. Musky malt sweetness at the front with an underlying crispness, pleasant as noses go with the front quite sweet, almost cloying, top is middling in feel to the palate. The acidity is pesky and the hops pronounced with a bone dry aftertaste last lingers on with a slight bitterness and a fine representative to the style, even if it is a bit sweet but I like it nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2003 00:44:49 | More by Gusler

plaid75

New York

4/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Bonfire, MSP airport.

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a solid caramel and earthy sweet malt.

The taste was upfront sweet with a mild spicy smokiness. Finished dry.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a tasty malt driven beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2010 15:22:30 | More by plaid75

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is a passable Oktoberfest from Summit. Bright copper-orange color with a miniscule light tan head. Thin lacing as well. Sweet caramel aroma. Light-bodied with a sweet character, containing malt, caramel and some fruit flavors. Kind of thin on all fronts though. The finish is the only place I could detect any hops. All in all this beer doesn’t strive for much in the category but I couldn’t find too much to complain about.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2004 23:44:26 | More by Dogbrick

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Tom Reid's: Dull rusty color with a small, densely firm cap of dark ivory sits slim. Lace sticks in big strings and globs.

Aroma is sweet and malty with a lovely caramel breading and candied melon granola bar coating.

Taste is sweet with a moderately low set tang of bready dough that has a bit of brown sugar base and light cinnamon touch to it. Unravels across the palate quite nicely with its sweetness. Quite big with long lasting bready and caramel coated goodness. Very slight tint of roasted/toasted grain and light hop notes adding a bit of low grassy spice.

Feel is big, sweet, bready, smooth, and rich with a fairly heavy set tone and body. Malts do there thing here in a solid fashion of balanced sweetness and sticky bread doughy smack.

A big O-fest thats taken a turn for the better over the last couple of years. Thank goodness. Its a keeper to have around. And watch out, its a sneaker, it warms ya up pretty fast too.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2005 03:32:13 | More by tavernjef

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a. Poured into a pint glass on tap. Nice amber color and a bit of head that eventually recedes to nothing.

s. malty and some earthy hop. Not a whole lot going on in the nose.

t. A nicely balanced o-fest that packs plenty of flavor. Roasted and caramel malts, a crisp hopping spices things up and keeps the malt in check. Definately a surprise.

m. Medium bodied and crisp.

d. This is a really good o-fest. One of the better ones I've had in 2008. The 7.7% is not noticable in the taste. recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2008 15:28:49 | More by Stinkypuss

gford217

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle courtesy of Buebie poured into a pint glass.

This one pours a clear reddish amber with a small white head that dissipates to nothing quickly and leaves no lacing. The aroma is a mixture of toasted grains and sweet caramel. The taste is much sweeter than the aroma suggests with a massive caramel malt sweetness that dominates throughout. There is a bit of toasted bread character, but less than the aroma. The mouthfeel is fairly full-bodied for the style with very little carbonation - slick and a bit sticky. This is certainly not near the top of my list of oktoberfests, but it is quite drinkable for the ABV, which I never would have pegged at over 7%.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2008 02:50:36 | More by gford217

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance- Left a good , slightly amber colored head with somewhta, perhaps, maybe, half-way decent retention.

Smell- Makes me think of homemade Amish white bread. It also maks me think of bread mix and earthy minerals.

Taste- This stuff taste like the color amber. IF any can back me up that some things make you think of colors, this beer does it for me. Some freash out of the toaster white bread malts mixed with some happy hops that make you wanna slam you mug on the tablle and raise it high whilst exclaiming STOLL AN!

Mouthfeel- One of the most refreshing beers for a 7.7% abv. I want to say this would be a good session beer, but this stuff would kick your ass much faster than you would want.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2006 21:54:26 | More by scruffwhor

ZAP

Minnesota

4.38/5  rDev +20%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was my favorite Octoberfest from last year (before I was on the site) and while I like this years version I am not quite as high on it as a year ago.

Clear copper in color...virtually no head...nose is slightly alcoholic and sweet...taste features a hint of the same unique flavor their Maibock has...I like it, but it is a little different..taste definitely leans sweet with more of a caramel taste, but it also closes with a dry finish and definitely has more of a hop feel this year than last year. I think Summitt is one of the top 25 or so breweries in the U.S. and I have come to anticipate their seasonal releases. This is one of their better ones and once again it is a very enjoyable beer..

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2002 11:52:43 | More by ZAP

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.8/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: Squat looking 12 ounce bottle, with a predominantly dark bronze colored neck and main labels. Titled as ‘Oktoberfest Märzen Style”, the label has no strength or freshness date. It does however list the ingredients as ‘Water, Malted Barley, Hops & Yeast’ – a simple if somewhat self deprecating list, but a nice honest touch!

Appearance: Pours with an off-white head that rarely gets excited, and lingers around the ¼” plimsol line. The body of the beer is an orange-gold amber color, lucid, with a small amount of streamers that rise continually. Some thin broken lacing but good conditioning in the beer – just the right levels.

Nose: Maybe this is the weak point in this beer, and that is saying something, because it is not weak at all. It is however, well shall we say, a little boring. Rather one-dimensional toasted malts, some grainy aspects and not much else. Strengths are adequate but even a strong boring smell – is still boring.

Taste: Much better than the staid nose would have you believe. Started with some grain malts, lightly toasted sweet malts, light caramel, some sweetness again in the middle all ending with a simple but effective fruity finish. Dry, with a funny “sucking on a saliva soaked wooden tooth pick” taste in the back end at times (I know – but I can’t describe any other way!!!).

Mouthfeel: The carbonation adds above average levels of liveliness to the beer. Above average mouthfeel. I must have missed the 7.7% alcohol (?!) it is well camouflaged, or someone is lying about the ABV.

Drinkability: It pleasantly disappeared with little effort. Clean silky lines offer little reason not to keep picking up the Glass, well until it is empty that is.

Overall: I am not that bothered about so-called “style infringements”, but I have to say that I find the variations in Oktoberfest Beers that I have tried from outside of the Fatherland, to be quite extreme in the least. Not knowing much about Teutonic fermentables, this still confuses me somewhat, and impairs my judgment about how this beer would fit into the general scheme of things. That said, and putting my confusion to one side - this is obviously a well made beer that drinks well, and is certainly worth a try. It just maybe a little ‘too average’ at times. Nicht Schlecht!

Zum Wohl to the F-Monk for delivering this appropriately named beer today!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2003 06:42:36 | More by TheLongBeachBum

dirtylou

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, single bottle purchased at Woodman's at Madison

appearance: murky burnt orange, quite cloudy, quite bubbly with a matching bubbly white head that fully laces

smell: quite sweet, bready and yeasty...pretty faint aromas

taste: sweet bready malts, quite hoppy for the style, mild caramel but not as much as other oktoberfests...clean and refreshing, mild alcohol. not the greatest but pretty good

mouthfeel: medium bodied, clean and refreshing, alcohol hidden

drinkability: pretty drinkable despite the higher abv

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2005 00:24:09 | More by dirtylou

Tone

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Decent retention and slight lacing. Smells of sweet malt, slight yeast, slight caramel malt, slight nut, hint of earthy malt, slight hop, and a hint of pale malt. Fits the style of a Marzen / Oktoberfest. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of slight hop, sweet malt, slight nut, hint of yeast, slight caramel malt, and a hint of earthy malt. Overall, weak appearance, but good aroma, feel, body, and blend.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 15:18:52 | More by Tone

Bitterbill

Wyoming

3.58/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It pours a clear 24K gold with a very healthy 2 finger head of foam. I'll check on the lacing once the foam dies down some.

I'm getting some sweet and bready malt in the nose, maybe a little brown sugar.

The taste, I like. Starts off with caramel malt so it's kind of sweet. There's not much of a bread note that I mentioned above but I'm getting some toasty notes and very little bitterness, which is appropriate for the style. Tastes pretty good.

Lowish carbonation, high end of low for the body, the mouthfeel is also good. It's pretty easy to drink as well; I could have another one back to back but then I'd move on.

Overall, a good brew and stab at the style.

Btw, lacing is spotty but there.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 22:45:41 | More by Bitterbill