Warsteiner Oktoberfest Review
There’s something magical about beer. It’s an elixir that brings people together and lightens the camaraderie with each sip. And it’s been doing so for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. And with a really great beer you can almost see, taste, and feel the brewer leaning over his or her kettle and smiling thinking about all the people that beer is going to bring together.
Well, one of the largest gatherings in the world happens over beer in Munich, Germany, and each year many smiling brewers bring out beers so people can gather over a frosty glass whether in Munich or not.
One of those brewers is Warsteiner. Established in 1753, they know something about the tradition of bringing people together. We are always eager to get our hands on an old school brew from an old school brewer. It’s something special to try years of dedication and perfection in a bottle, and I don’t think we’ll ever tire of it.
With this Oktoberfest beer, we’re expecting something very traditional, but we’re not sure if it will be like the lighter and hoppier modern festbier or the malty-rich Marzen. Only one way to find out.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Bright as pure gold and absolutely diamond clear. It has the slightest tinge of red and is topped with a creamy and tight head that diminishes moderately.
On the Nose--Oktoberfest is bready and rich with a malt depth that enhances the floral spice of the noble hops. A fantastic and inviting aroma.
On the Palate--Warsteiner’s Oktoberfest is very bready followed by a mellow sweetness that is cut by a mild hoppiness that allows the breadiness to return into the dry and clean lager finish. And dry and clean it is, which is a testament to Warsteiner’s long maturation process. It is rich and has an almost roasted caramel flavor like the crust on a pretzel accompanied by a malty sweet graham flavor. The mouthfeel is full and rich to match the malty backbone and it goes down smoothly (I’m only three gulps in and it’s almost gone!) leaving an almost herb-like freshness to coat the mouth and cleanse the palate.
Food Pairings: Brats, roasted chicken, pretzels, and pork schnitzel with a spritz of fresh lemon. Why not start putting on that winter weight now? Go for it, baby, it’s Oktoberfest!
Final Thoughts:
I never know what to expect when approaching a European Oktoberfest lager. Unless it’s labeled, it can be difficult to tell if I’m buying the lighter and hoppier Dortmunder-style festbier that is a more modern version served at Oktoberfest, or if I’m getting the sweet, roasted, and malty rich Marzen that is the original style of beer served at the festival. Many of the European companies produce the Dortmunder-style now over the Marzen, with companies like Paulaner producing both. Americans seem to prefer the Marzen-style, or so it appears by the selection we see every year.
But where does Warsteiner’s Oktoberfest fall?
Honestly, it falls right smack dab in the middle. It has the malty sweetness with that roasted caramel flavor of the Marzen matched with the noble hoppiness of the Festbier. It has a full mouthfeel, is quaffable as anything in the style, and has the perfect 5.9% ABV, making it the happy medium. I personally prefer the Marzen-style but Warsteiner offers the best of both worlds for drinkers on both sides of the aisle.
If you see this one, pick it up. If only for a case study (get it, case study) of a very traditional but also unique Oktoberfest beer from one of the greats. This one is worth a try.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
We loved this beer! But don’t stop here, check out a few of our other Oktoberfest favorites Paulaner, Hacker Pschorr, and Sierra Nevada’s Festbier!