Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier - Hofbräuhaus München

Axismundi

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a half liter of this on tap at Schnitzel Platz - a nice German restaurant in the Chicagoland area. I've had this one a long time ago, before I really learned to enjoy beer and thought it was wickedly bitter. It's been 6 years since that time and I really enjoyed it this time around - quite a surprise.
A - Came with a thick frothy head, almost aproaching the consistency of shaving cream, lol. Quite clear yellow gold color.

S- Pretty general german beer smell, you know that that this is an old school german beer, nothing experimental or extreme here, just the smell of good quality german beer.

T - Crisp, refreshing, well-balanced. The moderately bitter hops and the sweeter malts of oktoberfest come at you all at once, and the alcohol is very faintly perceivable. A very classic, agreeable taste (if you like beer)

M- Perfectly carbonated for this style. Moderately high, but seems very well suited for it. Seems to break up the heavier grain bill of the oktoberfest style.

Overall - 4.5- 5. Refreshing, clean, yummy and satisfying. Don't miss out on this one ON-TAP. Don't seek out the bottles. They're green and skunk too easily.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2012 01:10:52 | More by Axismundi

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

4.08/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

6.3%abv. for this 500ml brown bottle, BB 16/04/09, served lightly-chilled in a pint-size weizen glass.

A: pours a dark golden to light amber hue, a creamy off-white head sustains well, on top of lively carbonation full of medium-size bubbles.
S: full-bodied grainy and semi-syrupy lager malts come with a rich lemon-tart-like sour citrusness; the "pure" maltiness transmits a very "focused" tinge of grainy aroma, while a little floral hops stays in the background. Overall very rich and malty, surprisingly pleasant!
T: delicious and integrated - starting from a slightly "quiet", compact taste of lemony+doughy sourness through the dried-grassy taste of hops, towards a slowly expanding wave of grainy+lightly-toasted malts and a moderate level of lingering & chewy bitterness in the aftertaste. A quite aromatic undertone comes from the "pure malts", lingering in the finish and prolongs the pleasure on the palate.
M&D: surprisingly smooth on the palate, way less fizzy as the appearance suggests, while the flavour comes at an equal level as the body, about medium to full. Overall I find this a well-crafted and deliciously malty strong Helles lager balanced by an impressive input of German hops. In a sense, this is a super-quaffable lager to me, thanks to the lovely hoppiness and a soft texture.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 18:39:02 | More by wl0307

DaveFL1976

Florida

4.08/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

We tried this beer out at our pub. For those that have visited Munch, it's tough to find a much more recognizable noun than Hofbrau. It's easier to say and spell than the Marienplatz Glockenspiel, is it not? And it's just a few blocks away.

So I think that's part of why this beer's special. It's not the most flavorful German Oktoberfest. I'd give that nod to Spaten. But, still, it's solid. Marzen beer's don't have to be amber and caramelly. They're the brewer's idea of what should be drank during Oktoberfest. And here's Hofbrau's version.

A light-honey colored body. a decent, bright white head. Smells of barley malt with a hint of grass. Taste is smooth yet full. There are definitely some hops that hit the back of the tongue. A nice balance, indeed.

No, this is not the most flavorful Marzen around, but if I were in Germany on a hot summer day, listening to um-pa-pa bands and swaying side to side with the other people at my table, this is probably what I'd be drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2009 15:07:25 | More by DaveFL1976

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +21.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours clear gold with plenty of large carbonation bubbles surging to the surface in tight streams. The head is dense and pure white, leaving extensive patches of glass all over the glass. Bready malts and subtle spicey hops make up the nose. The taste is very well balanced with fresh bread and cookie dough malt being kept in check by a backing of leafy, noble hops. The mouthfeel is full bodied for a pale lager, with a brisk carbonation level. The finish is straightforward with a long lasting, light bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2010 02:13:20 | More by CAMRAhardliner

jarmby1711

Australia

4.05/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A persistent white head over a clear light to mid gold beer.Bubbles were relatively large sticking to the side of the glass and were regularly released to feed the foam.
An even malt smell that a\has a hint of sweetness but not overly so and is tempered by a hoppiness that is a little grassy.
The taste was pretty impressive.
For a Lager it is as complex as I have had.There is a smoothness combining the none too sweet malts and the hoppy bitterness that has an orange/chocolate liquer finish to it.
There is plenty of carbonation and bitterness making it a stimulating drink to have in your mouth
How can macro lagers be so far away from this?
lagers get pretty shitty PR and I think this beer redresses the issues in an ever so small way

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2006 00:35:48 | More by jarmby1711

granger10

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Kind of a burgundy orange color with a smallish white head, but nice lacing. Smells quite grainy and a touch spicy, but mostly grainy. Taste is light on the mouth. Sweet malts but they seem a touch muted. Smooth though and enjoyable. Bitter hops provide a dry finish. Some alcohol notes creep in as this beer warms a bit. Not the most robust or flavorful O-fests but one of the more drinkable, sessionable O-fests I have had, even with the abv level. I think tap must be way better than bottles for this beer and most Hofbrau beers.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2006 16:16:07 | More by granger10

Haybeerman

Colorado

4.03/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear, bright golden color. Poured a slightly cream-colored head that dissipated pretty quickly before settlin to a skim that thickened around the edges. Very light lacing. Decanted slowly and steadily throughout.

S: Pale malt and slightly bitter Saaz hops with a light grassy note.

T: Very consistent with aroma; crisp pale malt and grassy hops. Finished very crisp and clean.

M: Medium thin body. Ample carbonation, but not overdone. Fresh, crisp hop bite cleansed finish.

D: Very drinkable. A solid choice for the style. Had a liter during the keg-tapping at the Hofbrau House in Milwaukee.

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2008 14:54:09 | More by Haybeerman

francisweizen

Australia

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a fresh 2003 sample. Brown glass bottle with no skunk! This stuff pours a lighter-than-average golden colour with a small, white head. The aromas are all bready malts, with no hops to be found. The taste is the same as the nose hints at. Malty, with not much complexity...a good quaffer to be sure. The mouthfeel is light for an o-fest and the drinkability is excellent.

Prost!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2003 18:19:07 | More by francisweizen

jackndan

Illinois

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hofbrau Oktoberfest: Well this is as close as it’ll come to reminding me of my trip to Weis’n in Munich. Not a deeply colored Marzen, but rather a Crystal clear golden beer with a very nice and creamy head, and mouthfeel. Exceptional smoothness and drinkability. Fairly nice malts, nicely balanced with almost citrus-y hops. Nice and easy to drink, but I come to find out a fairly dangerous amount of alcohol in such a tasty, light and satisfying beer. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2003 22:00:43 | More by jackndan

yelterdow

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

It's a gorgeous mid-September afternoon, and we've just closed the pool for the season. A dark green cover now drapes what was, just a few short hours ago, a crystal blue liquid paradise.

Served in this year's Spaten Oktoberfest glass at just over fridge temperature, I'm pairing this with pork bratwurst with mustard on a roll. Freshness date is L 184 H.

Appearance- Much more yellow than amber, this supports an incredibly sustaining four finger crown. Lacing is outrageous, draping the inside of the entire glass.

Smell- Clean and quite hoppy, this exhibits just a smattering of malt in the nose. No caramel or toffee aromas that one might expect from other beers of the style.

Taste- Simple, honest, and very good. More bitter and zippy than its malt-driven peers, this is perfectly suited to my meal.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- While the carbonation is aggressive, it really is perfect for the sausage... lifting the grease and fat from the tongue and leaving a gripping, dry bitterness for the next sip. The lighter body of this example really adds points for drinkability, and this will absolutely be a contender for the upcoming all-day festivals for this season.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2008 18:24:04 | More by yelterdow

jkrich

Indiana

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Half liter on tap at hofbrau restaurant in Panama City Beach, Florida. I have already tried this from bottle.

The beer arrived with a slightly cloudy, golden color with a fluffy white head.

As with most oktoberfests I have tried, this one lacked in aroma. Some faint malty, bready aromas.

Very restrained gentle malty flavor with hints of European hops coming through. This is a mild fest beer, and I must say it does not taste any better on draft than in the bottle.

Medium bodied with lighter than expected carbonation.

This is an excellent quaffer even at 6.0 ABV. It goes down extremely well and has enough character and taste to keep your interest.

Serving type: on-tap

10-04-2009 18:10:42 | More by jkrich

Reinheitsgebot71

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

To get into the real spirit of things with this beer I figured why not grill up some Oktoberfest sausages, braise some Savoy cabbage and boil up some nice mash, everything short of polka.

Well now that I had my spread in front of me time to bring my attention to the golden honey coloured Märzen with its froth off white head awaiting my consumption.

The smell was first off very bisucty and bready as I would expect from the amount of malt used in this style. Following were the refreshing, and definitely appropriate for fall, scents of apple and grape. A slight grassy note from the hops rounded out the bouquet nicely.

After a few mouthfuls of my Bavarian platter it was time to see Hofbräu washed down the fine fare of its homeland. A big punch of sweet yet crisp malt initially quenched my thirst with a surprisingly smooth and full mouth feel lingering on to a mild hoppy, alcohol bite in the end. Continuing on with my mini Oktoberfest the head had long since dissipated but the rest remained true to my first impressions getting slightly breadier as it warmed up.

With my stomach full and my thirst quenched id have to say this was a good beer especially along with its atypical food accompaniments. I would have liked it to be a bit darker and maybe a bit more complex malt in the profile but otherwise a decent beer for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 20:24:39 | More by Reinheitsgebot71

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Labeled as Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier 6.3%ABV
500ml bottle poured into a pint glass.

A - Clear deep golden colour with a big bubbly foamy head. The foam slowly reduced to a thin cap and some lacing.

S - Sweet at first with some fruity, spicy and floral aromas. As it warms up, citrus notes become more prominent.

T - Sweet malts upfront with a light caramel and honey profile. It's followed by a tangy fruity sourness with a light bitter hop finish. There's also a bit of a spicy note throughout. Surprisingly, I can't really taste the alcohol.

M - Sticky, tangy, bubbly with a crisp finish.

D - It's very drinkable.

I'm usually not a big fan of stronger Lagers but I like this one quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 18:20:31 | More by decimator

Dentist666

Russian Federation

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The third beer from this Brauerei for me.
ABV 6,3!
Pale gold liquid with high retentionable monolithic froth (2-finger). Pleasant hop aroma essentially overlays malt sensations. Bitter taste is moderate, low carbonation, major grain tones, decent additional bouquet. Calm pleasant mouthfeeling, you won't never say it answers its ABV, good non-typical Maerzen, recommended!

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2009 17:38:23 | More by Dentist666

ktrillionaire

Florida

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Deep golden-umber hue with initially plentiful ecru froth and lace, subsiding into a nice, robust brew.

S - Sweetness is immediately apparent in the form of caramel and toffee notes, but it is quickly tempered by some continental hoppiness. Pretty straightforward for the style.

T - The taste is basically as the nose would indicate, and is generally quite nice. The toffee and caramel notes are pleasant, not overly sweet. There is also a prevalent mineral quality and some roastiness.

M - Soft mouthfeel is quite enhancing.

D - One of the better Marzen/Oktoberfest brews.

Serving type: on-tap

10-16-2010 05:00:55 | More by ktrillionaire

GallowsThief

Florida

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 11.2 oz bottle into a tulip.

A - Nice light golden ale. Pours with just a small bit of a head.

S - Has just a touch of a sweet smell. Malty for sure.

T - Crisp. Has a bit of sweetness to it. It has a bit of a toasty taste as well. Quite good.

M - Light bodied. Has just a bit of carbonation to it.

D - Hell yes. Extremely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 00:32:45 | More by GallowsThief

tzieser

Arizona

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from a 5L keg into a .5L Lowenbrau dimple mug.

a: clear golden color with a thick white head that sticks to the sides of the mug. i'm glad it isn't an amber octoberfest. i was looking for a German-style marzen (pale instead of amber) and i got it.

s: sweet, bready malt aromas. mild hop grassy notes. has that unique German smell that many good German brews have (like Weihenstephan) very good.

t: balanced and flavorful. full bodied malt flavor with notes of bread and very subtle caramel flavor. grassy hop flavor balances the beer nicely.

m: nice and smooth mouthfeel

i seem to disagree with almost everyone here on this one. this is a great marzen. maybe some users think the pale color makes this a poor example of the Oktoberfest style, but they couldn't be more wrong. go to Munich during the last week of September and tell me this isn't a genuine fest bier. you can't!

recommended.

Serving type: can

09-04-2011 23:52:55 | More by tzieser

ngandhi

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sweet, nutty malt with bright, grassy hops. German Pilsner-influenced finish with great structured Vienna malt on the midpalate. Honey, light biscuit, hints of grain. Model body. Balanced, highlighting fresh malt and hops. Crisp. Archetypal.

Relax, relax.
ng

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2004 23:06:59 | More by ngandhi

thespaceman

Connecticut

3.98/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

I know it's late for Octoberfests but they're my favorite and I found this at the local store.

Appearance: Clear golden in color, poured out a nice head with decent lacing. Lacing seemed to stick to the top of the glas and became less prevalent on the way down.

Smell: Nice typical German smelling beer, earthy/grass tones are here, as well as a nice bite of some malt and some roastiness.

Taste: Pretty robust for such a light bodied beer, nut, a bit of fruit and some more grass tones pop through, a touch of raw honey in the finish and some small malt tones make this one a pleasure to drink.

Mouthfeel: Pretty carbonated, light in body for the typical Marzen yet it's perfectly balanced for what it is.

Drinkability: This is very sessionable, I wish I picked this up in the earlier months because I overlooked it too much. This one is easy to drink, smooth and satisfying. For the last October for the year, I'm going to miss them, but I'm glad I had this one to top off some great Marzens I've had the pleasure of trying this year.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2008 23:25:38 | More by thespaceman

textycoon

Louisiana

3.98/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this beer in April....not exactly Oktoberfest season, but i guess they are making it year round now. Poured into a mug (ironically made in Germany). Less than impressive color (light golden, almost like Miller Lite). Nice frothy head with decent lacing.
Great aroma with pleasant sweet maltiness. Somewhat thin mouthfeel, but very nice malt profile with a hint of sweetnes, finishing with light hoppiness. Very typical for the Oktoberfest style of beer.
Overall, my main criticism is for the average color/appearance of this beer. However, the taste and overall drinkability was quite good. Represents the style well.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2010 02:38:17 | More by textycoon

IndolentReader

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer has a lighter appearance than I would have expected. Nice aroma, pleasant, but by no means overwhelming. The taste is a bit milder that other Oktoberfest beers I've experienced. This did not knock my socks off, but it was pretty decent for the year's first cool day.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 22:58:03 | More by IndolentReader

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.95/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very light malt sweet aroma that is quite pleasant. Medium gold color that is a little light for style. Nice frothy head that has good retention. Lighter steady malt flavor with slight roast characteristics. Dryness from start to finish, and lasts but is pleasing. Somewhat full mouthfeel with it's sufficient carbonation. Would be easy to drink several in one sitting and probably enjoyable too.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2001 22:58:58 | More by garymuchow

acrawf6

Louisiana

3.95/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours out a dark straw/ slightly orange golden with a small white head that drops into nice lacing.

smell. An interesting smell that at first is a bit metallic. But as the beer settles, i get more of the malts, oaty and sweet honey.

Taste. I get a very natural sweetness. Lots of honey and sweet malts. It's quite nice. It has a small characteristic of honey nut cheerios. But the swallow and aftertaste is a touch dryer, but still a little bit sweet.

Mouthfeel. there is a good body here, has a nice smoothness, probably from the 6% alc. It fills my mouth quite nicely. Nice amount of carbonation and good balance.

Overall. This isn't my favorite oktoberfest, but is still solid and quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2006 02:39:40 | More by acrawf6

Augustiner719

Connecticut

3.95/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

O
Had on tap at the hofbrauhaus tent at Oktoberfest 2010.

Very yellow color with a medium fluffy white head that had some lacing but really off color for an Oktoberfest. The aromas were muted a bit but had a cornbread and honey like aroma. The flavors were light and crisp, but a little dull in comparison to that freshness note you get with the other marzens. Carbonation was spot on, though there was a slight alcohol bite that followed and made the beer have a dry finish. Overall, it was a good lager, but there are better example of the style especially when compared to it's German counterparts.

Serving type: on-tap

10-03-2010 22:35:44 | More by Augustiner719

Duttonic

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes 10/06/10. On-tap at the Dancing Bear.

A- Very light copper/dark yellow, 1 finger white head, no bubbling or lacing.

S- Medium malt (not overpowering or too strong), pecan, light brown sugar.

T/M- light/medium body, creamy, smooth, rich texture.

D- Excellent. This may be arguably the best Oktoberfest I've ever had, if not it is in my top three. You won't regret trying it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-18-2010 02:16:11 | More by Duttonic