Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Lager

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Wed Oct 04, 2006 2:42 pm

It appears that a few kegs of this beer are finding their way into Ontario courtesy of the import agent.

It was understood that this beer was previously not exported and sold exclusively at fest tents in Germany.

Having sampled some I understand the difference between this brew and the original H-S Oktoberfest marzen.

This beer is a golden lager that is released at Oktoberfest where as the H-S Oktoberfest original is a dark organge thick marzen traditionally released for Oktoberfest.

This beer is pretty good...a sort of bready-lemony Munich version of a Salzberg golden lager....I had one side by side with a Steigl and the H-S Oktoberfest lager was the smoother and maltier of the two although they were close in color and mouth feel.

So for those who run across this, in bars this fall, don't make the mistake of thinking it is the original Oktoberfest marzen ( the tyrpe H-S sells in the swing top these days) it's a good golden lager but not a traditional fest marzen.

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:59 am

There are many Lagers but none so fine as a bock or a Doppel.

Märzen is okay, my uncle was drinking that when I was over there a few weeks ago. He gives his beer money only to local / co-operatively owned breweries, like the mediocre Spalter Brauerei. At least he cares about the Mensche of his region.

As for Munich... Paulaner, Andechser, Schneider and Ayinger all kick H-P's ass IMHO. I had a Paulaner Salvator - on draught - in Köln a few weeks ago, that was as deeply aromatic, vinious, bready, nutty and fruity as the best Belgian Abbey Dubbel you ever tried. It was pure liquid heaven!!

lagerale · Post by **lagerale** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:27 pm

Not sure if these beers would be included in the same genre, but I was recently in Hawaii and was happy to find the following:
Gordon Biersh - Marzen was on tap at my hotel!
Spaten - Optimator and Oktoberfest (found at a local grocery store!)
The GB was quite popular on a few islands as I later found out.

I enjoyed them all, though it was funny drinking what I would normally consider "colder weather" type beers in the heat! I will keep a look out for the H-S Oktoberfest lager locally. I do know that a local pub in the Bloor West area, The Fiddlers Dell, regularly has the H-S Lager on tap.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 12:40 pm

Belgian wrote:There are many Lagers but none so fine as a bock or a Doppel.
I had a Paulaner Salvator - on draught - in Köln a few weeks ago, that was as deeply aromatic, vinious, bready, nutty and fruity as the best Belgian Abbey Dubbel you ever tried. It was pure liquid heaven!!

I won't disagree with you...my favorite drink is Bock, Dopple bock, Vienna, Marzen and dunkel in that order

I'm happy you had a interlude in the cradle of brewing ( Germany) and got to sample real lager....now gravitate and welcome back to the depraved shores of a brewing industry in its infancy

....H-S may not be great by German standards but here it is as good a lager as you will find outside the few Micros who make good German weiss, Pils and dunkels in very limited supply ( Plug for Denison's there

)..I recall the Brick bock was as good as any German commercial bock I have tried....now if we could only convince a local to make a real Vienna and a real Oktoberfest marzen we would be that much closer to mainstreaming German lager variety in the micro brewing industry.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 4:17 pm

lagerale wrote:Not sure if these beers would be included in the same genre, but I was recently in Hawaii and was happy to find the following:
Spaten - Optimator and Oktoberfest (found at a local grocery store!)
.

I believe Optimator is a dopplebock....and one of the maltyest in the commercial vein....amazing quaffing this on a torpical beach, but , helll I'd take the punishment ...maybe an eisbock chaser if it got warmer

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 9:26 pm

I love dubbels & doppelbocks. Salvator is supposedly the first doppelbock, originally brewed by monks (liquid bread during lent). It seems to straddle the two styles, but oddly I'm not overly fond of it.

The doppelbock has evolved... and I like it! (less fruity, more malty).

Optimator is certainly a doppelbock, in the Southern Bavarian style (well-attenuated). Some of the more northern versions are even maltier!

Forget Octoberfest with it's large crowds & golden lagers... beer geeks should hit the Starkbierfest. I was fortunate to be there this year... SO MANY great doppelbocks! Vom fass! (Although it wasn't the season, I couldn't resist the many hefeweizens). Unfortunately it'll probably be a while before I make it back... but I'll definitely be looking for more keller/zwickel/ungespundet lagers.

I think lagers really need to stay refridgerated... if they travelled better, beer geeks would probably more appreciation for them (perhaps on par with the Belgian ales, which seem to travel better).

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:55 pm

Responsible Drinker wrote:I love dubbels & doppelbocks.

The doppelbock has evolved... and I like it! (less fruity, more malty).

I think lagers really need to stay refridgerated... if they travelled better, beer geeks would probably more appreciation for them (perhaps on par with the Belgian ales, which seem to travel better).

You have evolved!

German lagers from Bocks to kellers are the epitome of brewing craft for those who want a satisfying drinkability....certain mixtures of malts and yeast can create some complex but subtle flavors in a long cold lagering cycle.....bocks and dopples expound these subtle complexities.

You are correct about keeping lager cold...a large part of it's character is in the malt profile and the protiens in this drop out quickly at room temp...lagers of all types were made to be drinkable and to be consumed fast and fresh as soon as they are tapped out of lagering....even the dopplebocks were never meant for long term cellaring.....they are aged and mellowed and ready to consume when they are released.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:22 am

My taste preferences have definitely changed.

I still appreciate a great Belgian, and although they're generally well-attenuated & 'digestible', I tend to prefer the stronger styles... so I'd rarely have more than one in an evening.

While in Germany, it was far too easy to drink 3L (or more) in a day! And they often are better when they're fresh/local.

At the BIG brewers (I think Spaten was at least 6 times the size of Labatt's here in London), I was surprised to see stacks of fresh bottles just sitting outside! It's actually amazing that some of the bottles shipped here are as good as they are!

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:41 pm

German lagers from Bocks to kellers are the epitome of brewing craft for those who want a satisfying drinkability....

I find Rogue 'Dead Guy Ale' ("Maierbock") heavenly in this regard. I drink it cool but not icy cold.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 4:36 pm

Belgian wrote:
German lagers from Bocks to kellers are the epitome of brewing craft for those who want a satisfying drinkability....
I find Rogue 'Dead Guy Ale' ("Maierbock") heavenly in this regard. I drink it cool but not icy cold.

Rogue DGA is technically not a bock as it is top fermented ...but it is cold conditioned and they use some German Maier Munich malts and perle/saaz hops so it comes close to style...and it certainly is far better than the Holsten, FAX and other commercial Maibocks

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 5:59 pm

pootz wrote:I believe Optimator is a dopplebock...

The indicaTOR of 'Doppels' (not 'dopples'

) is this:
The last three letters of the name - in imitation of Salvator you have Optimator, Celebrator, etc etc. ie. a "-tor' suffix should lead you to expect a double bock style.

Responsible Drinker wrote:....even the dopplebocks were never meant for long term cellaring.....they are aged and mellowed and ready to consume when they are released.

Right, - even though Doppelbocks can be stable in the bottle with the technology, and they won't spoil quickly, it was just WILD how much better Salvator was on tap than in the (very respectable) bottle version. I would say it far surpassed the Andechser I drank in München on a few occasions.

Responsible Drinker wrote: I still appreciate a great Belgian,

Why, thank you. I get that a lot.

pootz · Post by **pootz** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 6:15 pm

Belgian wrote:
pootz wrote:I believe Optimator is a dopplebock...
The indicaTOR of 'Doppels' (not 'dopples' ) is this:
The last three letters of the name - in imitation of Salvator you have Optimator, Celebrator, etc etc. ie. a "-tor' suffix should lead you to expect a double bock style.:

Correct thanks for reminding us of this modern homage that bock brewers pay to Paulaner...but there are a lot of "tor" imperials, ales and radicals these days..much like US brewers call their German cream ales..kolsch.