Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

kangarooAdam59

Maine

3.63/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Into a pint glass:

A: slight tan/white head, dark amber yet clear body

S: normal malty "Oktoberfest" aroma, slight citrus

T: sweet and bitter at different times between malts and hops

M: light, sessionable, watery aftertaste and finish

O: average "Oktoberfest" to me, yet I still tend to get this one every Autumn, perhaps not as into Leinenkugel's as I used to be

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 15:40:18 | More by kangarooAdam59

hustlesworth

Ohio

1.93/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A- bright clear burnt orange amber with a nice beige head and some hefty swirls of lace.

S- caramel malty and some grassy lemony hops and a toasted edge. Smell is rather diluted, tart, and a little skunky.

T- taste is of crap and chocolate water. Ok maybe not that bad but it is watery and cheap tasting, oddly bitter in the finish, with an out of place sweetness.

MF- full and creamy in the mouth thanks to certain carbonation, but the bubbles fade fast leaving a sugary water feel.

D- never been a leine fan, never gonna be. Their beers just don't do it for me and this one is going down the drain.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 03:07:41 | More by hustlesworth

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

2.63/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a mug.

A: Clear amber with two-finger, off-white, creamy head that lasted a couple of minutes. Okay lacing.

S: Some malt and fruit. Alcohol and soap.

T: Light sweetness and moderate bitterness. Kind of a nasty bitterness. Not much good malt there to balance. Bad metallic flavor.

M: Light to medium bodied. Lively carbonation. Clean and crisp.

O: This was slightly below average. Not the worst beer I've ever had, but certainly not something I'll be trying again. The smell and taste were not good.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 02:31:01 | More by SolipsismalCat

JustinAniello

Connecticut

2.85/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - Pours a light copper brown with a foamy two finger head. Dissipates to a nice lacing that disappears over time.

S - Caramel and bready malt create the aroma.

T - Slight sweetness of caramel followed by a bitterness. Metallic aftertaste lingers. No heavy flavor, all of it is very light.

M - Light bodied and well carbonated.

O - Not a huge fan, strange aftertaste with very mild flavor. Heartening the overall profile would do wonders for this beer. Certainly low on my list of sampled Märzens.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 00:55:29 | More by JustinAniello

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

2.8/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours the expected orange color, except its just a touch light for me. Decently thick white head. Carbonation is somewhat average.

Smells strongly of caramel and adjunct malt. Odd combo, but maybe the smooth sweetness of the caramel will offset the airy sweetness of the adjunct grains.

I definitely get caramel sweetness, but there is a slight metallic twang that isnt good. There is an astringent bite that Ive never liked in any beer. I was expecting sweet smoothness like usual, but I guess Ive been spoiled but German marzens.

Sits light, but not in a good way. The caramel malt works its ass off to balance the astringent adjunct grains, but it loses. It does get a last word in the aftertaste.

It has all the parts of a good Marzen, but it needs some more smoothness, and alot more caramel malt. Not terrible, but far from good.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 19:45:01 | More by VncentLIFE

Mora2000

Texas

2.73/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

The beer pours a reddish-amber color with a small white head. The aroma is sweet toffee and sugar with no real hops present. The aroma is much sweeter than I expected it to be. The flavor is heavy on the toffee with some biscuit malt also mixed in. There is a slight metallic flavor to the beer, as well as some grape and other fruit notes. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 02:03:30 | More by Mora2000

sirdrinkwell

Florida

2.42/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A gift from my ever loving mother who just visited me from the midwest...

A-pours into my pint glass as an overly opaque amber. Minimal bit of white head and sticky

S-I get a tiny bit of bread. The rest of what i smell must be ambient scents in the room. To put it short, there is pretty much NO detectable scent here.

T-muted taste at best, i get bitter root and bready vegetable from this beer. this brew tastes like chewing on a root (in liquid form).

M-alot of carbonation in this brew, too much in fact.

O-not good. in all fairness, it is not the absolute worst beer i've ever drank. but again...not good. nuff said. If they're charging a buck fifty for it at the hockey game, go for it. beyond that, pass. yes, i've officially achieved beer snobbery?

salud!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2011 04:04:48 | More by sirdrinkwell

JayS2629

Alabama

3.48/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear amber with a one finger white head that fades quickly and leaves spotty lace.

The aroma is of toast, honey, caramel and herbal hops. Simple and on the malty side.

A little hoppy for the style. Nice, sweet caramel and honey notes with earthy and herbal hops on the finish.

A little thin and overcarbonated.

Overall an easy drinking, simple beer pushing the boundaries on the hops for the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 17:39:52 | More by JayS2629

Rantingfury

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I opened up the bottle and poured into a small glass. The head, which was of an off white color, was about a finger thick and faded quick. The color is a nice dark amber, while the aroma has the citrus notes and a hint of the malts in the beer. The taste was a good mix of malt and hops, with the hops taking the first moments of the taste and fading back to the malt. The mouth feel was surprisingly thin considering the aroma and taste. Overall I feel it's a solid seasonal brew, not outstanding, but a good fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 18:45:50 | More by Rantingfury

Crundy

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance: clear dark copper color, half a finger light cream colored head

smell: caramel malt, fruit, citrus hops, slight alcoholic smell

Taste: toasted malt, bready, caramel, nice hop flavor, grape flavor, very little bitterness

mouth feel: very smooth and creamy, very little bite or carbonation, medium light body

overall: good beer, maybe a hint too sweet but overall very drinkable. Not very complex in flavor but it is pleasant to drink. I'd buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 17:47:21 | More by Crundy

zdk9

Texas

3.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A- Pours crystal clear light copper or orange (what's the difference between those two anyway? especially in a crystal clear beer...) A finger of white head that leaves quickly.

S- Smells malty, sweet, a bit corny. After I drink a bit, the vinous quality (see below) seems to invade my nose.

T- There's a very distinct grape/winy taste to this, very much like sweet red grape musk. It's a bit yeasty, but also fairly sweet, and grapey, bordering on a grape soda or dr. pepper. An unexpected taste that seems more like a Vienna lager to me. There's also some sweet honey and corn, and some dirty hop flavors in the back.

M- Here the sweetness really comes out and is somewhat overpowering.

O- Certainly a different take. My verdict is still up on whether or not it's a worthwhile take...

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2011 06:23:18 | More by zdk9

beerprovedwright

Georgia

3.35/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

From bottle to my pils glass resulting in a less than finger head of white foam. Color is a 8 on the SRM beer color chart. Smell of wet hay and clover. Taste is full with flavors of barley, cooked corn, lime, and clover. Mouthfeel is light coat of cream, with good tingle. I would not think of buying this again, not because of the flavor, but it is just not my favorite style.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 13:18:02 | More by beerprovedwright

Dadoftwogirls

Florida

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

This beer really is hard to describe. I bought a six pack to give it a try. However, it just doesn't impress at all. Taste is odd and slightly bitter on the end. There isn't any depth or real character that makes me want to have another. I finished the 6 pack but it was forced so not to waste beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 22:24:14 | More by Dadoftwogirls

Lemke10

Wisconsin

2.98/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I had this on-tap at Wedges in Janesville, WI in the Fall of 2011. It was a 12 oz glass for $3.

Poured a clear amber color with a decent light head. Scent was mostly that of malts and wheats, but much more dry and crisp smelling than those used in summer beers. Has a crisp and clean taste to it. Malts, wheats, and spices were decently mixed together. However it was fairly watery, especially when I've drank probably 15 other Oktoberfest beers. It was a good drink and went down fast but yeah it was too watery and the taste was about average. I know this stuff sells great in Wisconsin but even I'll admit that there are far better tasting Oktoberfest beers our there.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2011 04:09:24 | More by Lemke10

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: 1/4 inch head, reddish-caramel in color, clear, moderate carbonation

Smell: toasted malt and some bread

Taste: bread, toasted malt, and a strange but good mix of sugar and bittering hops at the end.

Mouthfeel: sweet with a slightly bitter end, moderate carbonation, medium-light bodied

Overall: An ok marzen, that is probably one of my least favorites from Leinies. The sweetness is not overpowering like some Leinie’s beers. This is true to style, but nothing really jumps out to differentiate this one. I will most likely pass on this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 15:33:22 | More by tigg924

RJLarse

Washington

3.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I bought a six pack of Leinenkugel's Oktoberfest in a grocery store. Poured into a pint glass.

Pours a clear copper color, with a thin white head. Many bubbles are rising in the glass.

Smell is a faint cereal grain aroma.

Taste is typical of the style, sweet bread up front. with a little floral perfume flavor on the finish. Mildly acerbic aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is thin and fiarly smooth.

A drinkable O'fest, not a great one. I'd have it again though. Not bad.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 00:59:40 | More by RJLarse

fsvan

Tennessee

2.42/5  rDev -22.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Bottled poured into imperial pint glass.

A- Pours a light (for the style) amber. Very clear. Minimal off white head.

S- Malty dark bread, but not much of it. A very tame nose on this one.

T- A mild bready malt flavor one anticipates from a marzen, but there is an unpleasant sourness to it. It isn't huge, but replaces the malty sweetness that I expect. Not good.

M- Medium bodied.

O- Not a very good marzen. Not a very good beer. Will not revisit.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 23:35:04 | More by fsvan

Dave128

Kentucky

3.2/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz twist-top bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A - A rigorous pour yields a 3 finger offwhite head that actually lasts for quite a while -- slowly settling down into a ring around the outside of the glass. The color is a clear rusty orange.

S - Doesn't smell like much.. just slightly musty grains.

T - Similar to smell, but it has a certain sour sweetness to it that is quite appealing to me. Can't really pick up much ingredient-wise.

M - Light bodied - A little heavy on carbonation.

O - Not impressed. This beer doesn't capture the full malt quality that a Marzen should.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2011 18:07:12 | More by Dave128

hdf561

Virginia

2.68/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Since its October thought I would give this a shot.

Drank Ice Cold out of a bottle, can see the copper color even through the brown bottle.

Dont like the smell it actually sends a shiver in my spine.

Can taste the carmel, and it also tastes a little smokey in my mouth, leaves a tad bit of bitterness with the after taste and has a very dry finish.

Overall not a bad beer probably wouldnt buy it again as there are other similar beers that are better and cheaper, I however would not turn it down if offered.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 00:09:38 | More by hdf561

Minkybut

Virginia

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

I poured this average beer into my tumbler at 45 degrees. The beer was a nice copper color and poured a nice white head. However that head did not last very long. The lacing did but thats the short end of the head story. The beer had a bready smell. The taste was slightly sweet but not much taste going on here. Actually the brew was kinda watery. I will not buy again.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 16:54:08 | More by Minkybut

cagocubs

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass.

A: Pours a transparent copper color with white head that sticks around and struggles to lace as it recedes.

S: Caramel malts, brown sugar sweetness, some bready notes.

T: Can taste the caramel malts, brown sugar, and bready character. Not as chewy as other marzens. Some bitterness comes through the end.

M: Lighter-bodied for this style. Good mouth coating with an ok finish.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 00:40:46 | More by cagocubs

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a clear, bold gold with a thin head that quickly disappears. It's aroma is of nuts, bread, and toasted malt. The flavor is nutty with notes of toast and spice with a mild hoppy tang in the finish. The mouthfeel is light-medium. Leinenkugels Octoberfest is a good beer, balanced and a great match for schnitzel and sauerkraut. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 00:08:35 | More by B967ierhunter177

Fatehunter

Oregon

1.93/5  rDev -37.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Poured into a tulip glass. Fairly light amber color, finger of head that was quickly gone to nothing.
Smells like wet hay that did not quite make it into the barn before the rain and was then left out in the sun for a couple days. I am familiar with the smell but not from my beer.
Kind of tastes like a adjunct lager with an extra dash of barley. So if this was an adjunct lager it would have incredible flavor... but it is not. It is lacking in the maltiness of a Marzen.
It has a light body and is very carbonated.
Overall a poor attempt of the great Marzen style. Drink it if you want a more flavorful adjunct lager with a high level of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2011 01:57:21 | More by Fatehunter

SkeeterHawk

Texas

3.25/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I am drinking this beer from the same glass that just had a Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest in it, so this beer is up against some tough competition (I rinsed the glass well). I am a pretty big fan of this style, and love this time of year for this reason also. Anyway, let's get down to reviewing this beer that I picked up at the Kingwood Spec's.

Appearance: Pours a clear amber color with a small head of antique white bubbles that was there for about 30 seconds. There weren't a weren't a whole lot of bubbles rising to maintain the head. There is a little bit of lacing as you drink the beer.

Aroma: My initial impression of the aroma was that it was super reserved. I expect it to be clean, but this aroma is almost non-existent in the cold beer. There is a little bit of sweet malt in there as a light caramel. As the beer sits, the aroma doesn't get much more eventful. Again, it is clean, which means there are no flaws and that is difficult to do. I don't get any negative interaction with the water or anything. It is just clean.

Taste: The flavor is pretty much on with the aroma. Clean and slightly sweet. There are a few more toasty notes in the flavor than I picked up in the aroma, so this makes you think that the Oktoberfest style is the one they were shooting for. There really aren't any hops to speak of. The carbonation is a bit low, but the body is light, so this is probably a good thing as this beer is obviously coming in on the lighter side of the spectrum. If it was more carbonated, it would probably make it more noticeable that it is thin. The finish is a little sweet and rather uneventful.

Opinion: This is an OK beer. It shows that the brewer knows how to make a Lager, and it is well balanced and clean. All this said, it is like a more "mass produced" beer quality to appeal to the masses. I just had a Hacker Pschorr, and that beer absolutely showcases the malt so much that it is like drinking a milkshake. This beer is a bit like a Budweiser "premium product" that is clean and made to appeal to the masses. I would definitely choose other Oktoberfest beers before I would take this one, but if it was on tap at a pizza joint or something, I would probably have a glass as it would probably go pretty well with pizza.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 03:33:07 | More by SkeeterHawk

Fulky

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Eh, not bad. Not bad.

I was going for a twelve pack of Samuel Adams Octoberfest, and spotted this so I decided it'd be a good weekend to try something new. I really enjoyed the Summer Shandy so I thought it would be good to experience another seasonal Leinenkugel's brew.

I'm going to start out of order to say, although I'm not sure if I just got an off twelve pack, that the smell was just god awful. I usually always smell it straight out of the bottle as soon as I open it, and the smell was practically paralyzing. It smelled like a really skunky Budweiser or some other beer produced en masse that sat out in the sun for days. I poured it and took another whiff to see if it was just my nose deceiving me... but no. it smells bad,

That being said though, the pour wasn't bad at all. A very nice creamy white, two-finger head that hangs around... but with little to no lacing. Nice light hazelnut color that is perfectly clear.

Tastes pretty good also. Although personally, the caramel malt flavor is a bit too much for me. I prefer the more bitter, spiciness of hops in other Oktoberfests that seems to be lacking in this one.

The mouthfeel was crisp... noticeable carbination with a fairly full body... a little bit watery but not dramatically so. A pretty dry finsih. Good drinkability.

Not something I would drink everyday. I'll probably stick to Sam's Octoberfest in the future... but hey, it was worth a shot and it wasn't too bad. Just another notch in the belt for Autumn beers tried, and it's one worth trying. Pretty average, I'd recommend trying it at least once.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2011 02:34:00 | More by Fulky