ISO...........

[amateuraficionado]

While I'm not yet ready for Lambics, Trappists or Doppelbocks, and not quite prepared to make the pilgrimage to Munster Indiana come April(although from what I've read I have to admit I would really love to try some Vanilla Bean D.L), I have been experimenting with some different beers lately. I recently tried Sam Adams Oktoberfest and I actually liked it a lot. Does anyone have any suggestions for good quality beers that are similar to this one?

I've also been wanting to try Breckenridge Vanilla Porter for a while and was wondering if anyone knows where, if at all possible, this can be found in the NY/NJ area. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[smellysell]

Try any of the German made Oktoberfests. My personal favorite is Paulaner, but most of them are really good, and all of them that I've had are better than the Sam Adams one imo.

 

[amateuraficionado]

Thanks Justin. I'll give 'em try this weekend.

 

[MAS_Puros]

Ayinger also has some pretty good brews. I love the Dunkel and Celebrator Dopplebock.

I would also recommend Sierra Nevada Anni or Celebrator. Sam Adams has a nice variety of styles that you can try and see which ones you enjoy.

I have to say Breckenridge Vanilla Porter is awesome, wish I had some more
Also if you like this you'll like Bell Special Double Cream Stout (like drinking chocolate milk) which is another favorite of mine.

 

[Phlicker]

Try some of the local made Marzen's (Oktoberfest) beers as well: Victory Festbier, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Sly Fox Oktoberfest, Penn Oktoberfest and Troegs Scratch #13 (if you can find any). Sounds like you like the maltier beers, which fits into this category nicely.

 

[MAS_Puros]

Try some of the local made Marzen's (Oktoberfest) beers as well: Victory Festbier, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Sly Fox Oktoberfest, Penn Oktoberfest and Troegs Scratch #13 (if you can find any). Sounds like you like the maltier beers, which fits into this category nicely.

beware of some of those Marzen's ... I had one that had a smoked sausage flavor :0 not too pleasing

 

[GregSVT]

All the recommendations so far are right on. The Sam Adams Oktoberfest is really the last one I would choose if I had a choice. The Paulaner Oktober fest is my favorite.

I have to say Breckenridge Vanilla Porter is awesome, wish I had some more
Also if you like this you'll like Bell Special Double Cream Stout (like drinking chocolate milk) which is another favorite of mine.

You're so wrong for that description of the Bells cream stout...mosty because Bells is not available in my area and I LOVE cream stouts. I can get Breckenridge Vanilla Porter anytime from my local though and it is excellent stuff.

 

[rbbrock]

I'll second a couple recommendations: anything from Ayinger, and any German Oktoberfest (I like Hacker-Pschorr the best).

For a similar type of beer (kind of) I would recommend trying some brown ales. They're generally light on the hops, and not as roasty as stouts and porters. Newcastle is a good, if bland, start. Sam Adams has one that I haven't ever tried. Goose Island makes a good one if you can get it out there. It seems to be a common brew for micros and brewpubs, at least around here, so there are probably a lot of local versions for you to try.

Edit: When I said any German Oktoberfest, it occurs to me that I didn't really mean it. No Becks Oktoberfest. The ones I have tried that I would recommend are the aforementioned Hacker-Pschorr and Ayinger, as well as Paulaner and Spaten.

 

[smellysell]

Edit: When I said any German Oktoberfest, it occurs to me that I didn't really mean it. No Becks Oktoberfest.

Oh yeah, I forgot about that one too. :laugh:

 

[Phlicker]

If you want to be a purist, there are only 6 brews allowed into Munich's famed Oktoberfest that runs for 2 weeks in late September until the first weekend in October. It is only open to the 6 breweries from Munich proper. The six are: Spaten, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, and Paulaner. Becks doesn't make the cut there

 

[BitterRat]

Try some of the local made Marzen's (Oktoberfest) beers as well: Victory Festbier, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Sly Fox Oktoberfest, Penn Oktoberfest and Troegs Scratch #13 (if you can find any). Sounds like you like the maltier beers, which fits into this category nicely.

beware of some of those Marzen's ... I had one that had a smoked sausage flavor :0 not too pleasing

Sounds like you got ahold of some Schlenkerla Marzen, which is a smoked beer from Bamberg. Kind of like what they tell people who first try Guinness, "it's an aquired taste! "

 

[MAS_Puros]

All the recommendations so far are right on. The Sam Adams Oktoberfest is really the last one I would choose if I had a choice. The Paulaner Oktober fest is my favorite.

I have to say Breckenridge Vanilla Porter is awesome, wish I had some more
Also if you like this you'll like Bell Special Double Cream Stout (like drinking chocolate milk) which is another favorite of mine.

You're so wrong for that description of the Bells cream stout...mosty because Bells is not available in my area and I LOVE cream stouts. I can get Breckenridge Vanilla Porter anytime from my local though and it is excellent stuff.

Really?? It was like drinking yohoo MHO ... so is that a trade invitation for the Vanilla Porter?

Try some of the local made Marzen's (Oktoberfest) beers as well: Victory Festbier, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Sly Fox Oktoberfest, Penn Oktoberfest and Troegs Scratch #13 (if you can find any). Sounds like you like the maltier beers, which fits into this category nicely.

beware of some of those Marzen's ... I had one that had a smoked sausage flavor :0 not too pleasing

Sounds like you got ahold of some Schlenkerla Marzen, which is a smoked beer from Bamberg. Kind of like what they tell people who first try Guinness, "it's an aquired taste! "

AQUIRED ??? Who'd wanna drink meat ... that was the pretty awful to me. It was like getting smoked meat and puree'ing it ... then gulping it down. UGH

 

[BitterRat]

Try some of the local made Marzen's (Oktoberfest) beers as well: Victory Festbier, Stoudt's Oktoberfest, Sly Fox Oktoberfest, Penn Oktoberfest and Troegs Scratch #13 (if you can find any). Sounds like you like the maltier beers, which fits into this category nicely.

beware of some of those Marzen's ... I had one that had a smoked sausage flavor :0 not too pleasing

Sounds like you got ahold of some Schlenkerla Marzen, which is a smoked beer from Bamberg. Kind of like what they tell people who first try Guinness, "it's an aquired taste! "

AQUIRED ??? Who'd wanna drink meat ... that was the pretty awful to me. It was like getting smoked meat and puree'ing it ... then gulping it down. UGH

:laugh: Yeah, I couldn't agree more, but that's what I was told, "it's an aquired taste", I just thought why would I want to aquire a taste for that!!!

 

[amateuraficionado]

Thanks for all the input guys. This evening I stopped by the closest liquor store that has the best slection of beer in my area. I picked up some Paulener Marzen and some Founder's Breakfast Stout. Is the Founder's seasonal or year round? I had one of each this evening(couldn't wait until tomorrow), and both were really good! Of all the ones that were suggested the only other one they had was Victory Festbier. They had about five or six different Troegs, but no Scratch #13.

 

[nicktressler]

Spaten Octoberfest makes me do bad things......and by bad things I mean good things.....and by good things I mean drink alot.

 

[smellysell]

Thanks for all the input guys. This evening I stopped by the closest liquor store that has the best slection of beer in my area. I picked up some Paulener Marzen and some Founder's Breakfast Stout. Is the Founder's seasonal or year round? I had one of each this evening(couldn't wait until tomorrow), and both were really good! Of all the ones that were suggested the only other one they had was Victory Festbier. They had about five or six different Troegs, but no Scratch #13.

The breakfast stout is a seasonal release, and a damn good one.

 

[Phlicker]

Thanks for all the input guys. This evening I stopped by the closest liquor store that has the best slection of beer in my area. I picked up some Paulener Marzen and some Founder's Breakfast Stout. Is the Founder's seasonal or year round? I had one of each this evening(couldn't wait until tomorrow), and both were really good! Of all the ones that were suggested the only other one they had was Victory Festbier. They had about five or six different Troegs, but no Scratch #13.

The breakfast stout is a seasonal release, and a damn good one.

Second! That's a great find on the Founders. If you're interested in some Scratch #13, let me know. You can only buy it at the brewery in Harrisburg, and I picked up a case on my last trip to Pittsburgh, so I'd be happy to share a few with you. Also have some Stoudt's Oktoberfest (stopped in Adamstown on my way BACK...it was a good trip) if you're interested.

 

[amateuraficionado]

Thanks for all the input guys. This evening I stopped by the closest liquor store that has the best slection of beer in my area. I picked up some Paulener Marzen and some Founder's Breakfast Stout. Is the Founder's seasonal or year round? I had one of each this evening(couldn't wait until tomorrow), and both were really good! Of all the ones that were suggested the only other one they had was Victory Festbier. They had about five or six different Troegs, but no Scratch #13.

The breakfast stout is a seasonal release, and a damn good one.

Second! That's a great find on the Founders. If you're interested in some Scratch #13, let me know. You can only buy it at the brewery in Harrisburg, and I picked up a case on my last trip to Pittsburgh, so I'd be happy to share a few with you. Also have some Stoudt's Oktoberfest (stopped in Adamstown on my way BACK...it was a good trip) if you're interested.

I guess I better stock up then! I actually came across the Founders by accident. I had everything I was getting and happened to walk past a section of seasonal beers on my way to the register and saw a few cases of the Founders stacked up. I'd seen some of you guys talk about it, and when I read "Double Chocolate Coffee Oatmeal Stout" at 8.3% ABV, I knew this was right up my alley.

Thanks for the offer, I'll take you up on some of the Scratch #13 and Stoudt's. I'll shoot ya a PM to work out a trade. If you can get your hands on some Breckenridge Vanilla also, that would be :thumbs: !