Drinking, again! Sierra Nevada / Weihenstephan Oktoberfest 2018 (a review)

Sierra Nevada Brewing's Oktoberfest 2018 is a collaboration with Weihenstephan in Freising, Germany, brewed in the U.S. by Sierra Nevada.

We’ve partnered with Bavaria’s Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery for this American take on the classic German Oktoberfest. A malt backbone is balanced by subtle hop character in this crisp, clean, and drinkable crowd-pleaser. Nothing captures the spirit of celebration like a beer among friends.

— Sierra Nevada Brewing

From the brewery, here are the zymurgical specifications:

• Malts: Two-row Pale, Steffi, Pilsner, Munich.
• Hops (bittering): Sterling.
• Hops (flavor and aroma): Sterling, Spalter, Record.
• Yeast: lager (strain not specified)
• ABV (alcohol-by-volume): 6%.
• IBUs (international bittering units): 20.

From me, here are my reactions. I tasted Oktoberfest, poured from a bottle, in Atlanta, Georgia, on 23 August 2018. I'm not certain if Sierra Nevada is brewing the lager exclusively at its original plant in Chico, California, or also at its newer brewery in Mills River, North Carolina, but the sample I tasted was brewed at the former.

• Appearance: Like a shiny, new penny
• Conditioning: Fine bead, lasting carbonation; long-lived, lightly moussey head.
• Aroma: Toasted marshmallows in an alfalfa field.
• Taste: Sweet start with a dry finish. Lightly toasted bread; a good depth of malt. Even a soupçon of 'Meillardy' dark-meat poultry (in a good way).

And, here's a kicker. As a neurogastronomical experiment, leave a bit of the beer unfinished in your glass, overnight (if you can). In the morning, smell. Those noble-heritage hops linger on. Glorious!

Munich, Germany, begins its Oktoberfest celebrations on Saturday, 22 September, continuing for sixteen days through Sunday, 7 October. I began early.

A series of occasional reviews of beers (and wine and spirits).
No scores; only descriptions.

-----more-----

Weihenstephan, the state brewery of Bavaria (Bayerische Staatsbräuerei), is said to be the oldest brewery in the world. Historical records show that monastic brewers began producing beer at the site in 1040 A.D., and continuing until modern times. ¶ The brewery was eventually secularized and was owned by the Bavarian royal family for a time. It is now a commercial venture, operated by the state government of Bavaria. A state-run brewing college is also located at the site.
— Encyclopedia of Beer. Christine Rhodes, et al. (Henry Holt: 1995).



• Drinking, Again! is a series of occasional reviews of beers. Prior reviews of other beers: here.
• Graphic created by Mike Licht at NotionsCapital.


• For more from YFGF:
  • Follow on Twitter: @Cizauskas.
  • Like on Facebook: YoursForGoodFermentables.
  • Follow on Flickr: Cizauskas.
  • Follow on Instagram: @tcizauskas.