Bell's Octoberfest Beer
A coppery amber lager that showcases a full bodied, malty flavor that is balanced by a refreshing bitterness derived from fine noble hops.
3.2
681 reviews
Comstock, United States
Community reviews
Medium-dark malty, maybe not again
I'm not typically a fan of Marzen beers for some reason. Some of them have made me almost gag, I'm guessing due to the heavy, dark malt flavor. So I went into this not expecting much. However, I like the balance on this with the hops. There was enough of the malty, caramel flavor to keep the distinct Marzen profile, but it was not over-powering. I really liked this and will buy it again.
Marzen is one of my absolute favorite styles and Fall is arguably my favorite time of year to drink beer because of all the examples of it.
Bell's presentation however is medicore at best. Has all the appearances of a great one (even has a nice warm, toasty malt nose to lure you in). But it falls flat on the palate, which unfortunately is where it counts most. Thin and pretty dry, with more bitterness than is typical of the style. Not terrible, but not a Top 10 (or Top 25) contender either.
PS: at least spell Oktoberfest correctly. Looks dumb with a 'c'
More hops than most of the other oktoberfest beers I’ve had. Not bad but I’ve had better. Spicy aftertaste takes away from the malty goodness that this style should be.
12 oz. bottle purchased at Total Wine - Melbourne, FL. Pours a crystal clear golden bronze color with a beige head and great retention. Spotty lacing. Sweet malt aroma. Classic sweet caramel malt Oktoberfest flavor with just enough hops to keep it from being too sweet. Super clean and smooth. Medium body with low carbonation. Excellent beer!
Clear amber appearance with active carbonation and a beige head. Aroma of toasted malt, baked bread, mild floral notes and light grassy notes. Similar flavor, smooth and malty with mild sweetness and a light bittering balance. Medium to light body with a lingering finish. Well done.
Maple syrup body mixed with brown sugar watery finish with a bit of honey complementing it.
October 5th, 2015 - It's that time of year, where we transition from one slightly overwrought trend (pumpkin beer) to one more tailored for my tastes: Oktoberfest. I know Bell's darker beers are quite famous, but this is the first time I've spotted one of their seasonal lagers. In the glass it is a brightly lit orange brew, with the smell of a corn maze. It's a sweeter aroma than many Oktoberbests, but not too sweet, evocative of glazed carrots and a little fresh glue. The body is moderately full, with enough heft to carry some malt, but thin enough to be fresh and drinkable. The aftertaste coasts for a long time with a clear, swee pumpkin flavor (oh, the irony), and a more general vegetal and squash taste. Overall, this take on the Oktoberfest feels well balanced. Even if it leans to the sweeter side of things, it still expresses as a well balanced brew.
From bottle. Clear amber, medium white head. Super malty. Grainy, smooth. Nice.
On tap. Pours a clear amber color with a fair head. Aroma of caramel, bread and malt sweetness. taste of light malt sweetness with caramel and trace of grain. Nominal bitterness and a slightly sweet finish. Moderate body and smooth. Decent seasonal offering.
Ar: Grainy, slightly toasty; sweet, grassy malt. Ap: Orange and crystal-clear; large off-white head with excellent retention, slowly receding as a big, airy, rocky cap. T: Clean, grainy, toasty malt; crackers and a little biscuit; low sweetness; bitterness is low, with no hop flavor; toast and understated malt, very rounded; finish is warm baked crackers. M: Medium body with high carbonation; smooth; finish is medium-dry. O: A very good octoberfest; full of rich malt flavors without being sweet or caramel-forward; full-flavored yet quaffable.
Draught @ Albion (10/7/19). Clear amber with large foamy light beige head, caramel malt aroma, high carbonation, medium bitter caramel taste, faint toffee flavor, thin body, longish finish. A good 'fest bier.
Bottle poured a clear amber with a small lasting creamy ivory head. Aromas of toasted malt, graininess and light earthiness. Palate was light bodied and crisp with a smooth dry finish. Flavors of toasted malt, caramel and light earthiness with a smooth dry lingering caramel finish.
Pours dark golden with a quickly dissolving white head. Lighter than other American fest beers, but still has a nice toasty/malty flavor. Slight vanilla sweetness. Really nice festbier.
light malty aroma. amber and clear in color with huge long lasting head. taste is lightly malty, not as rich as others, lighter body
Pours a clear amber with a medium white head. The aroma, containing toasted malt, caramel, and bread, is more subdued. A faint bitterness is detected in the taste, which is also slightly sweet. The flavors represented here follow the nose pretty closely. Caramel, bread, nuts, and some floral and toasted impressions, finishing with mild floral and caramel. Its medium in body and smooth in texture. This one is ok, but its nothing to get excited about.
Draft. Pours a medium, well retained off white head, over a clear amber (SRM 15) body........nose is mild malt aroma, with slight caramel tones, mild herbal hop notes......taste mild malts, slight caramel tones, hop notes, slight bitter finish, hops dominant......mouth feel, medium light body, no alcohol, moderate carbonation. This misses the stated style greatly and it might be just this cask that is off.
12 ounce bottle at Winking Lizard Copper Ohio. Slight hint of malt. Light amber in color with white head. Taste the malt and is light bodied Caramel after tastes. Very nice and would drink plenty more. Cheers!
Light hazy orange gold color with a tall cream color head. The aroma is malty with notes of caramel and grassiness. The taste is mildly bitter.
Bottle (Jul 21, 2021 bottling).
Head is initially small, frothy, off-white, mostly diminishing.
Body is light to medium amber.
Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted grain/bread, caramel), lightly hoppy (orange, flowers).
Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter.
Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter.
Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation.
Not as good as last year's, to be sure...weaker aroma, more watery, less flavorful (not enough bitterness in the finish). 2020 batch was sixer-worthy, but this...not even single-worthy.
Copperish pour, failing head. Nose is malty. Middle is velvety soft caramel, medium malt, hint of wood. Finish is malty with a light herbal push. Lacks some depth for me, but an enjoyable brew.
On draught at Old Chicago.
Pours a slightly hazy orange gold with a healthy head of foam, healthy amount of lacing.
I notes of bread, a light fruity character, my nose doesn't pick up very much.
Taste is bread, grainy, earthy, no sweetness light bitterness.
Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
An okay example of the style.
First sample of this brew by Bells. One of the better seasonal Oktoberfests of this year. Liked the Sammy Adams as my choice last year for the domestic Okts, but this could be my choice thus far for this season. Not as good as Ayinger's, but pretty darn close. Lighter to medium orange appearance, with frothy off-white head. Creamy texture and smooth mouthfeel. Flavor is the typical caramel malt, but a little extra hop finish than the norm. Was winding down on my Marzen's already, but after this sample may have to pick up a 6-pack of this.
Pretty good märzen. Slightly acrid, but otherwise perfect.
Bottle from Village Beer Merchant. Clear golden. Grainy, caramel, hay, light citric. Some sweetness, slightly bitter.
1 finger of foam head with little to no lacing. Bready malt aroma. Notes of malt, grains and slight caramel taste. Slightly sweet finish mixed with mild hop bitterness.
Bottle, Hy-Vee Oktoberfest 2018. Light amber, foamy white head. Aroma of caramel, bread, malt. Taste was mild sweet, caramel, malt.
Didn't know Bell's made an Okto; picked this up at Brown Derby Int'l Wine Center in Springfield, MO. Aroma of caramel malt, nuts, fruit, noble hops. Flavor a little off and metallic to start before it finishes with more characteristic Okto sweet malt and toast. Not noticing the bitterness in the description, but as an Okto, it shouldn't really be that bitter anyway. Not that full-bodied, either; felt a little watery, actually. Overall, a decent Okto that fits the style pretty well; nothing particularly great or bad.
Pours clear copper with a full, light tan head. Aroma is Munich hops. Taste is light caramel, moving to light roast and Munich hops. Finish is light hoppiness. An OK Marzen.
12 oz bottle. Pours amber with tall, long-lasting, fluffy white head and lively carbonation. Aroma is of grassy hops and bready malt. Body is medium and crisp. Grassy hops and biscuit malt fill the mouth. Finish is long and dry. Nice brew.