From malty Märzens to lighter festbiers, there's an Oktoberfest for everyone
8%
The dark malts (and the booze) lend it a bit of sweetness, but the hops come through at the end and give it a dry finish.
5.5%
Hints of caramel and toasted grain, along with some floral hops and toffee flavors. A nice malt character and a crisp finish
5.2%
Lagered in French oak barrels from a Napa Valley cabernet producer, giving it a smoother mouthfeel. A nice toasty, biscuity flavor to it.
6.5%
A well-balanced, award-winning brew, and it stays true to the malty, bready style while also adding a touch of hoppy bitterness.
5.7%
It’s more toasty and bready than it is sweet and caramel-flavored, and it expertly toes the line between the heavier and maliter Märzen and the lighter, crisper festbier.
5.5%
It’s crisp and sessionable, with just the right about of malty sweetness, which means you can easily crush several of them without worrying about getting too sloppy.
5.3%
Sam Adams’ Octoberfest has been around for more than 30 seasons, and rightfully so. It’s an extremely good example of the style, it’s a great entry-level beer for Oktoberfest virgins.
5.5%
It’s darker and maltier than usual, with a nice graham cracker aroma on the nose, and it’s got some herbal and floral hop notes to provide a little balance.
6%
It’s well-balanced and very drinkable. It’s sweet enough that it goes down smooth, but hoppy enough that it’s not cloying.
5.6%
Traditional German malts are never overpowering, though, and it’s got a crispness and a slight bitterness to it that sets it apart from some of its sweeter peers and gives it an extremely pleasant, dry finish.