Bell's Brewery's Oktoberfest

I'm not real sure why I've been holding on to this one, but I'm sitting across from a plate full of sausage from Taylor Cafe, so I'm glad I did.

Pours a clear golden amber with a nice light tan, pillowy head. Sweet malty smell, with a slight spicy zip to it.

A bit more bitterness in the taste than I expected based on the smell. It's actually fairly bitter for the style. Still malty, but it tastes like a fall pale, as opposed to a marzen.

I don't know. I really like the brewery, but this beer seems off type enough for me to not like it too much.

Real Ale Brewing Company's Oktoberfest

I'm glad to see the various new beers from Real Ale. I've liked them for years, even back when people were complaining about carbonation issues, or distribution problems, or whatever it was cool to complain about at the time. All that seems to be behind them now, and I haven't heard a complaint about them, legitimate or otherwise, for some time. What they need now is a good stout--but that's not a complaint. I just want someone to give Southern Star and Independence Brewing a run for their money. And I love Saint Arnold's, but their stout is flat-out inferior to the others.

This one pours a nice, clear orangish-amber with a great small celled tan head that stays well. Smells very mildly spicy, and zippy.

Light taste with low bitterness and malt, with a good spiciness for the style. I don't really know Bavarian Style from Marzen, but they taste pretty close to me. Which makes this an excellent beer for an Oktoberfest.

Shipyard Brewing Company's Tremont Mr. Oktoberfest Seasonal Ale

Pours a nice, coppery amber with a great light tan head and decent carbonation. Nice malty, slightly spicy and zippy smell.

It has a decent, sharp bitterness that is on the more bitter end of Oktoberfests, but still very good. Medium to light body that is very smooth and keeps it very drinkable.

Not a bad beer, but in general just kind of there. It's more because the style is kind of mediocre in general, I guess. It's on type, and nice, but unremarkable.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Company's Oktoberfest

I know it's fashionable to have beers as early in the season as possible, but it's still October, so I don't feel like I'm terribly late in having my first Oktoberfest. Even if we are three weeks deep in October and Saint Arnold's Christmas Ale is coming out any day now, which is entirely too early.

Wow, great copper color with a nice tan head that stays better than most lagers. Looks loosely filtered, with decent carbonation.

Nice malty but zippy smell. The noble hops give it a slightly spicy smell as well.

Good body for a lager. Caramel malts overpower any hops, which stay in the background. Tastes like a very strong Coors, but I don't mean that in a bad way. Fades to a hollow maltiness, but the aftertaste stays malty for quite a while. The hops are more twangy than bitter, which I think they could improve upon.

Good beer. On type, but could use a little more oomph in the body if you ask me. I like the mild hops and strong aftertaste. Probably my favorite Texas Oktoberfest. It drinks very well, and before you know it the glass is empty.

Avery Brewing Company's The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest

Interesting. An Imperial Oktoberfest... lager. I'm intrigued by this one, actually. Most "imperials" piss me off.

Pours orangish and coppery like an Oktoberfest should, but heavier, with slower bubbles like an imperial would indicate. Good light tan head for a lager, it sticks for a while with decent (but relatively slowly rising) bubbles. Hope that's a good sign of a bigger grain bill.

Nice. Smells hoppy and spicy, but more peppery from the hops than spicy from any additions. Good malt backbone as well. Not bready or sweet, but there.

Damn, that's the heaviest lager I've ever felt. Great Oktoberfest flavor, malty, slightly hoppy, and peppery, with a body that for once earns the Imperial designation. The 9.73% ABV, almost unheard of for a lager, starts to bite as it warms, so drink it as cold as possible.

One of my favorite Avery beers, if not the best altogether.

Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau's Oktoberfest

Kinda old, I guess, to be had in August, but let's see how it does anyway.

Pours a clear copper with strong carbonation and a small-celled tan head that stays. Looks almost like a bock, but a bit shy of it.

Smells malty, and a bit spicy. Very slightly peppery. Almost a bit of pilsner in it.

Tastes follows the smell closely, but more of the pils funk than before. Very clean, yet lots of malt. Light hops, almost like the bitterness comes from the malt more than anything.

Good beer. Probably my favorite Spaten.