Staghorn Octoberfest - New Glarus Brewing Company

JDV

Texas

2.15/5  rDev -45.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Bottle courtesy of Iowaherkeye. Thanks!
Think I waited to long on this beer. Pours a bright clear reddish orange malt with a small beige head. Smell is sticky, stale, gooey malt with band aid qualities and metal. Probably not as it was intended. Unappealing malt flavor and metal as well.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2008 21:51:33 | More by JDV

brewmudgeon

Wisconsin

2.48/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.5

staghorn

a 4-4.5 light golden orangy amber, a bit lighter than anticipated. the head is about one finger with good staying power. impressing lace for an o'fest.

s 3-4 fruity malt, very surprising aroma. would not necessarily have guessed the style, but it's pretty nice anyway. kind of a candied cherry nougat smell.

t 2.5-3.5 again it is atypical. the toasty caramel malt is there to some extent in the finish, but up front and midpalate it's fruit loopy. there is a good amount of flavor packed in here. the residual sweetness is higher than average but not too offensive, making this a candidate crossover beer. it's like a nice lowfat (see mouthfeel comments) oktoberfest sundae with a sweet cherry on top.

m 2.5-3 the body is bouyant and effervescent. lighter than i imagined a 6.25% oktoberfest woud be. there is a degree of coating maltiness, which is a good thing. not as substantial as i would prefer, but perhaps quaffability is aided.

d 1.5 as the weeks have rolled past, each bottle seems less appealing than the last. have not even finished the last several. there's just something weird in the flavor and burpback--probably the alcoholic fruitloopyness with a touch of aftershave. want to keep liking it, but i can't.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2010 01:44:42 | More by brewmudgeon

jegross2

Illinois

2.48/5  rDev -37.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Drinking this one out of a very large tasting glass from Goose Island. I only bought this exclusively to cook brats in, but decided to ciphon some for tryin'. Full disclosure, I tend to dislike lagers, and have not found a marzen that I like not made by Paulaner. On to the review

Appearance: a light translucent amber color, more yellow with a hint of brown than red. The beer has no head other than the fizzy carbonation.

Smell: Has a sweet corn and bread smell that reminds me of miller lite. Vague spices also seem to float around in the aroma too.

Taste: A diluted malt-and-spice flavor that has way too much "corn" and "grain" taste. There is a very faint finish.

Mouthfeel: a low bodied, watery beer with fizzy carbonation. Very clean, crisp and refreshing

Overall: This beer is very drinkable, but it's hard to distinguish this as anything other than a slightly spicer, more expensive miller lite. Again, I do not like the style, but even for a Marzen this one fell flat for me. It DOES make a great brat marinade, however.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2011 01:30:52 | More by jegross2

Buebie

Minnesota

2.55/5  rDev -35.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

A friend picked this up in Millwauky for me last week.

Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a snifter. No freshness date on the bottle, but I'm guessing its atleast 3 months old.
About a half inch head comes from a semi-rigerous pour. Forming a quickly fading fizzy cola like, white head.
Spotty thin streaks of lace with a thin film of retention.
Color is a copper amber, ultra transparent filtered and force carbonated I'd guess.

Aroma is sorta malty, but pretty much lacking any smells, with a rye touch and a woody kind of toasty aroma. Mild wisp of cocoa in there.

Not much for flavors either. I want to say I got more flavors off the thin and watery spotted cow.
Mild cereal grains, some doughy yeastieness and small hints of rye and really nothing else. Overcarbonated, with a tasteless carbonation finish, wet cardboard. Somthing metallic with a hint of sour sulpher like flavors lingering.

Dissapointed.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2009 02:31:57 | More by Buebie

Treebs

Illinois

2.6/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

My first Oktoberfest of the season! Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Deschutes snifter.

A: Pours an amber color, a little on the dark side, with a nice 1.5 finger white head that sticks around for a while. Leaves some nice bubbly lace on the way down.

S: Big on the malts with some little spices coming around. Pretty typical of the style.

T: Just big malts and some lager-like qualities to it. No really spiced notes or anything. Not the biggest fan.

M: Light to medium bodied. Crisp and clean with a smooth swallow. Very drinkable.

O: Wasn't that impressed with this one. Big malts and nothing else. Very one dimensional.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2011 16:26:35 | More by Treebs

dhannes

Wisconsin

2.65/5  rDev -33.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Revisited on 10/25/12: Dark golden color...nice, but too light and not enough red vs. other "märzens." Faint aroma...sweet taste, maybe some bourbon. I stand by all my thoughts below...raised the appearance to 3.5 (from 3.0), taste to 2.5 (from 2.0) and overall to 3.0 (from 2.0)...a good beer, but more like a good lager, not a märzen nor an amber.

Poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint:

A=Very pale straw yellow; too yellow for a märzen, but a rich, 4 finger white head brings it up to an Average.

S=Hint of sweet corn and wheat, plus a sweetness.

T=Not at all like a märzen--corn presence is overwhelming...this is very close to their Spotted Cow. Enjoyable, just not a good example of what an Octoberfest should taste like.

M=Drinkable, but a bit too sweet and not enough body.

O=Huge disappointment. Okay to sell this, just don't call it an Octoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 02:43:03 | More by dhannes

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

(Served in a glass mug)

A- This beer pours a crystal clear light amber body with big bubbles gliding through it and a thin head that fades to a ring before my first sip.

S- The very faint smell of toasted nougat is balanced by a green hop hint at the finish. Even as the beer warms the aroma is still very light.

T- This beer has a light tangy toasted malt note with a clear and dry sulfur note. As the beer warms there is a hint of Munich malt and a faint tap water taste at the finish.

M- This beer has a light mouthfeel and a tight little fizzy finish.

D- This beer is very clean in flavor even as it warms.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2008 01:20:00 | More by rhoadsrage

WoodBrew

Illinois

3/5  rDev -24.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was able to try Staghorn last night at an Oktoberfest party. The beer poured clear, amber orange with a sudsy, off white head that settles pretty quickly. Not much lace to speak of. The scent for the most part was typical grain and slight alcohol. The taste was dissapointing to me, the beer was slightly sweet and a mild spicy hop character that balances well in the finish. There's a vague fruitiness in the aftertaste with warmth as well. The mouthfeel is ok...the body was fine I dont think I can have more than one though. Overall it is ok worth a try ...sure....more than that....eh.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 20:51:51 | More by WoodBrew

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.03/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed 1/10/2010. Bottle thanks to FlssmrBrewAlum. Pours a clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of stale, grainy malt. Flavor of sweet light malts and a grainy, crackery finish. Some excess sweetness in the aftertaste. On the bland side but ok overall for an oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 17:24:19 | More by LilBeerDoctor

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.03/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a pinto glass.

A- Poursa a deep dark orangish gold. Has a light fizzy head that dissipates right away. Nice and Clear with ample light penetration.

S- Light caramel malt notes with a slightly skunky hoppy finish. Overall though the smell is rather sweet. More malty than skunky for sure.

T- Slightly sweet with hints of caramel and some bready notes. Ends on some what of a watery tasteless finish.

M- Very light and smooth with a medium body. Low carbonation. Really coats the inside of your mouth after each sip.

O- This beer was good and definitely drinkable however the low carbonation made it seem very off. The scent was rather poor although it smelled alright. Kind of a swing and a miss for new Glarus. First of their beers I have ever tried and felt this way about. Hoping this bottle was defective but I'm not so sure. May try again at some point if I get the chance but this was really a rather bland marzen.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 04:50:39 | More by Zachtheporter

Redrover

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -23%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz brown longneck. Why doesn’t New Glarus freshness date?

The beer pours a nice reddish color with a inch of tan foam. Good lacing through out.

The beer smells of malt, caramel, and something that I can’t really identify except to say it’s a musty smell.

As others have mentioned, it is not your standard malty Oktoberfest. I get the malts, but I also get a metallic twang, not sure what causes it, but it somehow does not really detract that much from the taste (at first) . Taste changes a bit mid-glass. I got a bit of fruit and the beer seems to sweeten. About 2/3rd into the beer the taste turns for the worse as an old musty taste emerges to match the strange whiff I got when I first opened the beer.

Carbonation seems turned up a bit to much for this style. This beer tastes much different than I remember it tasting a few years ago. I may have had a old beer or a bad 6 pack and will review when I buy it again next year as every beer in the six pack had the same off taste as the beer warmed.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2003 03:03:59 | More by Redrover

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.05/5  rDev -23%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a orange-ish yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, a malty sweetness. As for the taste, again a dry malty sweetness that is quite balanced. A smooth malty mouthfeel and a clean and dry aftertaste. Sweet and malty, dry end and a decent oktoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2008 16:59:43 | More by OWSLEY069

goodbyeohio

Oregon

3.1/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

hmm... h m m m m m m m m ...

thanks to tavernjef for the sample

cool label, a little out of sorts for the typical new glarus 'color-on-white' style. dark beer, dark label? i dunno. regardless, this beer pours reddish brown and rather clear with a thin, consistent layer of tightly-packed film. intricate oval patterns on the surface. little to no lacing. aroma is smoky, sweet malts with rich, tangy fruits like near-ripe apricots and plums. some gluey notes and tea leaf aromas give it an 'off' character. mouthfeel is somewhat abrasive for something so smooth... tangy metallic hops meet an odd sour flavor in the finish. gingerbready malt adds some good flavor and then excessive fruit and sharp alcohol emerges.. essentially falls apart, becomes a mess in your mouth. does not hold up to similar marzen o-fests, see hooker.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2005 14:15:54 | More by goodbyeohio

morimech

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -21%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a clear amber color with a small white that quickly settles to a thin cap. Moderate amount of lacing is left on the glass surface.

The aroma consists of roasted malt. Very faint aroma and it is not giving up much.

A strange maltiness dominates the flavor. Sort of musty and earthy. No hops detected.

On the lighter side of medium bodied. Carbonation is moderate and not harsh. Nice texture to the beer.

I like most New Glarus beers but there are a few I just don't get. This one goes on that list. The high ABV does not aid in drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2008 18:56:37 | More by morimech

trevorwideman

Manitoba (Canada)

3.15/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle given to me by demcorhip, poured into a pint glass.

Vigorous pour produces a full 2 inches of head, retains well and leaves a little wet lace. Light orange colour, appears to be filtered. Carbonation is subtle. Aroma is very sweet with caramel and apple juice in the forefront. Lots of graininess and earth with a subtle pepperiness in the background.

Flavour is juicy and full of apples and pears then followed by a bit of nuttiness and lots of grain. Damp earth, then some peppery spice. I'm not going to lie, this is more than a little bit sweeter than I would like, a bit more balance would be lovely. Mouthfeel is very wet and almost watery with a bit of stickiness in the throat, carbonation is very mild. All in all, one will do, this is a very sweet Oktoberfest and I prefer a little more balance on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2008 02:40:26 | More by trevorwideman

blackearth

Minnesota

3.15/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into the perfect pint glass, this beer showed an amber body, not red as the label description suggests, and a puffy white head. Aroma is of "clean" malt, I don't know how else to describe it. Medium bodied with a bready, biscuity but also straw-like malt flavor that becomes less appealing as I drink. I had much higher hopes for this beer, but I found it to be kind of boring overall. I'm sorry to say I won't be picking up a 6 pack this year.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2009 14:33:03 | More by blackearth

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.18/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Meh. I'm a big fan of New Glarus, but not their Midwestern style stuff (Germanic) so much. The Octoberfest, was a little different than I expected. Again, seemed a little thin maltwise, hop character, even for an Octoberfest, seemed muted.

Really like the label . . . does that count for anything.

Anyways, in summation, one of my favorite Midwest breweries, one of my least favorite and seemingly unadventurous brews from them. Mild taste, some would call it smooth I guess if they're fans of it. I guess if you like a mild brown ale with more carbonation, this is your thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2009 22:46:39 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Hachiman

Japan

3.2/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours an attractive burnt orange-gold with a tall white head that subsides to less than a finger. Very fine lacing.

Smells bready/yeasty with a bit of hop aroma.

Taste is less hoppy, very malty sweet at the start and finish.

Not very substantial but saved by adequate carbonation. Very little alcohol impact.

Another sessionable New Glarus beer, fortunately for those doing Oktoberfest in Wisconsin. What about the rest of us?

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 23:43:14 | More by Hachiman

klshanks

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A 12 ounce bottle poured into a 16 oz pint glass. Thanks GDBEERMAN for this!

Appearance is quite good, about what you'd expect from an oktoberfest. A little more orange than brown.

Smell is pretty good. Malty as one would expect.

The taste isn't quite my cup of tea. A little bit too yeasty for me. But then again I'm not necessarily a huge Oktoberfest fan to begin with. I've definitely had worse but I've also had much better Oktoberfests.

Mouthfeel was a little heavier than I would like. for this type of beer. I little to heavy to drink em all day, which when I do drink Oktoberfests, I prefer a more sessionable beer.

Again, thanks GDBEERMAN!

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2010 00:26:31 | More by klshanks

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to hannydawg for this bottle.

A: Pours a translucent golden with 1 full finger of white head.

S: Smells sweet and yeasty. I'm picking up some nice mild spice too.

T: Starts off sweet and malty. Then, the spice mingles well with the carbonation. Finishes sweet and smooth.

M: Light-bodied beer that seems extremely thin. I was really hoping for some more heft to this brew.

O: This is decent beer, but it's not outstanding. There are many other Octoberfest beers that I'd prefer. I'm glad to have tried it though.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 00:43:33 | More by trxxpaxxs

steveh

Illinois

3.33/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I haven't reviewed Staghorn in the past because, frankly, I didn't care for it to style. Yes, it's good drinking, well-made, but I never cared for its character as compared to Bavarian Oktos or even many other Micro Oktos. Many here at BA rave over it, thought I'd give it a third (maybe tenth?) chance.

A -- Clear, amber orange with a sudsy, off white head that settles pretty quickly.

S -- Pretty nondescript, but some mild DMS comes through along with mild, spicy hops back. Some vague breadiness and fruit esters, along with fusel alcohol come through with warmth.

T -- Mildly roasty up front with a nuttiness so common in American versions of Oktoberfests (but not Bavarian). There's a mild spicy hop character that balances well in the finish. There's a vague fruitiness in the aftertaste with warmth as well -- not great for a lager.

M -- Mouthfeel is soft and the body is medium with a dry finish.

O -- Giving this a 4 for overall because it's well worth sampling, even though it doesn't really fit a true Märzen Oktoberfest in style. I really wish NG would start using some of the imported malts used in 2 Women, but maybe I'll just grab more 2 Women for my Oktoberfest pleasure.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2011 21:13:47 | More by steveh

ChopperSmith

Minnesota

3.33/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a long neck brown 12 oz. bottle into a standard clear pint glass.

Appearance: Clear light amber color with barely one finger of off-white foam. Foam faded quick and left no lacing behind and no cap.

Smell: Sweet corn and bread-like malt. Little to no hops present. A bit sweeter and perfume-like than a typical Marzen Oktoberfest style.

Taste: Watered down sweet malt and some corn flavor. A lot sweeter and thinner than most good Oktoberfest beers, and not malty enough. Could also stand a little more earthy hops presence to balance all that thin sweetness out.

Mouth feel: Light body with typical carbonation. Pretty typical.

Overall: I like a lot of the beers from New Glarus, but this isn't one of my favorites. Way too sweet for a Marzen Oktoberfest style and way too thin and watery. There are too many good Oktoberfest beers out there to have any reason to seek this one out again.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2011 23:45:26 | More by ChopperSmith

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.38/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass.

A- Light golden with off-white 2 finger head, and a ton of lacing that remains on the glass.

S- Sweet caramel and amber malts.

T- Sweet amber and crystal malts. No noticeable hop finish.

M- Thin and a bit watery. Very easy drinking though.

O- Meh. Just ok. It would be a good beer if your planning on drinking a 6 pack or tailgating, but just to plain for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 01:52:07 | More by kawilliams81

brystmar

New York

3.38/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Golden orange pour, beady lace. Strong bready aroma, fruity too, very Marzen-esque. The nose really shines here.

Taste is straight up malts and kinda watery. Mild hop profile as it descends. Body is far too light & weak. Lack of flavor makes this one quite sessionable.

Great aroma, the rest disappoints.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2012 03:46:08 | More by brystmar

deebo

Minnesota

3.38/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-An agressive pour into a pint glass gave a healthy 2 fingers of white pillowy head that quickly breaks down into a film. Plenty of CO2 bubbles. Perfectly clear. Color is golden/amber.

S-Marzenish. With the toasted malts being most noticed, there is also a note of that adjunct corn that I get out of most lagers. Very faint aroma of grassy hops. As it warms some alcohol aroma.

T-Nice, although a bit weak, flavors of slightly toasted malt. Clean lager flavor with a weak bitter finish.

M-A bit weak in body. At 6.5% the alcohol is well hidden. Moderate to high carbonation that works well given the clean lager flavor.

O-I tend to sway towards a more malty sweet version of this style. However this beer is well made and I'd have no problem knocking these back on a crisp fall day. Just a bit boring with a weak malt backbone.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 02:34:42 | More by deebo