September 12, 2025 • 42 mins
Ever wondered what sets authentic German Oktoberfest beers apart from their American counterparts? We embarked on a flavor journey through seven genuine German brews to find out!
This special "Septoberfest" episode features something we've never done before – comparing exclusively German Oktoberfest beers side-by-side. We explore the subtle differences between Marzen, Festbier, and Oktoberfest styles from Germany's finest breweries: Erdinger, Benediktiner, Paulaner, Weihenstephaner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, and Hofbräu. What struck us immediately was how remarkably similar these beers taste compared to the wide variety found in American interpretations.
The standouts? Spaten Oktoberfest Marzen took our top honors with its perfect balance and smooth maltiness, followed closely by Hacker-Pschorr's traditional offering. Among the lighter Festbiers, Weihenstephaner impressed us despite its unusual aroma. Yet we discovered that any of these authentic German options would satisfy an Oktoberfest craving – none scored below average in our tasting.
Between sips, we share fascinating Oktoberfest trivia: did you know the festival began in 1810 as a royal wedding celebration? Or that Munich's Oktoberfest sells a 57% ABV specialty beer for €600 per liter? We also explain why only six specific Munich breweries are permitted to serve at the official festival, which now attracts over 7 million visitors annually.
Whether you're planning your own Oktoberfest celebration or simply curious about authentic German beer traditions, this episode offers the perfect primer on what makes these seasonal classics so special. Grab a stein and join us for a virtual trip to Bavaria – Prost!
Thank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at northbeerguy@gmail.com.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Grab a beer and pull up a chair.
Welcome to the Northwoods BeerGuy Podcast.
Hey, jim, are we at Oktoberfest?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I think so the hair date.
Yeah, hey Jim, are we atOktoberfest?
I think so.
The hair date.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, hey, yeah, prost yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I don't know much German there, buddy.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
No, that's about it, schnitzels and stuff like that.
But yeah, there you go, hey,well, hey, ladies and gentlemen,
welcome back to the NorthwoodsBeer Guy podcast.
This is Mike, the NorthwoodsBeer Guy, and, as always, I am
joined by jim.
How you doing, buddy doing goodman.
So you know, we were talkingabout that.
We're going to have our annualaugustober fest, right, well,
(01:13):
life got in the way andschedules didn't line up very
well, so now we have septoberfest, I guess.
Yes, well, that doesn't hurt,though, does it?
No, no, we're still gettingthere before the actual
Oktoberfest.
So that's good.
Yes, now, I know we hadmentioned before.
You were looking around tryingto find Oktoberfest beers, and I
believe they started rolling inkind of heavy lately.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, I had to get in there quick, because they were
going fast too, were they?
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, there you go.
I'm actually really excitedabout the ones you brought today
because, well, I'll let youexplain it.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Oh well, I know that the listeners know that we've
tried a few oktoberfest beers inthe past.
Right, a lot, or, yeah, a few,a lot of times, yeah.
So the one thing that I thinkwe've been missing I could be is
we've never really compared theactual German Oktoberfest beers
against themselves.
(02:09):
So I thought maybe there'd be away we could do one podcast on
that.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, you know, I think you're 100% right.
We've usually had, you know, afew, and then a few American
ones and things like that, butwe've never concentrated just on
the German Oktoberfest.
So, yeah, that's cool.
So what?
We got one, two, three, four,five, six, seven of them, five
bottles and two cans, andthey're really heavy duty.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, Duty heavy, there you go.
I think they start what at 5.7%and go all the way up to 6.3%.
I figured they're probablygoing to be somewhat close.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And I think what was interesting too and I don't, you
probably are going to be ableto correct me or somebody can
but so that we have some octoberfest, we have some fest beer
and marzon.
So I don't know if they're allthe same, because some bottles
say all three words on the label.
I don't know.
I wasn't able to reallydecipher or find anything of.
I did find a little bit, but Idon't know if it really is going
(03:06):
to help the listeners.
I don't know if you know.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
You know, cause I always hear Marzon and
Oktoberfest are the same, andthen Festbier typically the the
American Festbier anyway arealways like a little hoppier,
but I don't know if that's thesame over in Germany.
Right, you know, and I thinkwe'll just say they're all very
closely related.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Okay, so they're all fitness category and maybe now,
by testing these against eachother, maybe we'll get a little
bit different flavor and we'llbe able to decipher it a little
more.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And now, looking at the names of them, a number of
the breweries I've heard ofbefore, you know, we've tasted
some of them before.
Of course, these are the 2025versions, yes, but there's a few
that I've never heard of, oh,you know, and so it should be
interesting to try them out.
Awesome, so yeah.
And if you notice our littletaster glasses, they say Prost,
(03:57):
oh Prost.
So see, we're in the mood herefor some Oktoberfest.
Oh, there you go, so should westart.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
We might as well.
I don't know if you saw the.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I saw that.
I was hoping it was justdescription.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Oh, I did bust out some questions for you, great.
Just in case you thought youmight have been sleeping at the
wheel.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Well, yeah, I was going to snap you back in
reality here Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That sounds good.
We better try a beer firstbefore we get into hard stuff.
Which so closest to you,closest to me, is the lowest ABV
.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Okay, so this one, and this is one of them that's
in the can and it's a pint can,okay, and this is by Erdinger,
weissbrau, weissbrau, and thisis their.
Erdinger Oktoberfest.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Does it say?
I think that one was in.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Germany Brewed in I don't know somewhere in Germany.
I apologize, folks.
Look at a lady carrying a bunchof beers and a guy taking a
beer.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
It could be us.
Could be us.
Looks like a hat you've gothanging on your wall there,
doesn't?
Speaker 1 (04:58):
it Kind of, I don't actually have lederhosen but you
know, the hat would be okay.
The hat would be okay, the hatwould be all right.
All right, so we're gonna.
We're gonna start her off.
So now you said this one was5.7, yes, and it says it's an
octoberfest.
All right, so we will check itout here.
Well, it looks like anoctoberfest, a little lighter in
color, I think, than theamerican ones.
(05:19):
Anyway, you know, a lot ofthose are kind of that, almost
an amber type color, right?
This one one's pretty light incolor.
Oh, there's a good aroma.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Oh yeah, you can smell that one, you don't have
to worry about not smelling that.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
One Good aroma.
You know white head on it.
That tastes pretty good, that'snot bad.
A little hop flavor, but notover the top or anything Right,
just so you get a little bit offlavor with.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I think, yeah, yep.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
That's for sure.
I don't don't mind that one atall.
No, I could definitely drinkthat Now being in a pint can?
I'm not saying I would drink asix pack in one sitting.
There you go, but that's,that's pretty good.
You get a little bit more beerwith that one.
Yeah, exactly, Take us a fewmore minutes to get done with
the can but I mean, the flavoris really good.
I mean yeah smooth finish.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Where did you all of these?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I bought at woodman's oh okay, so that you're able to
do build your own six-pack, ordid you have to buy them?
Buy six-pack a piece, buysix-pack a piece there.
Yeah, that's always kind of thethe tough part on some of these
.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
You don't see a lot of you know in the build your
own six packs but I did go tofestival and I bought two build
your own six packs ofoctoberfest, so I have a lot of
the american 2025 versions nicefor maybe some possible upcoming
episodes okay well, yeah,because we will have plenty of
time for some more october fest,right.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So it's a rough job, but you know, we we got to do it
each year, just so thelisteners are up to date.
I know you're forcing me to doit, so I'm going to have to yeah
, you, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
So what are you thinking on a score, first one
out of the gate?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I do like that.
I guess you know, when I firstwas getting into this one, I
thought, okay, is it going to bemore of the malt forward kind
of version, like the US has alot more of?
This one, I don't think, isquite like that, right?
Like I said, there is a littlebit of a hop flavor to it, but
not bad, I do like it.
I'm going to go like a 2.6.
I think it's a little betterthan average and I'm trying not
(07:16):
to paint myself into a cornerright off the bat, but I do like
it and the artwork on the canis very nice.
Yes, that's very good.
And at 5.6?
5.7.
5.7.
Like you said, you could drinka few of them even though
they're in a pint can, right?
Yeah, I think it's good.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And I think I could be speaking out of turn, but I
believe these are all going tobe relatively close in our
scores.
Sure, I don't think we're goingto have one standing way out or
one way so you're saying wehave to go to a hundredth of a
point.
We might if it push comes toshove, I think, because these
are all, since they're allgerman, I think they're all
gonna technically probablyshould be very close in taste I
(07:52):
bet you're right, it's gonna beinteresting, yeah, so I mean I
like the first one.
I mean, like you said, Idefinitely think it's definitely
drinkable.
I'll go with 2.6 on as well.
I like it.
I mean I definitely could haveone, sure.
So I did actually find aquestion that we're since we're
talking about it okay did youknow that during the oktoberfest
in germany that beer fromoutside munich is prohibited?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
really did you know that?
I did not know that, okay, soso all of the like, the big beer
halls and that are all rightfrom Munich.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
So the only beer that is sold at Oktoberfest is beer
only from Munich's localbreweries, and those breweries
are six of them.
Okay, what are those six?
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Hofbrau there's one.
Is Hockershore.
There's two.
Oh yeah, you put me on the spot.
And um, toby's gonna be so madwhen he listens to this, and
(08:58):
there's some big name ones too,um spaten yep, oh, um geez, what
else do we got it?
It's uh, is it Paul Paulainer?
Yep, I don't know how topronounce that, so you got four
of the six.
Uh, and you know what's the sadpart?
I've watched videos about theMunich Oktoberfest and they've,
they've listed off all of thebeer halls and their beers, and
(09:21):
their beers, and I am just notum, and we don't even have we
don't even have.
We don't have the last two, wedon't even have oh, geez, uh boy
, I I'll take the four out ofsix and and be happy lowen brow
really lowen brow okay and thenaugustiner beer, huh okay, so
you know you only get minus 200points.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Nice, I would have had a minus a.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
I know you were really close.
Let's see here.
So Lowenbrau, I never wouldhave even thought.
I don't typically connect thatto Oktoberfest.
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Right, it says the rule is set to ensure that
visitors enjoy a taste ofauthentic Bavarian brewing, as
Oktoberfest beers still have theoriginal gravity along with the
alcohol content.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
That's crazy.
I mean, those are all prettybig-name breweries all in Munich
.
Yeah, that's pretty wild.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Well, I'm sure they know they can sell a big amount
of wine.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I'm sure that couple weeks of the year they're
selling beer like crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
You want to make sure you're overstaffed for that
weekend, exactly, all right.
Well, now is this one for mysignificant other's family?
It could be, I'm guessing.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
This is by Benedikner .
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Is that how you say it?
Is that Benedikiner?
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Is there a Tiner at the end?
B-e-n-e-d-i-k-t-i-n-e-r.
All right, Well, I'll trust you.
Yeah, However, you pronouncethat it's a fest beer.
They're fest beer.
And look, they've got a partyon the can.
Well, look at that.
That should get a tenth of apoint right there.
Yeah, they've got all sorts oflike beard kegs and guys playing
the horns and all that goodstuff, all kinds of fancy stuff,
(10:58):
guys and ladies, and all that,and this is brewed in Lichten.
Oh jeez, I can't even pronounceit L-I-C-H-I-H-E-S-S-E, ooh so.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
I'm not exactly sure how to pronounce that.
Say that five times reallyquick.
I can't even say it once.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
All right, and I've had one sip of this other beer
and I can't read it.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Now, this is another Fest beer, a Fest beer, so the
first one was Oktoberfest.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yes, this is Fest beer, so this will be
interesting to kind of see.
Like I said, you know, theAmerican versions of a Fest beer
are usually hoppier, so we'llsee how this compares, how this
pairs out.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, all right, looks the same color as the
first one, pretty light, prettylight.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Pretty light.
It does have a little differentaroma, yeah, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Almost a little fruity, doesn't it?
Kind of Is that hops?
Speaker 1 (11:46):
or fruit.
It's almost got a fruity aroma.
That's interesting, that's notbad, that's solid as well.
Yeah, wow, taste-wise it's gota weird, it's got a different.
I don't know what that flavoris.
Yeah, fruity than the flavor,but the flavor is definitely
different than that first one.
Right, definitely.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Oktoberfest and Festbier are made differently.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
There is a difference between these Interesting.
I wish it said.
Of course, if it was on the can, it would probably be in German
and we wouldn't really be ableto read it.
Yes, because they don't give awhole lot of information.
No, and it says Festbierl yeah,only the brewery and the type
of beer it is.
Yeah, and then, of course,their picture.
(12:29):
Whatever the picture is on theartwork well, at least they're
having fun brewing?
oh, no doubt, no doubt so.
And doing the artwork, it lookslike they're having fun too,
and that one's that one's good.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I don't.
I don't have any anythingnegative to say.
I mean that's, this is going tobe so difficult, we're going to
be splitting hairs.
I think you got that right.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I mean, this is, and luckily you get to go first on
this one.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
So so I guess I do like it a tad more than the
first one.
I don't know if it's a littlemore flavor, I don't know, but I
think it's not bad.
There's nothing.
I can't say anything negativeabout it.
I'm just going to say a 2.7.
I do like it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
It tastes good.
The only thing I can say andagain, this is really splitting
hairs, because it's not bad atall it does kind of dry my mouth
out just a little bit on thefinish oh, that's it you're
right.
Other than that, I think theflavor is a little bit better
than that first one.
The aroma was a little better,so I'm gonna do the same.
I'm gonna go to seven, uh, and,like I said, the only knock I
(13:23):
had was just that it kind ofdries your mouth out a little
bit on the finish, but I'd stilldrink it, you want to give me a
little hit and then I'll readyou another question.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
You bet this is a multiple part question for you.
Oh boy, okay.
What year did Oktoberfest beginin Germany?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
You know, the sad part is we talked about this
before and I don't remember theactual year I was giving him
something.
I will give you his parts ofthe one.
I'm pretty sure it did Okay1846.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You're close.
1810.
Oh, dang it.
Okay.
And it started not as a beerfestival, but as what?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
It was to celebrate the wedding.
Okay, we got that one right.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Okay, and it was a wedding between who?
Speaker 1 (14:06):
This guy and this lady.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yes, Correct, or do you want more specific?
Could you get just a touch more?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
A German guy and lady All right, it was like, wasn't
it like?
Was it King something?
And I don't remember theirnames.
Dude, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
So he was the crown prince Ludwig Okay, who would
later become king.
Yes, and he was marryingPrincess Therese of Saxony
Hilbergerhausen.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
That's easy for you to say.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
See so her name, Princess Therese and Prince
Ludwig.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Okay, I knew.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
I was going to say I thought it was a prince, but
then was like, well, wait aminute anyway.
So that was only minus 500 foryou.
Not bad, I don't mind that.
And then the reason whyoktoberfest because they got
married at the end of september,right, so that's why the yep
festivals and that's pretty.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
That's pretty crazy when you think about it, because
it I mean the name oktoberfestis huge, but it actually started
in september.
Yeah, the end of september,right?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
yeah, that's pretty wild so now, now I'm going to
remember these because I triedto find some.
I will have some otherdifferent questions, but at
least now I'm getting yourefreshed.
So now you can bring these out.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Exactly, you see all your other.
I didn't remember the wedding.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yes, you did.
You got it.
At least you got part of itright, I got part of it right,
and you were in the first bottle.
Ooh.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
All right, and this is by Pauliner, pauliner Munchen
, oktoberfest, marzanOktoberfest, so this is.
The ladies on their bottles area little like old school German
.
Looks like a monk there in themiddle too, right, yeah, and
that lady here a little bigger,that's a big German lady.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yes, not like the first two cans.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
No, not like my low-cut shirt.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
We can't give a tenth of a point for artistry on that
one.
They got the wrong thing goingthere.
Exactly these guys went moretraditional, I think.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Or the other ones went more hip, all right, so
this is the first one that saidMarzon, all right.
Ooh, this little bit differentcolor.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Yeah, a little darker .
Speaker 1 (16:09):
This is making me think that because the American
it's more this color, Right, Ithink.
So let's see if it's a maltylike the US version, that's got
a different smell.
Different aroma, againDifferent aroma.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Little bit maltier flavor, right, not bad though no
, not bad.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I mean, that's got a good smooth flavor.
Yeah, yeah, I don't mind that.
Wow, that's decent.
We had a Fest beer and now wehave an Oktoberfest Marzon,
right, and they are all slightlythey're similar but they are
different.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
They're not.
I mean you can't say we'redefinitely splitting hairs.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Oh, those are similar to this flavor, more so than
the first two Right, and did wesay this is a 5.8%?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
This is all.
The next one, except for thelast one, are 5.8.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Okay, no, I did not mention that.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
So most of these are 5.8, which must be right Kind of
the standard or so.
Must be.
Of these are 5.8, which must beright, kind of this, the
standard or so for must be theirbare minimum, then right, so
you won the luck of the draw forthe boy um score I do like that
one.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I think I like it a little bit more than the first
two.
Uh, it does have a little bitof a bitterness on the finish,
you know.
So that's the only thing I cansay.
Maybe some people would find asa drawback, but again, it's
very good.
But I'm going to put it at a2.8.
Okay, I do think I like that.
A little bit more malt to itand I guess, like I said, it's
(17:34):
kind of getting closer to whatmaybe I'm used to from the
States.
But it's still very good andI'd put that up against anything
from the.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
States, and I think, just to echo what you said, like
now I can the finish is kind oflingering on my tongue a little
bit.
Yep, it's not a bad thing, butI think that's the malt that
you're talking about.
So I like it too.
I'm going to stick with it.
I'm going to say a 2.8.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Oh, okay, nice.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
So we're?
We're staying right in there,locked up, all right, I see you
flipped over your questionsagain.
Yes, so we got another question, so I need you to bust out your
English to German dictionary.
Oh, boy.
Okay, so the Munich Oktoberfestofficially begins when the
(18:23):
mayor of Munich taps the firstkeg of beer and announces what
in German.
I'll even give you half creditif you tell me what it is in
English.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
What it is in English , I'd like to say beer is served
, but I know that's not it, andI know it's not prost either.
No, darn it, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Are you ready?
Yep, I'm going to see how goodmy German is Okay.
Oh, zapf is, and what does thatmean?
It's tapped okay, so makessense.
So you lost 500 on that onethat's okay.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think mine would be better.
Beer is, beer is served.
Let's see here how many?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
I got one, two, three .
Oh perfect, I'll save the nextquestion.
One for each beer, all right.
All right, I tried to help youout.
I hear you, because there wasgoing to be much research on
these, so I thought I could comeup with some different facts,
okay.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
All right.
Well, the next one we have isSay that five times
Wein-stef-hiner.
Are you sure?
Why do they make the name solong W-E-I?
So it could be WeinstephanerV-E -V.
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I messed up.
S (19:28):
W-E-I-H-E-N-S-T-E-P-H-A-N-E-R , and can they fit any more
letters in there?
I don't think so.
That's even longer thanGiannis' name from the box.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
And this is their fest beer.
So look at that.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So we got the october fest fast beer, marzon fest
beer.
So we're alternating, which isa good thing, right, and this is
this a 12 ounce bottle, or isthis?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
one feels that's at 11.2 11.2.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
I say it looks like it's.
It's thinner, you know, andthis, like I said, yeah, if
everybody, when you look at thepicture, you'll recognize the
name.
I just don't know how topronounce it correctly.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
So I think you did it about the best toby's not here,
so he's our, our local uhgerman name guy.
We'll reach out.
Maybe he'll send us a text.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah, oh that one looks like lighter again much
lighter than the last one.
Oh yeah, I say this is morelike those first two, for sure
in color, and this is the festbeer.
This is their fest beer boy,that's got a stronger kind of a
I don't want to say off-puttingaroma, but it's almost got like
a dirty side aroma it'sdifferent it's different, it's
(20:34):
pretty smooth though.
Wow, that's the flavor that'sflavor makes up for that.
The aroma, I would say wasdefinitely of the four, was kind
of my least favorite on thatone, but the flavor is pretty
good.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Yeah, that is surprisingly good.
I mean, as light as it is, Ithought there would be not much
flavor to it, but the color andthe aroma are lacking, but the
flavor is the flavor made up forit.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Yeah, that is smooth.
I think that's really smooth,yeah, that is smooth.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
I think that's really smooth.
That's really.
I think you could have a coupleof those, oh yeah especially at
an 11.2-ounce bottle.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Right, you can get more beer then, right?
Well, eventually, I suppose,when you drink more of it.
Yeah, so I got to go first too.
You go first on this bad boy.
I will say this before you go.
You know, like I said on the USversions versions it's hoppier,
this one's not hoppier.
No, this is.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This is not as malty as that, marzon but it's a
little closer to that, I think,than the other fest beer, right?
Yeah, this is it's hard todescribe, I mean because we're I
mean now, we're splitting thehair, that we split the hair.
We split the hair on.
Yeah, we're running out of hairto split.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I was gonna say our.
Our scores are gonna make itlook like there's a wide gap and
there's really not.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
No, I mean I like this beer.
I mean I think this is, I meanthese got to be what traditional
octoberfest beers in germanytaste like.
So I like it.
I'm gonna say 2.9.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I'm gonna go out on a limb wow, I'll, I'm gonna stick
with you because, same thing, Ido like this and I think, since
we can't go, we're not doinghundreds of a point, I, I do
like it just a tick better thanthe marzon and other than that
aroma.
Right, the aroma was a littlebit suspect, right, but the
flavor more than made up forthat one.
(22:07):
So I could drink that.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I could drink a liter of that you know in those big
stines how much of them the bigones are a liter.
That's what's in there, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
And you've seen on the videos where, like, the
barmaids are carrying like sixor eight, you know six, seven of
them in each hand.
Yes, yeah, they're tough Icouldn't do that.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Yeah, they might beat up everybody.
Oh yeah, you got that right.
All right, so we got the nextquestion.
Okay, did you know thatoctoberfest they serve some
strong beers?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
did you know that?
Uh, stronger than thesestronger than these.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Stronger than these.
Okay, they actually have one,that's 57% that they serve At
Oktoberfest.
Yep, oh, my word.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
What's the name of that beer?
57%, and it's an actual beer.
Yep, wow, jeep.
I had no idea.
I didn't even know they servedanything like that.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
So S-C-H-O-R, so that's Shor, shor, and S-C-H
Shorsh, b-o-c-k.
Shorshbok, shorshbok, shorshbok.
So 57%.
It costs over 600 euros perliter?
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Oh my gosh, because a euro is more than a dollar,
right?
So if we go, you're going tobuy us each one, right?
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Yep.
Buy each go.
You're going to buy us each one, right?
Yep, buy each one of thesespottens.
No, no, no, no, no, this otherone.
Then you can buy two of us.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
The short, how in the world could you drink a liter
of a 57 percent beer?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
well, you're going to find out for us.
You can report back on that one, yeah I had.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
No, I've never even heard of that you never heard of
that one either, so am Ieducating you, you're educating
me and the listeners, I think,because I I had no idea that
they had that kind of a beerthere.
I did not.
Even in those videos that I'vewatched, they never mentioned
anything about that.
Well, now we're going to haveto dig deeper.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
I'm going to have to look that up because that would
be Well.
Especially they don't want toprobably have a lot of people
drinking that and why would youbuy a liter of it?
I don Get that.
That's probably like a daydrink, right, yeah, you're not
going to be drinking until 12packets.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
A liter of that.
I don't even think you couldget done with a liter of that.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Well, you're definitely going to be stumbling
out of it.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I'd say about 57%, so that's 114 proof.
Okay, could you drink a literof 114 proof bourbon?
Well, that would really tastegood and sipping on it, bourbon?
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Well, that would really taste good, and sipping
on it, but for 600 euros.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
That's got to be closer to $700.
Unless you're sharing it withall your friends.
That's crazy.
Yeah, jeez.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Okay, well, let's get back to what we can afford All
right.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
So we've got Spaten, All right.
Oktoberfest.
And it says you are I don'tknow if that's Marzon- so we're
back into.
Marzon, this one is in a greenbottle.
I don't know if that's 12ounces?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
I don't think so.
I think it's 11.2 as well.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
I should have looked before I opened it, so I don't
spill it, but it's got that samekind of build to it, a little
bit narrower bottle.
Yeah, oh, color on this one isdefinitely what we're a little
more what we think of as aMarzon.
Even the head is a little bitdarker color, all right, so this
is Spaten and it's imported.
Oh, they said they're imported.
(25:16):
So this is again, again, onethat would be at the Oktoberfest
in Munich.
Yeah, that smells like.
Does that smell?
That smells good.
Is that back to that?
Smells what, like I'm normallythinking for an Oktoberfest?
Tastes pretty good, that'spretty good this is interesting
because I will guarantee we doAmerican Oktoberfest episodes.
The flavor is going to be allover the board.
(25:36):
These are really really similarthese.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
even though we've had three different styles, they're
still pretty close and I wouldlike to know out there for the
listeners how many other showsever have compared German
marathons, right, right and givethe listeners like a different
our point of view.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Yeah you know, and I just kind of kick ourselves
Because last year we did whatfour or five episodes.
I just kind of kick ourselvesbecause last year we did what
four or five episodes and westill we'd have a German or a
couple of German ones in thisone and one in this one, right,
and we never thought about it,comparing them together, but
this time it seemed like, when Iwent to the store, these were
all like front and center.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Okay, they weren't, as the other beers, like the
American ones, seem to be pushedback into the aisles, so these
are more prominent, so they wereshowcasing these a little more.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Okay, right, well, it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
This is good.
What do you think?
I'm going to 3-1 on this one?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I'm jumping up a couple of steps there.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
You're increasing the ante now.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I do like this.
I think it's got enough of thatmalty flavor that you're.
You know, if you've only hadamerican ones, you're gonna.
This is reminiscent right yepor should I say they're
reminiscent of this.
Yes, uh, the aroma was verygood, very smooth, and yeah, I
would.
I could definitely drink a fewof these yeah, I'm right up.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
I like this is probably the best one so far.
I mean, granted, we only havetwo left, but I mean I like this
one too.
Smooth finish, smooth flavor,very good, I, I like that one.
Spaten did a good job.
What kind of score are yougoing with?
I get a 3-1.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Oh, okay.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,sorry that we're copying each
other's scores, but man, we'vetalked about it before.
When you're splitting hairs onstuff, usually it's barrel-aged
stuff that's by the same company.
But these are good, these arereal good.
All right, hit me with anotherone.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
All right.
So the 2023 Oktoberfest was thebiggest beer party ever.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
All right.
So they saw record-breakingattendance, exceeding
expectations with 7.2 millionvisitors.
Wow, that's crazy.
So I didn't think you'd guessthat, no, so I'm just throwing
the fact out.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
When you first said it I was thinking what?
Million, million, five, 7.5million, okay.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
So that was over the 18 days, yep.
So give me your guess what 2022was for total visitors.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Okay, so 2023 was the record Yep 2022.
Okay, that was a year closer toCOVID.
I don't know if that's going tomake a difference.
Let's say I'm going to say itincreased a lot.
So I'm going to say let's golike 4 million.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Close 5.7.
Oh, and then 2019 was the nextone in there 6.3 million.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
So 6.3, and then it dropped down.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
It dropped back down.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
So that might have been the COVID part there.
Okay, interesting, that's a lotof people, that's a lot 7.5
million people over 18 days, sothey average close to 500,000
people a day.
Yes, oh, so we do.
Have we got two beers left?
Do you have more than twoquestions?
I think the next one will gogood with the next question All
right, all right, well, let'ssave it for the next one, save
(28:40):
it for the next one.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
All right, oh, look the next beer.
I got the next one.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
This is by hawker shore are you hocking up the
loogie?
Yeah, this is.
This is their octoberfestmarzon, and it says original
filtered fest beer.
And look, there's the the ladylike we're used to seeing on a
horse though there that's somegood artwork carrying another
big stein of beer.
What does it say on the back?
Here, since 1417, 1417 throughtoday Hockershore is considered
(29:07):
the special beer for heavenlyday-to-day moments.
We call it Heaven in Bavaria,you call it Hockershore.
Oh, oh, I give them credit.
They got Ho ho.
All right, I give them credit.
They got a little thing ontheir bottle.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Finally, finally, the rest of them didn't, here it is
.
Say a word Interesting.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
This is another one.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
This is a Marzon.
This is for the actualOktoberfest.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
For the actual Oktoberfest.
I still say at some year weneed to go.
That would be really cool.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Is that on the?
Speaker 1 (29:41):
bucket list.
That's on my bucket list Allright, so it's a tad darker.
A tad.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Not a lot darker.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
No, I'm trying to think.
Compared to the last one, Ithink the Spaten might have been
just a shade darker Right.
Don't you think Yep Got a goodaroma?
Speaker 2 (29:56):
That's still good, that's still good, that's still
good Interesting.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
So let's see the Spaten.
That was the October.
Oh, that was a Marzon too, andso is this one.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
So these are pretty close.
I mean I can barelydifferentiate the two Right.
I mean if I gave you a blindtaste test of these.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Oh, If you gave me a list and just had taster glasses
, I probably couldn't.
I could maybe get.
I'd say, okay, if it's a Marson it, maybe darker, but that'd
be.
You know what I mean.
That'd be it.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
There's no way, in a blind taste test, you could
separate these.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
There's no way I could.
Maybe you could, toby, maybe,but I think with this lineup it
would be tough for anybody toblind taste test Any of these,
test any of these and get all ofthem right.
Right, I don't think you mightget one right but, and that
would be just out of pure luck,right, if you drink it now and
then?
Speaker 2 (30:45):
you did a blind taste test right afterward I probably
still couldn't, couldn't get it.
Oh, this is not bad it's notbad.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Uh, am I next or you're?
Speaker 2 (30:53):
oh, you're next all right, so I'm gonna say a 3.0.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
We did skip that number I do you know what, dude?
Speaker 2 (31:01):
I'm upset because that's where I was going yeah, I
asked if you wanted to go giveyour.
I'm going to say a 3.0.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
We did skip that number.
I do like the Spaten.
You know what, dude?
I'm upset because that's whereI was going.
I asked if you wanted to giveyour score.
Yeah, I was going the samething.
I do like the Spaten, just alittle better.
Yeah, it's a touch.
This is still good.
This one, I think, has just alittle bit I'm not going to say
harsh, but a little strongerflavor on the finish.
Yes, and I really like how thatSpaten was really smooth.
So that's my difference and I'msticking to it.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah, I mean, I can't really.
That's the only thing.
The Spaten was just a littletouch, just a hair.
Exactly Just a hair.
It's not anything bad with theHacker Shore, just a touch.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
No.
If all you had was the HackerShore or Hocker Shore.
Yeah, I'd drink it.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Yeah For sure, there's no doubt there's not one
so far.
We've had that I wouldn't drink.
Right, we haven't had a clunker.
No, not at all.
All right, speaking of clunkers.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
You should have another question.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
I got one final question for you All righty.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
So we were talking about 600 euros per liter Yep.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
What is the average price per liter for just the
regular?
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Steiner beer.
I know it's kind of expensive,but you're getting a lot.
Is it like 15 euros or 20?
You're close.
What was it?
Speaker 2 (32:13):
10.8.
Oh, okay, so what's that equateto in America?
Speaker 1 (32:18):
10.8 euros, so it's probably around $15, depending
on, I suppose, the conversionrate and such, but it's got to
be about that.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
But it's a liter Right.
So that's what.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
three I think a liter is.
Is it three?
Is it like 30?
36 ounces 36 ounces, I think 24to 36.
So you'd have to drink thosefast, fast too, or they get warm
, right?
You would think.
And I know that they also waswatching those videos they have,
like, you know, at those beerhalls you can order food, yes,
and all that, and and it's.
It's rather interesting becausethe the videos I've watched,
(32:52):
you can pick the day that youwant to be in.
Let's say, say you wanted to goto the uh hofbrau, okay, you
pick the day, then you have themorning or the evening, oh, one
or the other, so you have somany hours for each of them and
that's each day.
But when you buy it, it's notfor the 18 days, it's for that
one day and that one half a day,that one half a day.
(33:14):
And I know a number of peoplehave had.
And I think, see, what would beinteresting is, cause you're
going to Germany from the States, you got to be there for at
least a few days, yep, but youknow everybody's like, oh, if
you go, go for like a weekendand then do the other stuff,
cause it's, you know, I supposeI could see how it could get old
, yeah, but if we're ever goingto get to go there.
What I would do they have, okay,let's do the Hofbrau one day.
(33:39):
The next day let's go toHockershore, because in those
beer halls that's the only beerthey serve is by that.
Yeah, and it's not like I don'tthink you have like multiple
versions, you know.
Well, here's our Fest beer,here's our Oktoberfest, here's
no, I think they have A beer.
A beer, I believe.
I think you're right, and sothat would be interesting though
, and I know each of the beerhalls.
(34:00):
When I watched the one videoand, ladies and gentlemen, I'd
have you look on YouTube,because that's where I follow
them, but some of them they say,well, if you're looking more
for like a traditional typething, go to this one, this one.
Here it's kind of a coolerlooking inside and they do a
little more, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
So each of them is just like, has their own little
theme.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Yeah, so it would be interesting.
And there's a couple a coupleof them that they said that were
kind of smaller, oh, butthey're like, they're like the
really cool kind of ones, youknow.
So there's less people, butit's kind of really a neat vibe
to them.
So I'd have to watch it again togive you a little more input on
what those people, what theirthoughts were, okay, but it
seemed like it was ratherinteresting because some of like
(34:41):
the Hofbrau and Hockershore andprobably these giant halls,
right you know, and there'sthousands of people.
And I do know that they saidthat you're not supposed to
stand on the bench or the tableand chug a beer, but I think
every video there's pretty muchsomebody does it and then I
think they get kicked outProbably some drunk Americans
doing it, probably and thenthere's a hill there on the
(35:03):
grounds and I can't remember ifthey call it the drunk hill or
something, but apparently a lotof people go there and then get
rid of a lot of beer.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
They get rid of their beer, and not the way you
normally want to get rid of it,I guess.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
Well, we better drink a beer on that, yes on that
note.
Yes on that note.
So now and then, this, as yousaid, was the highest ABV one we
had.
Yes, 6.3.
6.3, and this is the HofbrauOktoberfest beer.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
All right, and once again, 11.2 fluid ounces, so not
quite as much as a 12-ouncebottle, correct.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
And they've got some writing and it is small, so take
our word for it yeah.
And this is our last one of thecategory, last german one.
Oh well, there we go, I got it.
There's that.
What I need to do is find I gotlike an antique bottle opener
and I need to find my moreconventional one.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Ah all right, that looks light in color this is
definitely lighter, like theother fest beers.
Yeah, this is not like thosemarzons no, no, not not in the
lead.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Oh, what was on the?
Oh, there's a, some horses, andsee, like there's a, like a
drawing of their, their beertent, oh, yeah, at octoberfest.
And then there's the, the uh,there's a ferris wheel because
there's like a huge carnivalright.
That goes on there as well.
Okay, this one definitely has alittle more of that aroma
Hoppier, kind of strange aroma.
I could drink this one too.
(36:21):
Yeah, this is not bad.
This is so confusing.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah, if anybody brings one of these for a blind
taste testing, do you want?
Speaker 1 (36:29):
to hey, even if you said what company made it, I'd
be like, yeah, it could be anyone of these.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
They're so similar.
I think the only thing that'sdifferent is each bottle or each
of the labels are a littledifferent.
I think the only thing that'sdifferent is each bottle or each
of the labels are a littledifferent.
Yep, I think that's the onlything different.
But inside the bottle is allvery close, very similar.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Well, you know, they have the purity law, you know,
and all that, and I'm sure theseall fall into that category,
but they're real similar, yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
This is crazy.
See, this is where it hurts,because this is we can double up
, the double up.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I think I'm one of these, because I can't put this
at two five right, yeah, we'regonna then it's gonna look like
it was the worst one, and it'snot.
You know, we're gonna have todouble up, I think, on this one
okay, I'm gonna go.
I'm gonna go at 2.7 on this one.
It's gonna be tied with the one, but it's still good and, like
I said, I would drink it.
If somebody brought a six packor you know, at a cooler of them
(37:21):
, I'd I'd drink it for sure.
Uh, I do think that it iscloser to the first two, right,
you know, in my opinion, and uh,which is not bad, uh, but I do
think that, uh, some of theother ones had a little bit
better flavor.
Again, like I said, I would, uh, I would go and sit in their
beer tent and and drink litersit as well.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I'll say the same thing.
I like it.
I mean, I just it's so hard nowto try to differentiate these.
Even though our scores are alittle different, I think
they're all relatively close,yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
And as far as which one is the best one, I do, I did
really like that Spaten.
I think that that Oktoberfestwas good Right, and then the
Hocker Shore and again those areboth kind of that little bit of
maltier flavor to them.
I think those two were the topones.
And then for Festbier I didlike the Heimheimschaligmar
(38:13):
Planer, yeah, or WeinhausenPlaner.
The real long name, one that I'mnot sure how to pronounce that
was pretty good, so this was.
I knew it was going to be tough, but I thought there was going
to be this tough.
Right, I thought there'd be alittle more variant in like what
the US Oktoberfest are, becausethey're all over the board in
flavor.
Where these were, they weresimilar and it was difficult.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
So that would be awesome.
So yeah, I'm like right in, Ilike the Spaten and the Hacker
Shore, but I would definitelyknow, if I somebody gave me one
of these other ones, I'd stilldrink it A hundred percent.
I wouldn't turn it away becausethey're all.
They're all good.
So I'm glad we did try this.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Yeah, yeah.
And, like I said, this is thefirst time that we had nothing
but actual German Oktoberfeststyle beers.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
Well, you know, that's reminding me of something
else.
What's that?
I did see at the liquor store abunch of pumpkin beers, oh boy.
So I don't know.
Would you be up to trying forthe listeners' sake?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Of course, for the listeners Right.
I would definitely do that.
Yes, Okay.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So maybe I could convince you, maybe in a future
episode, maybe we could do that.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yeah, we could do that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we could dothat.
I mean, we did try theoctoberfest beers, which I would
.
I'd recommend any one of theseseven.
If anybody sees them, youshouldn't be scared no, no, they
were all very good.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
You know, like I said , a couple of the aromas were a
little bit, but the flavors wereall.
The flavors were all good andanybody could drink them.
They not going to blow youtotally out in left field for
you know, for a weird taste orwhatever.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Their ABVs are relatively low.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
So I mean from 5.7 to 6.3 is not.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, not bad, and these guys, they invented it.
Right, they know what they'redoing, you know.
So I'd say you know.
Like you just said, if you'reat the store and you see some of
these German Oktoberfest beers,any of them, try them.
If you've never tried an actualGerman beer, try these because
(40:09):
they're very good.
Yes, then you can go into someof the American ones Because,
like I said, not a knock on ourUS breweries, but sometimes you
don't know what you're going toget when you crack open an
Oktoberfest from the US.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Yes, these we thought we had known going in, but this
just confirmed it by tastingBoy.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Were we wrong?
You know, mm-hmm, so cool.
Well, yeah, ladies andgentlemen, like I said, man,
give them a shot.
If you see them out there, buythem.
Jim, thanks for picking them up.
And you said you had to buy sixpacks of them also.
I'm thinking we may have somegarage beers in the future.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Yes, so I might be giving you some prizes later on.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Oh darn, that's terrible.
I just can't believe you'd dothat.
Yes, just for you, buddy.
Awesome.
Well, cool man, Well, hey,ladies and gentlemen, thanks for
listening.
Like we always say we hope yourcampfire is always warm and
your beers are always cold andprost october fest time.
This won't be our last episodefor sure.
(41:06):
Uh, we'll be dipping in intothe uh american versions and
some other stuff.
Some other stuff might be comingaround the horn yep, it sounds
like we got pumpkin beers in thefuture, so we'll be checking
those out as well, because tisthe season it's getting.
There's a little nip in the air, that's right, and I know I'm
throwing this out there early.
But if anybody out therelistening knows of any actual
(41:28):
advent calendars for craft beer,again, we tried Last year.
I tried to find one, couldn'tfind one Actually I did, but it
was the same one that I hadbefore, right, which we did not
have on the podcast.
So that is a possibility.
But we'll have Christmas comingup in the near future as well,
so we're going to stay away froma certain brand that shall not
(41:50):
be named if you remember, allright, just for your sake.
Awesome, cool.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, thanks and see ya, see ya.
Thank you for listening to theNorthwoods Beer Guy podcast.
If you have a question, acomment or a beer you'd like us
(42:10):
to review, please feel free tosend us a message at
northwoodsbeerguy, at gmailcom.
You can also find us onFacebook, twitter and Instagram.
If you're on untapped, look upNorthwoods Beer Guy and send a
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Until next week, I hope allyour campfires are warm and all
(42:34):
your beer is cold.
Grab a beer and pull up a chair.
Welcome to the Northwoods BeerGuy Podcast.
Hey, jim, are we at Oktoberfest?
Speaker 2 (00:44):
I think so the hair date.
Yeah, hey Jim, are we atOktoberfest?
I think so.
The hair date.
Speaker 1 (00:48):
Yeah, hey, yeah, prost yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
I don't know much German there, buddy.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
No, that's about it, schnitzels and stuff like that.
But yeah, there you go, hey,well, hey, ladies and gentlemen,
welcome back to the NorthwoodsBeer Guy podcast.
This is Mike, the NorthwoodsBeer Guy, and, as always, I am
joined by jim.
How you doing, buddy doing goodman.
So you know, we were talkingabout that.
We're going to have our annualaugustober fest, right, well,
(01:13):
life got in the way andschedules didn't line up very
well, so now we have septoberfest, I guess.
Yes, well, that doesn't hurt,though, does it?
No, no, we're still gettingthere before the actual
Oktoberfest.
So that's good.
Yes, now, I know we hadmentioned before.
You were looking around tryingto find Oktoberfest beers, and I
believe they started rolling inkind of heavy lately.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah, I had to get in there quick, because they were
going fast too, were they?
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, there you go.
I'm actually really excitedabout the ones you brought today
because, well, I'll let youexplain it.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Oh well, I know that the listeners know that we've
tried a few oktoberfest beers inthe past.
Right, a lot, or, yeah, a few,a lot of times, yeah.
So the one thing that I thinkwe've been missing I could be is
we've never really compared theactual German Oktoberfest beers
against themselves.
(02:09):
So I thought maybe there'd be away we could do one podcast on
that.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Yeah, you know, I think you're 100% right.
We've usually had, you know, afew, and then a few American
ones and things like that, butwe've never concentrated just on
the German Oktoberfest.
So, yeah, that's cool.
So what?
We got one, two, three, four,five, six, seven of them, five
bottles and two cans, andthey're really heavy duty.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Yeah, Duty heavy, there you go.
I think they start what at 5.7%and go all the way up to 6.3%.
I figured they're probablygoing to be somewhat close.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
And I think what was interesting too and I don't, you
probably are going to be ableto correct me or somebody can
but so that we have some octoberfest, we have some fest beer
and marzon.
So I don't know if they're allthe same, because some bottles
say all three words on the label.
I don't know.
I wasn't able to reallydecipher or find anything of.
I did find a little bit, but Idon't know if it really is going
(03:06):
to help the listeners.
I don't know if you know.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
You know, cause I always hear Marzon and
Oktoberfest are the same, andthen Festbier typically the the
American Festbier anyway arealways like a little hoppier,
but I don't know if that's thesame over in Germany.
Right, you know, and I thinkwe'll just say they're all very
closely related.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Okay, so they're all fitness category and maybe now,
by testing these against eachother, maybe we'll get a little
bit different flavor and we'llbe able to decipher it a little
more.
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
And now, looking at the names of them, a number of
the breweries I've heard ofbefore, you know, we've tasted
some of them before.
Of course, these are the 2025versions, yes, but there's a few
that I've never heard of, oh,you know, and so it should be
interesting to try them out.
Awesome, so yeah.
And if you notice our littletaster glasses, they say Prost,
(03:57):
oh Prost.
So see, we're in the mood herefor some Oktoberfest.
Oh, there you go, so should westart.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
We might as well.
I don't know if you saw the.
Speaker 1 (04:07):
I saw that.
I was hoping it was justdescription.
Speaker 2 (04:10):
Oh, I did bust out some questions for you, great.
Just in case you thought youmight have been sleeping at the
wheel.
Speaker 1 (04:17):
Well, yeah, I was going to snap you back in
reality here Okay.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
That sounds good.
We better try a beer firstbefore we get into hard stuff.
Which so closest to you,closest to me, is the lowest ABV
.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Okay, so this one, and this is one of them that's
in the can and it's a pint can,okay, and this is by Erdinger,
weissbrau, weissbrau, and thisis their.
Erdinger Oktoberfest.
Speaker 2 (04:43):
Does it say?
I think that one was in.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
Germany Brewed in I don't know somewhere in Germany.
I apologize, folks.
Look at a lady carrying a bunchof beers and a guy taking a
beer.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
It could be us.
Could be us.
Looks like a hat you've gothanging on your wall there,
doesn't?
Speaker 1 (04:58):
it Kind of, I don't actually have lederhosen but you
know, the hat would be okay.
The hat would be okay, the hatwould be all right.
All right, so we're gonna.
We're gonna start her off.
So now you said this one was5.7, yes, and it says it's an
octoberfest.
All right, so we will check itout here.
Well, it looks like anoctoberfest, a little lighter in
color, I think, than theamerican ones.
(05:19):
Anyway, you know, a lot ofthose are kind of that, almost
an amber type color, right?
This one one's pretty light incolor.
Oh, there's a good aroma.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Oh yeah, you can smell that one, you don't have
to worry about not smelling that.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
One Good aroma.
You know white head on it.
That tastes pretty good, that'snot bad.
A little hop flavor, but notover the top or anything Right,
just so you get a little bit offlavor with.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
I think, yeah, yep.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
That's for sure.
I don't don't mind that one atall.
No, I could definitely drinkthat Now being in a pint can?
I'm not saying I would drink asix pack in one sitting.
There you go, but that's,that's pretty good.
You get a little bit more beerwith that one.
Yeah, exactly, Take us a fewmore minutes to get done with
the can but I mean, the flavoris really good.
I mean yeah smooth finish.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Where did you all of these?
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I bought at woodman's oh okay, so that you're able to
do build your own six-pack, ordid you have to buy them?
Buy six-pack a piece, buysix-pack a piece there.
Yeah, that's always kind of thethe tough part on some of these
.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
You don't see a lot of you know in the build your
own six packs but I did go tofestival and I bought two build
your own six packs ofoctoberfest, so I have a lot of
the american 2025 versions nicefor maybe some possible upcoming
episodes okay well, yeah,because we will have plenty of
time for some more october fest,right.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
So it's a rough job, but you know, we we got to do it
each year, just so thelisteners are up to date.
I know you're forcing me to doit, so I'm going to have to yeah
, you, yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
So what are you thinking on a score, first one
out of the gate?
Speaker 1 (06:52):
I do like that.
I guess you know, when I firstwas getting into this one, I
thought, okay, is it going to bemore of the malt forward kind
of version, like the US has alot more of?
This one, I don't think, isquite like that, right?
Like I said, there is a littlebit of a hop flavor to it, but
not bad, I do like it.
I'm going to go like a 2.6.
I think it's a little betterthan average and I'm trying not
(07:16):
to paint myself into a cornerright off the bat, but I do like
it and the artwork on the canis very nice.
Yes, that's very good.
And at 5.6?
5.7.
5.7.
Like you said, you could drinka few of them even though
they're in a pint can, right?
Yeah, I think it's good.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
And I think I could be speaking out of turn, but I
believe these are all going tobe relatively close in our
scores.
Sure, I don't think we're goingto have one standing way out or
one way so you're saying wehave to go to a hundredth of a
point.
We might if it push comes toshove, I think, because these
are all, since they're allgerman, I think they're all
gonna technically probablyshould be very close in taste I
(07:52):
bet you're right, it's gonna beinteresting, yeah, so I mean I
like the first one.
I mean, like you said, Idefinitely think it's definitely
drinkable.
I'll go with 2.6 on as well.
I like it.
I mean I definitely could haveone, sure.
So I did actually find aquestion that we're since we're
talking about it okay did youknow that during the oktoberfest
in germany that beer fromoutside munich is prohibited?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
really did you know that?
I did not know that, okay, soso all of the like, the big beer
halls and that are all rightfrom Munich.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
So the only beer that is sold at Oktoberfest is beer
only from Munich's localbreweries, and those breweries
are six of them.
Okay, what are those six?
Speaker 1 (08:38):
Hofbrau there's one.
Is Hockershore.
There's two.
Oh yeah, you put me on the spot.
And um, toby's gonna be so madwhen he listens to this, and
(08:58):
there's some big name ones too,um spaten yep, oh, um geez, what
else do we got it?
It's uh, is it Paul Paulainer?
Yep, I don't know how topronounce that, so you got four
of the six.
Uh, and you know what's the sadpart?
I've watched videos about theMunich Oktoberfest and they've,
they've listed off all of thebeer halls and their beers, and
(09:21):
their beers, and I am just notum, and we don't even have we
don't even have.
We don't have the last two, wedon't even have oh, geez, uh boy
, I I'll take the four out ofsix and and be happy lowen brow
really lowen brow okay and thenaugustiner beer, huh okay, so
you know you only get minus 200points.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Nice, I would have had a minus a.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
I know you were really close.
Let's see here.
So Lowenbrau, I never wouldhave even thought.
I don't typically connect thatto Oktoberfest.
You know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
Right, it says the rule is set to ensure that
visitors enjoy a taste ofauthentic Bavarian brewing, as
Oktoberfest beers still have theoriginal gravity along with the
alcohol content.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
That's crazy.
I mean, those are all prettybig-name breweries all in Munich
.
Yeah, that's pretty wild.
Speaker 2 (10:12):
Well, I'm sure they know they can sell a big amount
of wine.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
I'm sure that couple weeks of the year they're
selling beer like crazy.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
You want to make sure you're overstaffed for that
weekend, exactly, all right.
Well, now is this one for mysignificant other's family?
It could be, I'm guessing.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
This is by Benedikner .
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Is that how you say it?
Is that Benedikiner?
Speaker 1 (10:38):
Is there a Tiner at the end?
B-e-n-e-d-i-k-t-i-n-e-r.
All right, Well, I'll trust you.
Yeah, However, you pronouncethat it's a fest beer.
They're fest beer.
And look, they've got a partyon the can.
Well, look at that.
That should get a tenth of apoint right there.
Yeah, they've got all sorts oflike beard kegs and guys playing
the horns and all that goodstuff, all kinds of fancy stuff,
(10:58):
guys and ladies, and all that,and this is brewed in Lichten.
Oh jeez, I can't even pronounceit L-I-C-H-I-H-E-S-S-E, ooh so.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
I'm not exactly sure how to pronounce that.
Say that five times reallyquick.
I can't even say it once.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
All right, and I've had one sip of this other beer
and I can't read it.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Now, this is another Fest beer, a Fest beer, so the
first one was Oktoberfest.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yes, this is Fest beer, so this will be
interesting to kind of see.
Like I said, you know, theAmerican versions of a Fest beer
are usually hoppier, so we'llsee how this compares, how this
pairs out.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, all right, looks the same color as the
first one, pretty light, prettylight.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Pretty light.
It does have a little differentaroma, yeah, doesn't it?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
Almost a little fruity, doesn't it?
Kind of Is that hops?
Speaker 1 (11:46):
or fruit.
It's almost got a fruity aroma.
That's interesting, that's notbad, that's solid as well.
Yeah, wow, taste-wise it's gota weird, it's got a different.
I don't know what that flavoris.
Yeah, fruity than the flavor,but the flavor is definitely
different than that first one.
Right, definitely.
Speaker 2 (12:05):
Oktoberfest and Festbier are made differently.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
There is a difference between these Interesting.
I wish it said.
Of course, if it was on the can, it would probably be in German
and we wouldn't really be ableto read it.
Yes, because they don't give awhole lot of information.
No, and it says Festbierl yeah,only the brewery and the type
of beer it is.
Yeah, and then, of course,their picture.
(12:29):
Whatever the picture is on theartwork well, at least they're
having fun brewing?
oh, no doubt, no doubt so.
And doing the artwork, it lookslike they're having fun too,
and that one's that one's good.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I don't.
I don't have any anythingnegative to say.
I mean that's, this is going tobe so difficult, we're going to
be splitting hairs.
I think you got that right.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I mean, this is, and luckily you get to go first on
this one.
Speaker 2 (12:47):
So so I guess I do like it a tad more than the
first one.
I don't know if it's a littlemore flavor, I don't know, but I
think it's not bad.
There's nothing.
I can't say anything negativeabout it.
I'm just going to say a 2.7.
I do like it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
It tastes good.
The only thing I can say andagain, this is really splitting
hairs, because it's not bad atall it does kind of dry my mouth
out just a little bit on thefinish oh, that's it you're
right.
Other than that, I think theflavor is a little bit better
than that first one.
The aroma was a little better,so I'm gonna do the same.
I'm gonna go to seven, uh, and,like I said, the only knock I
(13:23):
had was just that it kind ofdries your mouth out a little
bit on the finish, but I'd stilldrink it, you want to give me a
little hit and then I'll readyou another question.
Speaker 2 (13:32):
You bet this is a multiple part question for you.
Oh boy, okay.
What year did Oktoberfest beginin Germany?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
You know, the sad part is we talked about this
before and I don't remember theactual year I was giving him
something.
I will give you his parts ofthe one.
I'm pretty sure it did Okay1846.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
You're close.
1810.
Oh, dang it.
Okay.
And it started not as a beerfestival, but as what?
Speaker 1 (13:59):
It was to celebrate the wedding.
Okay, we got that one right.
Speaker 2 (14:02):
Okay, and it was a wedding between who?
Speaker 1 (14:06):
This guy and this lady.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Yes, Correct, or do you want more specific?
Could you get just a touch more?
Speaker 1 (14:12):
A German guy and lady All right, it was like, wasn't
it like?
Was it King something?
And I don't remember theirnames.
Dude, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (14:23):
So he was the crown prince Ludwig Okay, who would
later become king.
Yes, and he was marryingPrincess Therese of Saxony
Hilbergerhausen.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
That's easy for you to say.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
See so her name, Princess Therese and Prince
Ludwig.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Okay, I knew.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
I was going to say I thought it was a prince, but
then was like, well, wait aminute anyway.
So that was only minus 500 foryou.
Not bad, I don't mind that.
And then the reason whyoktoberfest because they got
married at the end of september,right, so that's why the yep
festivals and that's pretty.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
That's pretty crazy when you think about it, because
it I mean the name oktoberfestis huge, but it actually started
in september.
Yeah, the end of september,right?
Speaker 2 (15:01):
yeah, that's pretty wild so now, now I'm going to
remember these because I triedto find some.
I will have some otherdifferent questions, but at
least now I'm getting yourefreshed.
So now you can bring these out.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Exactly, you see all your other.
I didn't remember the wedding.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Yes, you did.
You got it.
At least you got part of itright, I got part of it right,
and you were in the first bottle.
Ooh.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
All right, and this is by Pauliner, pauliner Munchen
, oktoberfest, marzanOktoberfest, so this is.
The ladies on their bottles area little like old school German
.
Looks like a monk there in themiddle too, right, yeah, and
that lady here a little bigger,that's a big German lady.
Speaker 2 (15:46):
Yes, not like the first two cans.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
No, not like my low-cut shirt.
Speaker 2 (15:51):
We can't give a tenth of a point for artistry on that
one.
They got the wrong thing goingthere.
Exactly these guys went moretraditional, I think.
Speaker 1 (16:00):
Or the other ones went more hip, all right, so
this is the first one that saidMarzon, all right.
Ooh, this little bit differentcolor.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Yeah, a little darker .
Speaker 1 (16:09):
This is making me think that because the American
it's more this color, Right, Ithink.
So let's see if it's a maltylike the US version, that's got
a different smell.
Different aroma, againDifferent aroma.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Little bit maltier flavor, right, not bad though no
, not bad.
Speaker 1 (16:27):
I mean, that's got a good smooth flavor.
Yeah, yeah, I don't mind that.
Wow, that's decent.
We had a Fest beer and now wehave an Oktoberfest Marzon,
right, and they are all slightlythey're similar but they are
different.
Speaker 2 (16:41):
They're not.
I mean you can't say we'redefinitely splitting hairs.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
Oh, those are similar to this flavor, more so than
the first two Right, and did wesay this is a 5.8%?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
This is all.
The next one, except for thelast one, are 5.8.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
Okay, no, I did not mention that.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
So most of these are 5.8, which must be right Kind of
the standard or so.
Must be.
Of these are 5.8, which must beright, kind of this, the
standard or so for must be theirbare minimum, then right, so
you won the luck of the draw forthe boy um score I do like that
one.
Speaker 1 (17:11):
I think I like it a little bit more than the first
two.
Uh, it does have a little bitof a bitterness on the finish,
you know.
So that's the only thing I cansay.
Maybe some people would find asa drawback, but again, it's
very good.
But I'm going to put it at a2.8.
Okay, I do think I like that.
A little bit more malt to itand I guess, like I said, it's
(17:34):
kind of getting closer to whatmaybe I'm used to from the
States.
But it's still very good andI'd put that up against anything
from the.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
States, and I think, just to echo what you said, like
now I can the finish is kind oflingering on my tongue a little
bit.
Yep, it's not a bad thing, butI think that's the malt that
you're talking about.
So I like it too.
I'm going to stick with it.
I'm going to say a 2.8.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Oh, okay, nice.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
So we're?
We're staying right in there,locked up, all right, I see you
flipped over your questionsagain.
Yes, so we got another question, so I need you to bust out your
English to German dictionary.
Oh, boy.
Okay, so the Munich Oktoberfestofficially begins when the
(18:23):
mayor of Munich taps the firstkeg of beer and announces what
in German.
I'll even give you half creditif you tell me what it is in
English.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
What it is in English , I'd like to say beer is served
, but I know that's not it, andI know it's not prost either.
No, darn it, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Are you ready?
Yep, I'm going to see how goodmy German is Okay.
Oh, zapf is, and what does thatmean?
It's tapped okay, so makessense.
So you lost 500 on that onethat's okay.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
I think mine would be better.
Beer is, beer is served.
Let's see here how many?
Speaker 2 (18:54):
I got one, two, three .
Oh perfect, I'll save the nextquestion.
One for each beer, all right.
All right, I tried to help youout.
I hear you, because there wasgoing to be much research on
these, so I thought I could comeup with some different facts,
okay.
Speaker 1 (19:07):
All right.
Well, the next one we have isSay that five times
Wein-stef-hiner.
Are you sure?
Why do they make the name solong W-E-I?
So it could be WeinstephanerV-E -V.
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I messed up.
S (19:28):
W-E-I-H-E-N-S-T-E-P-H-A-N-E-R , and can they fit any more
letters in there?
I don't think so.
That's even longer thanGiannis' name from the box.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
And this is their fest beer.
So look at that.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
So we got the october fest fast beer, marzon fest
beer.
So we're alternating, which isa good thing, right, and this is
this a 12 ounce bottle, or isthis?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
one feels that's at 11.2 11.2.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
I say it looks like it's.
It's thinner, you know, andthis, like I said, yeah, if
everybody, when you look at thepicture, you'll recognize the
name.
I just don't know how topronounce it correctly.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
So I think you did it about the best toby's not here,
so he's our, our local uhgerman name guy.
We'll reach out.
Maybe he'll send us a text.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Yeah, oh that one looks like lighter again much
lighter than the last one.
Oh yeah, I say this is morelike those first two, for sure
in color, and this is the festbeer.
This is their fest beer boy,that's got a stronger kind of a
I don't want to say off-puttingaroma, but it's almost got like
a dirty side aroma it'sdifferent it's different, it's
(20:34):
pretty smooth though.
Wow, that's the flavor that'sflavor makes up for that.
The aroma, I would say wasdefinitely of the four, was kind
of my least favorite on thatone, but the flavor is pretty
good.
Speaker 2 (20:46):
Yeah, that is surprisingly good.
I mean, as light as it is, Ithought there would be not much
flavor to it, but the color andthe aroma are lacking, but the
flavor is the flavor made up forit.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
Yeah, that is smooth.
I think that's really smooth,yeah, that is smooth.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
I think that's really smooth.
That's really.
I think you could have a coupleof those, oh yeah especially at
an 11.2-ounce bottle.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
Right, you can get more beer then, right?
Well, eventually, I suppose,when you drink more of it.
Yeah, so I got to go first too.
You go first on this bad boy.
I will say this before you go.
You know, like I said on the USversions versions it's hoppier,
this one's not hoppier.
No, this is.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
This is not as malty as that, marzon but it's a
little closer to that, I think,than the other fest beer, right?
Yeah, this is it's hard todescribe, I mean because we're I
mean now, we're splitting thehair, that we split the hair.
We split the hair on.
Yeah, we're running out of hairto split.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
I was gonna say our.
Our scores are gonna make itlook like there's a wide gap and
there's really not.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
No, I mean I like this beer.
I mean I think this is, I meanthese got to be what traditional
octoberfest beers in germanytaste like.
So I like it.
I'm gonna say 2.9.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
I'm gonna go out on a limb wow, I'll, I'm gonna stick
with you because, same thing, Ido like this and I think, since
we can't go, we're not doinghundreds of a point, I, I do
like it just a tick better thanthe marzon and other than that
aroma.
Right, the aroma was a littlebit suspect, right, but the
flavor more than made up forthat one.
(22:07):
So I could drink that.
Speaker 2 (22:09):
I could drink a liter of that you know in those big
stines how much of them the bigones are a liter.
That's what's in there, yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
And you've seen on the videos where, like, the
barmaids are carrying like sixor eight, you know six, seven of
them in each hand.
Yes, yeah, they're tough Icouldn't do that.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Yeah, they might beat up everybody.
Oh yeah, you got that right.
All right, so we got the nextquestion.
Okay, did you know thatoctoberfest they serve some
strong beers?
Speaker 1 (22:34):
did you know that?
Uh, stronger than thesestronger than these.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
Stronger than these.
Okay, they actually have one,that's 57% that they serve At
Oktoberfest.
Yep, oh, my word.
Speaker 1 (22:45):
What's the name of that beer?
57%, and it's an actual beer.
Yep, wow, jeep.
I had no idea.
I didn't even know they servedanything like that.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
So S-C-H-O-R, so that's Shor, shor, and S-C-H
Shorsh, b-o-c-k.
Shorshbok, shorshbok, shorshbok.
So 57%.
It costs over 600 euros perliter?
Speaker 1 (23:11):
Oh my gosh, because a euro is more than a dollar,
right?
So if we go, you're going tobuy us each one, right?
Speaker 2 (23:17):
Yep.
Buy each go.
You're going to buy us each one, right?
Yep, buy each one of thesespottens.
No, no, no, no, no, this otherone.
Then you can buy two of us.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
The short, how in the world could you drink a liter
of a 57 percent beer?
Speaker 2 (23:29):
well, you're going to find out for us.
You can report back on that one, yeah I had.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
No, I've never even heard of that you never heard of
that one either, so am Ieducating you, you're educating
me and the listeners, I think,because I I had no idea that
they had that kind of a beerthere.
I did not.
Even in those videos that I'vewatched, they never mentioned
anything about that.
Well, now we're going to haveto dig deeper.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
I'm going to have to look that up because that would
be Well.
Especially they don't want toprobably have a lot of people
drinking that and why would youbuy a liter of it?
I don Get that.
That's probably like a daydrink, right, yeah, you're not
going to be drinking until 12packets.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
A liter of that.
I don't even think you couldget done with a liter of that.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
Well, you're definitely going to be stumbling
out of it.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
I'd say about 57%, so that's 114 proof.
Okay, could you drink a literof 114 proof bourbon?
Well, that would really tastegood and sipping on it, bourbon?
Speaker 2 (24:19):
Well, that would really taste good, and sipping
on it, but for 600 euros.
Speaker 1 (24:22):
That's got to be closer to $700.
Unless you're sharing it withall your friends.
That's crazy.
Yeah, jeez.
Speaker 2 (24:30):
Okay, well, let's get back to what we can afford All
right.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
So we've got Spaten, All right.
Oktoberfest.
And it says you are I don'tknow if that's Marzon- so we're
back into.
Marzon, this one is in a greenbottle.
I don't know if that's 12ounces?
Speaker 2 (24:50):
I don't think so.
I think it's 11.2 as well.
Speaker 1 (24:53):
I should have looked before I opened it, so I don't
spill it, but it's got that samekind of build to it, a little
bit narrower bottle.
Yeah, oh, color on this one isdefinitely what we're a little
more what we think of as aMarzon.
Even the head is a little bitdarker color, all right, so this
is Spaten and it's imported.
Oh, they said they're imported.
(25:16):
So this is again, again, onethat would be at the Oktoberfest
in Munich.
Yeah, that smells like.
Does that smell?
That smells good.
Is that back to that?
Smells what, like I'm normallythinking for an Oktoberfest?
Tastes pretty good, that'spretty good this is interesting
because I will guarantee we doAmerican Oktoberfest episodes.
The flavor is going to be allover the board.
(25:36):
These are really really similarthese.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
even though we've had three different styles, they're
still pretty close and I wouldlike to know out there for the
listeners how many other showsever have compared German
marathons, right, right and givethe listeners like a different
our point of view.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
Yeah you know, and I just kind of kick ourselves
Because last year we did whatfour or five episodes.
I just kind of kick ourselvesbecause last year we did what
four or five episodes and westill we'd have a German or a
couple of German ones in thisone and one in this one, right,
and we never thought about it,comparing them together, but
this time it seemed like, when Iwent to the store, these were
all like front and center.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
Okay, they weren't, as the other beers, like the
American ones, seem to be pushedback into the aisles, so these
are more prominent, so they wereshowcasing these a little more.
Speaker 1 (26:24):
Okay, right, well, it makes sense.
Speaker 2 (26:26):
This is good.
What do you think?
I'm going to 3-1 on this one?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
I'm jumping up a couple of steps there.
Speaker 2 (26:31):
You're increasing the ante now.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
I do like this.
I think it's got enough of thatmalty flavor that you're.
You know, if you've only hadamerican ones, you're gonna.
This is reminiscent right yepor should I say they're
reminiscent of this.
Yes, uh, the aroma was verygood, very smooth, and yeah, I
would.
I could definitely drink a fewof these yeah, I'm right up.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
I like this is probably the best one so far.
I mean, granted, we only havetwo left, but I mean I like this
one too.
Smooth finish, smooth flavor,very good, I, I like that one.
Spaten did a good job.
What kind of score are yougoing with?
I get a 3-1.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Oh, okay.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,sorry that we're copying each
other's scores, but man, we'vetalked about it before.
When you're splitting hairs onstuff, usually it's barrel-aged
stuff that's by the same company.
But these are good, these arereal good.
All right, hit me with anotherone.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
All right.
So the 2023 Oktoberfest was thebiggest beer party ever.
Speaker 1 (27:24):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
All right.
So they saw record-breakingattendance, exceeding
expectations with 7.2 millionvisitors.
Wow, that's crazy.
So I didn't think you'd guessthat, no, so I'm just throwing
the fact out.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
When you first said it I was thinking what?
Million, million, five, 7.5million, okay.
Speaker 2 (27:45):
So that was over the 18 days, yep.
So give me your guess what 2022was for total visitors.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Okay, so 2023 was the record Yep 2022.
Okay, that was a year closer toCOVID.
I don't know if that's going tomake a difference.
Let's say I'm going to say itincreased a lot.
So I'm going to say let's golike 4 million.
Speaker 2 (28:06):
Close 5.7.
Oh, and then 2019 was the nextone in there 6.3 million.
Speaker 1 (28:13):
So 6.3, and then it dropped down.
Speaker 2 (28:14):
It dropped back down.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
So that might have been the COVID part there.
Okay, interesting, that's a lotof people, that's a lot 7.5
million people over 18 days, sothey average close to 500,000
people a day.
Yes, oh, so we do.
Have we got two beers left?
Do you have more than twoquestions?
I think the next one will gogood with the next question All
right, all right, well, let'ssave it for the next one, save
(28:40):
it for the next one.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
All right, oh, look the next beer.
I got the next one.
Speaker 1 (28:42):
This is by hawker shore are you hocking up the
loogie?
Yeah, this is.
This is their octoberfestmarzon, and it says original
filtered fest beer.
And look, there's the the ladylike we're used to seeing on a
horse though there that's somegood artwork carrying another
big stein of beer.
What does it say on the back?
Here, since 1417, 1417 throughtoday Hockershore is considered
(29:07):
the special beer for heavenlyday-to-day moments.
We call it Heaven in Bavaria,you call it Hockershore.
Oh, oh, I give them credit.
They got Ho ho.
All right, I give them credit.
They got a little thing ontheir bottle.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Finally, finally, the rest of them didn't, here it is
.
Say a word Interesting.
Speaker 1 (29:29):
This is another one.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
This is a Marzon.
This is for the actualOktoberfest.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
For the actual Oktoberfest.
I still say at some year weneed to go.
That would be really cool.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Is that on the?
Speaker 1 (29:41):
bucket list.
That's on my bucket list Allright, so it's a tad darker.
A tad.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
Not a lot darker.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
No, I'm trying to think.
Compared to the last one, Ithink the Spaten might have been
just a shade darker Right.
Don't you think Yep Got a goodaroma?
Speaker 2 (29:56):
That's still good, that's still good, that's still
good Interesting.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
So let's see the Spaten.
That was the October.
Oh, that was a Marzon too, andso is this one.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
So these are pretty close.
I mean I can barelydifferentiate the two Right.
I mean if I gave you a blindtaste test of these.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Oh, If you gave me a list and just had taster glasses
, I probably couldn't.
I could maybe get.
I'd say, okay, if it's a Marson it, maybe darker, but that'd
be.
You know what I mean.
That'd be it.
Speaker 2 (30:25):
There's no way, in a blind taste test, you could
separate these.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
There's no way I could.
Maybe you could, toby, maybe,but I think with this lineup it
would be tough for anybody toblind taste test Any of these,
test any of these and get all ofthem right.
Right, I don't think you mightget one right but, and that
would be just out of pure luck,right, if you drink it now and
then?
Speaker 2 (30:45):
you did a blind taste test right afterward I probably
still couldn't, couldn't get it.
Oh, this is not bad it's notbad.
Speaker 1 (30:52):
Uh, am I next or you're?
Speaker 2 (30:53):
oh, you're next all right, so I'm gonna say a 3.0.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
We did skip that number I do you know what, dude?
Speaker 2 (31:01):
I'm upset because that's where I was going yeah, I
asked if you wanted to go giveyour.
I'm going to say a 3.0.
Speaker 1 (31:05):
We did skip that number.
I do like the Spaten.
You know what, dude?
I'm upset because that's whereI was going.
I asked if you wanted to giveyour score.
Yeah, I was going the samething.
I do like the Spaten, just alittle better.
Yeah, it's a touch.
This is still good.
This one, I think, has just alittle bit I'm not going to say
harsh, but a little strongerflavor on the finish.
Yes, and I really like how thatSpaten was really smooth.
So that's my difference and I'msticking to it.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah, I mean, I can't really.
That's the only thing.
The Spaten was just a littletouch, just a hair.
Exactly Just a hair.
It's not anything bad with theHacker Shore, just a touch.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
No.
If all you had was the HackerShore or Hocker Shore.
Yeah, I'd drink it.
Speaker 2 (31:42):
Yeah For sure, there's no doubt there's not one
so far.
We've had that I wouldn't drink.
Right, we haven't had a clunker.
No, not at all.
All right, speaking of clunkers.
Speaker 1 (31:47):
You should have another question.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
I got one final question for you All righty.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
So we were talking about 600 euros per liter Yep.
Speaker 2 (31:57):
What is the average price per liter for just the
regular?
Speaker 1 (32:01):
Steiner beer.
I know it's kind of expensive,but you're getting a lot.
Is it like 15 euros or 20?
You're close.
What was it?
Speaker 2 (32:13):
10.8.
Oh, okay, so what's that equateto in America?
Speaker 1 (32:18):
10.8 euros, so it's probably around $15, depending
on, I suppose, the conversionrate and such, but it's got to
be about that.
Speaker 2 (32:26):
But it's a liter Right.
So that's what.
Speaker 1 (32:29):
three I think a liter is.
Is it three?
Is it like 30?
36 ounces 36 ounces, I think 24to 36.
So you'd have to drink thosefast, fast too, or they get warm
, right?
You would think.
And I know that they also waswatching those videos they have,
like, you know, at those beerhalls you can order food, yes,
and all that, and and it's.
It's rather interesting becausethe the videos I've watched,
(32:52):
you can pick the day that youwant to be in.
Let's say, say you wanted to goto the uh hofbrau, okay, you
pick the day, then you have themorning or the evening, oh, one
or the other, so you have somany hours for each of them and
that's each day.
But when you buy it, it's notfor the 18 days, it's for that
one day and that one half a day,that one half a day.
(33:14):
And I know a number of peoplehave had.
And I think, see, what would beinteresting is, cause you're
going to Germany from the States, you got to be there for at
least a few days, yep, but youknow everybody's like, oh, if
you go, go for like a weekendand then do the other stuff,
cause it's, you know, I supposeI could see how it could get old
, yeah, but if we're ever goingto get to go there.
What I would do they have, okay,let's do the Hofbrau one day.
(33:39):
The next day let's go toHockershore, because in those
beer halls that's the only beerthey serve is by that.
Yeah, and it's not like I don'tthink you have like multiple
versions, you know.
Well, here's our Fest beer,here's our Oktoberfest, here's
no, I think they have A beer.
A beer, I believe.
I think you're right, and sothat would be interesting though
, and I know each of the beerhalls.
(34:00):
When I watched the one videoand, ladies and gentlemen, I'd
have you look on YouTube,because that's where I follow
them, but some of them they say,well, if you're looking more
for like a traditional typething, go to this one, this one.
Here it's kind of a coolerlooking inside and they do a
little more, you know.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
So each of them is just like, has their own little
theme.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Yeah, so it would be interesting.
And there's a couple a coupleof them that they said that were
kind of smaller, oh, butthey're like, they're like the
really cool kind of ones, youknow.
So there's less people, butit's kind of really a neat vibe
to them.
So I'd have to watch it again togive you a little more input on
what those people, what theirthoughts were, okay, but it
seemed like it was ratherinteresting because some of like
(34:41):
the Hofbrau and Hockershore andprobably these giant halls,
right you know, and there'sthousands of people.
And I do know that they saidthat you're not supposed to
stand on the bench or the tableand chug a beer, but I think
every video there's pretty muchsomebody does it and then I
think they get kicked outProbably some drunk Americans
doing it, probably and thenthere's a hill there on the
(35:03):
grounds and I can't remember ifthey call it the drunk hill or
something, but apparently a lotof people go there and then get
rid of a lot of beer.
Speaker 2 (35:11):
They get rid of their beer, and not the way you
normally want to get rid of it,I guess.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
Well, we better drink a beer on that, yes on that
note.
Yes on that note.
So now and then, this, as yousaid, was the highest ABV one we
had.
Yes, 6.3.
6.3, and this is the HofbrauOktoberfest beer.
Speaker 2 (35:26):
All right, and once again, 11.2 fluid ounces, so not
quite as much as a 12-ouncebottle, correct.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
And they've got some writing and it is small, so take
our word for it yeah.
And this is our last one of thecategory, last german one.
Oh well, there we go, I got it.
There's that.
What I need to do is find I gotlike an antique bottle opener
and I need to find my moreconventional one.
Speaker 2 (35:49):
Ah all right, that looks light in color this is
definitely lighter, like theother fest beers.
Yeah, this is not like thosemarzons no, no, not not in the
lead.
Speaker 1 (36:00):
Oh, what was on the?
Oh, there's a, some horses, andsee, like there's a, like a
drawing of their, their beertent, oh, yeah, at octoberfest.
And then there's the, the uh,there's a ferris wheel because
there's like a huge carnivalright.
That goes on there as well.
Okay, this one definitely has alittle more of that aroma
Hoppier, kind of strange aroma.
I could drink this one too.
(36:21):
Yeah, this is not bad.
This is so confusing.
Speaker 2 (36:26):
Yeah, if anybody brings one of these for a blind
taste testing, do you want?
Speaker 1 (36:29):
to hey, even if you said what company made it, I'd
be like, yeah, it could be anyone of these.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
They're so similar.
I think the only thing that'sdifferent is each bottle or each
of the labels are a littledifferent.
I think the only thing that'sdifferent is each bottle or each
of the labels are a littledifferent.
Yep, I think that's the onlything different.
But inside the bottle is allvery close, very similar.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
Well, you know, they have the purity law, you know,
and all that, and I'm sure theseall fall into that category,
but they're real similar, yeah.
Speaker 2 (36:55):
This is crazy.
See, this is where it hurts,because this is we can double up
, the double up.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I think I'm one of these, because I can't put this
at two five right, yeah, we'regonna then it's gonna look like
it was the worst one, and it'snot.
You know, we're gonna have todouble up, I think, on this one
okay, I'm gonna go.
I'm gonna go at 2.7 on this one.
It's gonna be tied with the one, but it's still good and, like
I said, I would drink it.
If somebody brought a six packor you know, at a cooler of them
(37:21):
, I'd I'd drink it for sure.
Uh, I do think that it iscloser to the first two, right,
you know, in my opinion, and uh,which is not bad, uh, but I do
think that, uh, some of theother ones had a little bit
better flavor.
Again, like I said, I would, uh, I would go and sit in their
beer tent and and drink litersit as well.
Speaker 2 (37:40):
I'll say the same thing.
I like it.
I mean, I just it's so hard nowto try to differentiate these.
Even though our scores are alittle different, I think
they're all relatively close,yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:52):
And as far as which one is the best one, I do, I did
really like that Spaten.
I think that that Oktoberfestwas good Right, and then the
Hocker Shore and again those areboth kind of that little bit of
maltier flavor to them.
I think those two were the topones.
And then for Festbier I didlike the Heimheimschaligmar
(38:13):
Planer, yeah, or WeinhausenPlaner.
The real long name, one that I'mnot sure how to pronounce that
was pretty good, so this was.
I knew it was going to be tough, but I thought there was going
to be this tough.
Right, I thought there'd be alittle more variant in like what
the US Oktoberfest are, becausethey're all over the board in
flavor.
Where these were, they weresimilar and it was difficult.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
So that would be awesome.
So yeah, I'm like right in, Ilike the Spaten and the Hacker
Shore, but I would definitelyknow, if I somebody gave me one
of these other ones, I'd stilldrink it A hundred percent.
I wouldn't turn it away becausethey're all.
They're all good.
So I'm glad we did try this.
Speaker 1 (38:49):
Yeah, yeah.
And, like I said, this is thefirst time that we had nothing
but actual German Oktoberfeststyle beers.
Speaker 2 (38:56):
Well, you know, that's reminding me of something
else.
What's that?
I did see at the liquor store abunch of pumpkin beers, oh boy.
So I don't know.
Would you be up to trying forthe listeners' sake?
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Of course, for the listeners Right.
I would definitely do that.
Yes, Okay.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
So maybe I could convince you, maybe in a future
episode, maybe we could do that.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:17):
Yeah, we could do that.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we could dothat.
I mean, we did try theoctoberfest beers, which I would
.
I'd recommend any one of theseseven.
If anybody sees them, youshouldn't be scared no, no, they
were all very good.
Speaker 1 (39:29):
You know, like I said , a couple of the aromas were a
little bit, but the flavors wereall.
The flavors were all good andanybody could drink them.
They not going to blow youtotally out in left field for
you know, for a weird taste orwhatever.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Their ABVs are relatively low.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
So I mean from 5.7 to 6.3 is not.
Speaker 1 (39:48):
Yeah, not bad, and these guys, they invented it.
Right, they know what they'redoing, you know.
So I'd say you know.
Like you just said, if you'reat the store and you see some of
these German Oktoberfest beers,any of them, try them.
If you've never tried an actualGerman beer, try these because
(40:09):
they're very good.
Yes, then you can go into someof the American ones Because,
like I said, not a knock on ourUS breweries, but sometimes you
don't know what you're going toget when you crack open an
Oktoberfest from the US.
Speaker 2 (40:21):
Yes, these we thought we had known going in, but this
just confirmed it by tastingBoy.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Were we wrong?
You know, mm-hmm, so cool.
Well, yeah, ladies andgentlemen, like I said, man,
give them a shot.
If you see them out there, buythem.
Jim, thanks for picking them up.
And you said you had to buy sixpacks of them also.
I'm thinking we may have somegarage beers in the future.
Speaker 2 (40:43):
Yes, so I might be giving you some prizes later on.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Oh darn, that's terrible.
I just can't believe you'd dothat.
Yes, just for you, buddy.
Awesome.
Well, cool man, Well, hey,ladies and gentlemen, thanks for
listening.
Like we always say we hope yourcampfire is always warm and
your beers are always cold andprost october fest time.
This won't be our last episodefor sure.
(41:06):
Uh, we'll be dipping in intothe uh american versions and
some other stuff.
Some other stuff might be comingaround the horn yep, it sounds
like we got pumpkin beers in thefuture, so we'll be checking
those out as well, because tisthe season it's getting.
There's a little nip in the air, that's right, and I know I'm
throwing this out there early.
But if anybody out therelistening knows of any actual
(41:28):
advent calendars for craft beer,again, we tried Last year.
I tried to find one, couldn'tfind one Actually I did, but it
was the same one that I hadbefore, right, which we did not
have on the podcast.
So that is a possibility.
But we'll have Christmas comingup in the near future as well,
so we're going to stay away froma certain brand that shall not
(41:50):
be named if you remember, allright, just for your sake.
Awesome, cool.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, thanks and see ya, see ya.
Thank you for listening to theNorthwoods Beer Guy podcast.
If you have a question, acomment or a beer you'd like us
(42:10):
to review, please feel free tosend us a message at
northwoodsbeerguy, at gmailcom.
You can also find us onFacebook, twitter and Instagram.
If you're on untapped, look upNorthwoods Beer Guy and send a
friend request.
Until next week, I hope allyour campfires are warm and all
(42:34):
your beer is cold.
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Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The Brothers Ortiz
The Brothers Ortiz is the story of two brothers–both successful, but in very different ways. Gabe Ortiz becomes a third-highest ranking officer in all of Texas while his younger brother Larry climbs the ranks in Puro Tango Blast, a notorious Texas Prison gang. Gabe doesn’t know all the details of his brother’s nefarious dealings, and he’s made a point not to ask, to protect their relationship. But when Larry is murdered during a home invasion in a rented beach house, Gabe has no choice but to look into what happened that night. To solve Larry’s murder, Gabe, and the whole Ortiz family, must ask each other tough questions.