Day 255, Sept 12 / Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest

Day 255 / September 12, 2011

"O' zapft is!”

How’s this for a challenge?   The Germany vs. USA Oktoberfest Beer Run will take on a little different format than previous runs.  Over the course of the rest of September, I plan on drinking a dozen Oktoberfest, Marzen or Festbiers, six brewed in Germany, and six brewed in the good old USA. 

Unlike previous Beer Runs, these beers will not necessarily be consumed and blogged on sequential days (I may throw in another beer here or there), but all will be completed by the end of September.  Each beer will receive my typical, entirely subjective rating, but the ratings will also be translated into numerical scores as follows:

Awful	0
Not Good	1
Passable	4
Good	6
Very Good	8
Outstanding	10

Each time I have an Oktoberfest beer this month, I will update the scorecard with current and month to date results. And at the end of September, the total scores will determine whether Germany or the US brews the best Oktoberfest beers, in my oh so humble opinion.

Now admittedly, Germany has an advantage out of the gate.  They have been celebrating Oktoberfest since 1810.  Only beers brewed within the Munich city limits is allowed to be served at the official Munich Oktoberfest celebration, held for 16 to 18 days in late September and early October.

Oktoberfest beers are generally of the Märzen style of beers, and may be called either Märzen, Maerzen,  Märzenbier, Wiener Märzen, Oktoberfest or Festbier.  Historically, Märzen (German for March beer) was brewed in March, and cellared or lagered in dark, cool caves until late Summer or early Fall.  Märzens were brewed with a higher specific gravity and slightly higher alcohol content, so that they would keep over the summer months.

 Märzens are generally a medium to full body beer, with a dark copper color, a malty flavor and a clean dry finish.  Many American Märzens have a stronger, though not aggressive, hop aroma and bitterness.

Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest

Hacker-Pschorr Bräu GmbH / Munich, Germany

A

NG

P

G

VG

O

We’ll start the Oktoberfest battle with a bottle from Deutschland, Hacker-Pschorr Original Oktoberfest.  This is an amber/orange clear colored beer, a little sweet, a little malty.  Definitely a good beer to set the standard for this beer run!

		Germany			USA
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest		G	6			-
TOTALS			6			-