Oktoberfest
Great Lakes Brewing Co.

OktoberfestOktoberfest
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From:
Great Lakes Brewing Co.
 
Ohio, United States
Style:
Märzen
Ranked #5
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
90
Ranked #8,192
Avg:
4.05 | pDev: 11.85%
Reviews:
736
Ratings:
2,554
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sunday at 10:46 PM
Added:
Nov 04, 2003
Wants:
  309
Gots:
  534
Prost! Our take on this classic German style is a celebration of maltiness— packed with rustic, autumnal flavors to put a little more oomph into your oom-pah-pah.

Über smooth with vibrant malt flavors and a festive flourish of noble hops (lederhosen not included).

World Beer Championships
4-Time Medal Winner (Gold, Silver)
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RoyalT:
Photo of RoyalT
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan

4.46/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Appearance – This is a brilliant, crystal clear lager halfway between orange and brown with a nice, off-white head that left lacing on the inside of my pint glass. I don’t want to call the beer copper because that really doesn’t do it justice. I just couldn’t stop staring at it the color was so brilliant and perfect.

Smell – No aromatic hops here so the bouquet is all malt, and man what a wonderful aroma this beer has. It’s toasty with a bit of whole wheat dough and very simple in the nose which is just as it should be. The smell rightfully lacks sweetness which is a big mistake among American brewers of the style.

Taste – This is phenomenal. The flavor picks up some hops but mostly it is an incredible mix of malts, and again the sweetness typical of many pretenders of the style is all but absent. The malt is raw and slightly doughy with a slight uncooked biscuit character supplemented with mature, unsulphored cane molasses, second molasses if not the third boil.

Mouthfeel – This is shy of medium in the body and pleasantly flat to mild with a teasing bitterness that begs for sausage and mustard. It’s a bit rougher than other versions that I’ve had but really hit the spot.

Drinkability – This is easily the best Oktoberfest beer manufactured in the US that I have ever had the pleasure to consume. It’s simple, straight to the point, on style, and literally transported me back to Munich.
Sep 17, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.08 by Danzifer from Ohio

Sunday at 10:46 PM
Photo of SWOhio-aquifer
Reviewed by SWOhio-aquifer from Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Best in class. Well, what is available in the Midwest anyway. Had this about 2O some years ago. Now, that I am revisting 'balanced beers' it stood out as a must try. Superbly balanced. Cheers!
Jan 28, 2024
Photo of Lucular
Reviewed by Lucular from Maryland

4.02/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tulip pint glass. Pours a clear burnt orange/amber color with a moderate head and not much lacing. Aroma and flavor feature toasty caramel malt, caramel but not overly sweet, and lightly bitter noble hop notes (floral/grassy/hint of citrus). Solid Märzen (though not quite top tier).
Jan 23, 2024
Photo of branko7
Reviewed by branko7 from Illinois

4.29/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I love this malty Marzen-style beer from Great Lakes. Has a light, reddish brown color, with a fluffy head which settles down completely. Not much smell, but tastes smooth, malty, a little sweet, with a balanced, satisfying aftertaste with a light showing of hops. Lightly carbonated with a good mouthfeel.
Dec 17, 2023
Photo of RPO
Rated by RPO from Minnesota

4.11/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Carmel, malt, extremely smooth yet still full of flavor
Dec 04, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Pours deep red orange with a small white head. Smells of bright fruit and some caramelized grain. Tastes of caramelized grain with nice bright fruit. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Nov 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.25 by gbiello from Massachusetts

Nov 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.08 by QuintusHorace from California

Oct 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.52 by Trainradio2 from Ohio

Oct 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by thedifferencemaker from Ohio

Oct 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Danmullens1 from Wisconsin

Oct 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by tommyd313 from Pennsylvania

Oct 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.39 by Overtonjd from New Jersey

Oct 01, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by rare_bird from Michigan

Sep 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by lsudduth from Ohio

Sep 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.19 by tobelerone from New Jersey

Sep 18, 2023
Photo of BelsoC
Rated by BelsoC from Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
In 2020 this was an excellent beer, but not anymore. Better options are out there; Ayinger and Devil's Backbone for example.
Sep 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.12 by Jacob313 from Michigan

Sep 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by Humanusfermentum from Virginia

Sep 13, 2023
Oktoberfest from Great Lakes Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 2554 ratings