William F. Yurasko

Gemütlichkeit! Trying some DC area Oktoberfest beers

·

by

wfyurasko
decorative gourds and marzen oktoberfest beer on a patio table with flag and small barn in the background

Oktoberfest beer, specifically märzen, is my favorite style of beer and autumn is my favorite time to drink beer. While the craft beer renaissance has had some contraction of late, thankfully, we still have several greater Washington, D.C. breweries cranking Oktoberfests annually.

New to me

This year, I was eager to try two “new to me” beers.

Senate Märzen

An old Christian Heurich Brewing Co. recipe was unearthed and DC’s Right Proper brewed it. I was delighted to find a six pack at Calvert-Woodley.

At 6.0% ABV, it’s malty, strong, but not overwhelming with a thick head.

This is going into the regular rotation if is offered annually.

Silver Branch Oktoberfest

I also picked up a six pack from Calvert-Woodley of this award winning beer from Silver Branch Brewing Co. It’s a bit mild, very drinkable though. My wife says it reminds her of the beers she drank in Bavaria in 2022. 5.6% ABV.

My long-time go-to märzens

Port City Brewing Co.

It’s not autumn without a case of Port City Brewing Co. Oktoberfest. Do I love it because its brewed about about 8 minutes away by bicycle (or 10 minutes by car) or because it has got a great caramel malt flavor? Yes.

I always make my first Oktoberfest of the year, Port City.

Port City brews great lagers, but only seasonally. I really like their Dopplebock and Tmave Pivo and the Rauchbeer (which just won bronze at the Great American Beer Festival – DC Beer) is a firepit staple.

DC Brau

The first production brewery in DC since Ike’s first term sells a märzen with strong malt flavors that isn’t as sweet. It’s a bit of change of pace compared to some other local offerings. It’s a great label too. I used to love getting it on tap at Nationals Park late in the season…

Lost Rhino

On the other end of the spectrum, is Rhinofest. It maybe the sweetest märzen I have ever had. I usually pick up at least a six pack. For a while there, it was only sold in 23 oz. bottles or on draft and I once drove all the way out to Lost Rhino Ashburn to get a growler.

Other regional märzens

  • I’m eager to try Caboose Brewing Co.’s Oktoberfest. When I take my annual autumn ride on the W&OD Trail I plan on stopping by for one. I grew up minutes away from their original location and I love their Vienna Va Lager.
  • Silobration by 2 Silos of Manassas is solid; I tend to find it in the stores later in the season.
  • Gute Naucht by Solace Brewing of Arlington wasn’t my favorite, not rich enough for my taste. I may try again.
  • City State Brewing Co. has an Oktoberfest out, though it’s not a märzen so I may not rush out to get it. However, it is right on the Metropolitan Branch Trail, so if I’m biking by…
  • Calvert Brewing from Upper Marlboro closed, but their intellectual property, recipes, etc. may yet live on. I bought their Oktoberfest a few times.

Outside the region

I buy very little beer that isn’t brewed within 40 miles of Alexandria. When you support your local brewery, you are supporting your local economy, not shareholders of multinational conglomerates. Even with post-pandemic contraction, craft beer was on of the economic success stories of the 2010s.

  • That being said, I always buy Great Lakes Oktoberfest, Cleveland’s gift to the world. It’s one of my favorite beers ever; it’s the only out of area brew I make a point to buy every fall. I just don’t drink it if my Nittany Lions are playing Ohio State that day. Or Bowling Green and Kent State this season.
  • Speaking of Pennsylvania, I picked up Troegs Oktoberfest a couple of years ago and would again. That’s easily my favorite PA brewery. I buy Troegenator, a really good dopplebock, in the winter when local lagers get scarce.
  • O’fest by Devil’s Backbone, the people whose Vienna Lager was so good that InBev bought them out, is widely available and a good option. If I’m ever down the I-81 corridor with time to spare, I’d be inclined to visit them.
  • Being a Penn State alumnus, there was a solid decade or more where Yuengling Lager was at top the regular rotation. However, once DB Vienna Lager became widely available, I lost the taste for Yuengling. Circa 2012 I had their Oktoberfest was disappointed. The Yuengling family is even more disappointing.
  • I have gotten Samuel Adams Octoberfest in the past. It’s perfectly cromulent and if I was at a bar and that was the only märzen on draft, I’d order a pint. Then again, Jim Koch is disappointing too, so maybe not.

Why are so many brewery web sites mediocre?

Has anybody else noticed that craft beer sites are pretty limited? They tend to be clunky and often don’t have updated beer information. Many of them are on SquareSpace or Wix.Perhaps social media is sufficient to get to tell their story, but as a career web professional, I see so many things that could be improved upon.

I think I’m going to try and get the sales team at the agency I work at to try and create a brewery practice..