From Bryce Eddings,
Your Guide to Beer.
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What the Brewery Says...
"Amber in color. This medium bodied beer has achieved its impeccable taste by balancing the roasted malt flavor with the perfect amount of hops. Having a rich textured palate with an underlying sweetness true to tradition."

Do About Beer's panelists agree?
(Want to contribute? Check out beer tasting panel information and FAQs.)

Mike - 3.5 out of 5

Went beer shopping today and found two of the beers on the list-decided to sample Spaten first. I chose a clear glass mug I brought back from Gerany, although the traditional beerfest mug would be stoneware. The beer was a medium dark, like a strong tea with a goodly amount of head that dissipated but didn't completely disappear. The nose was familiar to me, having spent lots of time in Germany. The taste was pleasant and slightly bitter, but not as much as the IPA's I usually prefer. I had to buy a 12 pack of Spaten, which doesn't break my heart, cause I don't mind drinking it. I have to note this was export (12 oz.) not half-liter bottles.

Kyle Sanders - 3 out of 5

This beer pours beautifully: bright gold with a dense foamy head.

However, the head quickly disappears and the aroma quickly reveals a problem – it is skunked. I can detect a light malt aroma at first and even some hops, but it is over-powered by the skunk smell and fades quickly. (Why does any brewery still use green bottles?)

The beer has a mild malt flavor with hop bitterness biting right up-front. It’s not an over-powering bitterness, but a bit out of balance for the style. Both flavors linger for a decently long finish, tipping to the hops at the end.

Compared to the Sam Adams, this beer has more flavor and character, but the body is not as smooth and the balance is off. I like hops quite a bit, but they are a bit too aggressive here. The skunk factor made it very difficult to review this beer fairly, but in the end, what is available to the consumer is what counts.

I can’t help but wonder how much better this could have been.

James Estes - 3.5 out of 5

12oz bottle tasting:
Rating = (3 yard glasses)
Aroma: “Grapey” with “skunky”, malt liquor like overtones.
Color: Amber / dark copper in color

It was challenging to get past the aroma of this green bottled beer at first, but as it warms and airs out the drinkability of this beer did improve. Nevertheless, this beer is much “warmer” in alcohol and noticeable from the first sip, so it won’t take long to get past (or forget) the initial aroma that hit you in the face.

As is typical of this style, the Spaten Oktoberfest is low in carbonation, head retention and bitterness. There seems to be no discernible hop aroma either. You will, however, taste significant malt, hints of grape-like taste and a smooth mouth feel.

As this beer warms you’ll know it means business. It says, “hey, it’s Oktoberfest! Let’s get to the beer garden and get to business.” There’s nothing complex about it’s taste, it’s malty, it’s smooth, almost flat in carbonation and “warm.” This is a no frills Oktoberfest / Marzen that will more than get the job done. While it might sound quite friendly and drinkable, it can be challenging to consume if you’re not in the mood for such an event.

For those wanting to experience this style, here’s your chance. Finding it fresh and un-skunked will be you biggest obstacle, but don’t let it keep you from experiencing this timeless beer from Spaten.

Dawn Allcot - 3.5 out of 5

What better way to celebrate Oktoberfest than with the world’s first Oktoberfest beer, brewed in Munich?

Perhaps it’s because I’m accustomed to American beers, but Spaten Oktoberfest has a much more complex flavor than I’m used to and a unique taste I couldn’t pinpoint at first.

Hints of caramel and hops combine for a bittersweet celebration of flavor.

The medium-to-full-body, moderate carbonation and sweetness provide a feeling of butterscotch drops on the tongue, which quickly dissipates to the second layer flavors of roasted malt and hops.

The amber-colored brew poured with a thick, beige head. I think I poured the beer into the pint glass too quickly the first time, however, because subsequent glasses yielded a less dense head, less than one-quarter inch high. Like reviewing beer, pouring beer is an art I am still practicing!

This complex beer is fun to drink, as each sip reveals different textures and flavors.

Spaten Oktoberfest is clearly a good complement to heavy German food—or even American autumn comfort foods such as stews and roasts—but is also great to drink by itself, allowing one to appreciate the different flavor fusions. The bitterness knocks it off my personal list of “favorite beers,” but I feel enriched by the opportunity to savor such a historical beverage.

Flavorful, neither too heavy nor too light, Spaten Oktoberfest is exactly what one would expect from the brewer who invented Oktoberfest. I probably would not have chosen Spaten off the shelf if it weren’t one of this month’s review beers—but I’m happy that I did.

Dawn's Website