Whether you spell it Oktoberfest or Octoberfest there's one thing that's for sure, there's going to be some great beer. Oktoberfest Marzens offer something special, there's just no other lager out there that tastes quite like a good Marzen. Their rich complex malt flavors combined with extreme drinkability offer something special that no other seasonal beer does. This is a beer designed specifically for a celebration. By pure design it's meant to be consumed in copious amounts and sloshed from heavy liter glasses in tents filled by the thousands. For this and many other reasons we look forward to Oktoberfest every year. But the question is, which beer do you serve at your party? With so many options which beer do you choose? Well we got together with some friends and put in the painstaking hard work (ok perhaps it wasn't that hard) to sample 8 offerings this year, both American and German varities. Read on to see how each beer fared.

1st Place: Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen

Appearance: On the darker side of the orange/copper spectrum. Tan head, about an inch or so barely rising above the top of the glass.

Smell: A little spicy and less malt. Less lager smell as well. Very clean.

Taste: This is everything we look for in an Oktoberfest beer crisp yet malty, superbly drinkable a little nutty, just great flavor all around. It's not too carbonated but not undercarbonated either... just right. Almost juicy... we don't know what we mean, but we all agree: almost juicy. At 6% abv, it's on the high end, but it's so drinkable we don't think you'll care!

Ah yes, the Fourth of July, that perfect long weekend of sun, bbq and, of course, beer! We can't think of any other day that really signifies the kick off of summer. With that in mind we put together a great lineup of beers guaranteed to get your summer off to the right start. For this installment we've got some of our perennial favorites as well as some new beers we've recently come across that we think you all need to check out. All right, enough talking, on to the beer.

 

Victory Lager

It would have just seemed wrong not to pick a beer called Victory Lager on Independence Day. What better way to celebrate our victory than by drinking a Victory? We actually had this first at a stout and porter dinner. Yes we're well aware this is neither a stout nor a porter, it was an appetizer beer if you will. The fact is this beer is incredibly easy drinking. Grab an extra 6 pack because when you friends try it they'll want to ditch their regular light beer for this  

Appearance - Clear, honey gold, fluffy white head. Looks delicious on a hot day
Smell - Sweet... a little like wild flower honey. But it's a light smell...

Taste - Quite light in the hops with a little biscuity malt... very little. This is just drink on a hot day beer. You could put quite a few away without fatigue! Overall a super clean lager.

Note: Jeff's apartment was REALLY hot on the day we did this article. Devon drank half a pint in about 10 seconds... yeah, it's that good.

 

Boulder Beer Company Mojo Risin' Double IPA

The reason we went with a double IPA for a summer event? Well, it's Independence Day! It's when we declared independence from Great Britain. The IPA is a British style... the double IPA is a style we stole and made better! More hops! More malt! More alcohol! More of everything, it's the American way. Plus, Mojo Risin'? This particular one was named after an American rock star... one who was way cooler than the Beatles might we add... The Lizard King himself! Mr. Mojo Risin', Jim Morrison!

Appearance - Copper and clear... off white head.
Smell - Smells like the hop room at Bell's Brewing Company in Michigan (this is just the biggest, most packed full of hops hop room we've ever been in... it probably smells like most hop rooms)... Plus a little alcohol and sweet malt.

Taste - Hoppy up front... not too bitter, but hoppy. Well balanced by quite sweet malt. Alcohol definitely shows through a bit, though.

This is a good pick for a double IPA on the 4th of July, though. It's not overly bitter or anything, so it won't destroy your mouth.

So you're confused now, we said we were giving you awesome cans and now all you've seen is two bottles. Well we're moving on to the cans now. Why cans? Ever wonder why your beer gets all skunky and nasty when left outside? It's light. Guess what light can't get in to? Cans. Yup, that's right cans keep your beer fresher. Not only that but their great around the pool, beach, fishing etc. Sounds like a perfect beer for the 4th if you ask us, and since you're still reading you must care what we have to say!

Butternuts Heinnieweisse Weissebier

Why Butternuts? Because it's really really good and you get to say Butternuts. We'd almost recommend it because you can say Butternuts all day but that fact that it's a kick ass beer makes Butternuts a no brainer.   

Appearance - Hazy yellow. White head... looks like most weisse beers.
Smell - German weisse yeast... Banana-y. It smells light and summery... wet grass after rain.

Taste - A little lime... Light, refreshing, crisp, tasty. Yeast is the predominant flavor, with a slight hint of light malt. Pretty delicious! This is one of the lighter weissbiers we've had and that's great for summer weather. Don't let the can fool you, this is some seriously tasty beer.

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale

Yeah, we've featured this before, and for good reason. It's freakin awesome. Add in the fact that it's a red white and blue can and it becomes a great bbq beer for the 4th. This is a hoppy one and it's great with some BBQ or spicy food.

Appearance: Medium amber with a nice light head
Smell: Hops, some more hops, then a bit of malt

Taste: BIG amarillo hop flavor followed by some nice smooth malts.

New England Brewing Co. Atlantic Amber

Appearance: Pours dark amber with a reddish hue and an inch of off-white head.
Smell: Very mild, very slight hint of hops, light malt

Taste: Slightly sweet malt. Very easy drinking. Barely there hops to balance the sweet. This is just a very smooth, easy drinking beer. Grab a sixer for yourself, and then another to share with friends.

 

 

Narragansett Lager

This is a very simple beer. Macro style flavor, but better. Available in 12 oz bottles as well 12 and 16oz cans. We prefer the 16oz cans especially on a hot day. This beer is very mild in flavor which makes it very nice to quench your thirst on a toasty day.
 

 

 

So you've got a decision this weekend, what do you bring to your Memorial Day BBQ? Sure there's one of the five beers from our Memorial Day beer and cheese pairing, but maybe you want something a little simpler, a little more drinkable...a little more...canned. Sure you could pick up one of many mass produced light beers, and it wouldn't even really be a terrible choice for a hot day of BBQ. You can do better though. This is where the Butternuts Mix Pack comes in. The greatness of this mix pack is really in it's simplicity, none of the beers are overcomplicated.

The pack contains Porkslap Pale Ale, Snapperhead IPA, Heinneweisee Weissebier and Moo Thunder Stout. The two real highlights of this mix pack are the Heinneweisee Weissebier and the Moo Thunder Stout. The Heinneweisee is a crisp weisse with just the right amount of sweetness, the stout is as good as an example of a session stout as it gets, light but still with nice malt bitterness. So if you're looking for something a little different this weekend pick one of these up.

Oh yeah, and the names of the beer are hilarious, which is always good for some conversation. 

Appearance: Cloudy straw color. White head that dissipates very quickly.

Smell: Tart peach

Taste: Tart. Light sweet/sour after taste. Dry...really really dry, the opposite of cloying. A hint of peach. A touch of malt at the very very very end.

All in all, a very different and delicious summer offering! This beer doesn't have the regular Dogfish Head house taste. Probably because it's dry, not overly sweet. This is Jeff's favorite summer beer... He'll probably drink it all summer. At $8 per 4-pack it might be a little expensive, but given increased beer prices, this is actually a pretty good deal!

Additional note from Devon: I normally don't like any fruit beers, not because I think I'm some super tough guy or anything they just aren't my cup of tea...errr or glass of beer in this case. I have to call this an exception though, there's no overwhelming sweetness and it really is a nice alternative for a summer beer.