Guten Tag! Since this is the lovely month of October, you’ve no doubt seen beers that share the same name. Octoberfest or Oktoberfest ale, are common this time of year. Generally these dark tan ales have a slightly bitter flavor with smokey overtones. Many breweries claim to have the best brew, so I took a few popular ones to a taste test.

Sam Adam’s, Octoberfest, bottle. We start with a dark copper color with a smokey aroma. This ale has a slightly bitter aftertaste and is very malty. Many people use this as a basis for all Octoberfest beers, which isn’t a terrible thing, but you must remember that Sam Adam’s is the gateway beer. The gateway to other possibilities and flavors, so keep exploring.

Harpoon, Octoberfest, bottle. Lighter in color than the Sam’s, a tan color, not very bitter and very smooth. This had an almost creamy taste to it and a little bite toward the end. I found this to be very enjoyable and not as heavy as Sam

Otter Creek, Oktoberfest, bottle. This had the brightest color of the three, a golden quality. It was very smooth with a slightly bitter taste. Not as spiced and smokey as the other two, which gave way to a good crisp taste. This was the easiest to drink of the three.

I only wish that I had a chance to try Spaten’s Octoberfest, but I couldn’t find any anywhere. Octoberfest ales can be confused with Autumn ales and other fall beers. Remember: Octoberfest beers come from a rich German and Bavarian heritage and are the start of the dark beer season. Next time you grill a few brats or German sausage with a bed of sauerkraut, crack open some German heritage to wash it down. Auf Wiedersehen.