Adam, you've known me long enough to know that when you give me sh*t about the beer I drink, I do not take offense to it (although I do feign outrage). I sincerely appreciate you sending me this sampler. Hell the shipping had to cost more than the beer. I owe you, brother. See you at the October herf.

That's a hit that's gonna leave a mark!

I'm familiar with Marzens. They are not served at Oktoberfest in Germany, though. I have a couple pints of the Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen. It's really good. So are the Paulaner and Spaten (Spaten being my personal fave).

Adam can elaborate, but IIRC he wanted me to sample a freshly brewed German style beer that hadn't taken 10 weeks to hit the shores and has been kept cold the whole time. Thus... not allowing heat or light to damage the flavor.

I'm getting all jittery in anticipation. I'm like a kid with a new toy and mom won't let me open the package until we get home.

😱

First up, the Fest beer, which was the one I decided to try first as soon as I opened the package. I just got an ice cold 28oz mug from my freezer and poured 2 of them into it. Awesome head, even though I tilted the glass and poured slowly. Beautiful malty aroma and flavor. Malty is good IMO. Deep reddish brown color.

This mug is going to go quickly, despite my desire to savor it.

Still learning from you Goats even though I haven't been a "George Ensign" in a long long time!

You'll be a captain in no time, friend. You understand that the Senior Chief is wise. You also aren't too full of yourself to learn from the goat locker.

ANY captain worth a sh*t will tell you he got where he did by following the advice of his senior enlisted personnel. Because they have experience. I'm not saying they're always right... but LISTEN to them before making your decisions.

Oh... and Mrs MACS has been looking after me for 26+ years. I could lie to her, but she'd never believe it... she also learned from a Senior Chief. 🤦

Perfect beer for a hot summer day.

I could drink that pils all day long...

Yep... me too. It's light, crisp and clean. Easy to drink many of them and not get bloated.

Still, at this point the fest is my favorite of the two. After the Pils, I'ma pour two of the Marzen. 🍺

This was very thoughtful of you, bro. You know I appreciate it. My brother never ceases to amaze. If it ain't making fun of my driving skills... it's getting me drunk. Bravo, sir... bravo.

The Sudwerk Marzen... darker, actually, than the fest. More brown than red. Golden brown? No head at all on the pour. I poured them all the same. Slight malty aroma, with a small hint of hops. Much like the pils, it's clean. No aftertaste, at least to me. But with a slightly malty taste. Not as malty as the fest, but with a hint of hops.

It's surprising to me that a marzen is as clean as a pils. Not quite as clean, as I can taste the malt and the hops, more hops in this one than the other two, IMO. But almost no aftertaste. A slight linger of the malt.

Verdict:

Fest #1 (easily... the malty taste was fkn bomb)

Marzen #2 (again... love me some malt)

Pils #3 (only because the other two were so good... very good pils)

Now... would I choose any of these over my two faves of late? The Weihenstephaner Oktoberfestbier or the Paulaner Oktoberfest Wiesn?

Honestly? Yes.

The Sudwerk fest. Otherwise, I'm sticking with my faves.

Please PM me.