Surprise! One of the best new Oktoberfest Marzens I enjoyed this year was from Ballast Point of San Diego, California. I don’t know exactly why that’s such a surprise, since I’ve already had a few decent lagers from Ballast Point. I guess I just think of them more as an ale brewery, and they surely do a lot more ales than lagers. Anyway, the beer I’m talking about is Ballast Point Dead Ringer Oktoberfest which they further describe as a traditional Marzen lager.

Dead Ringer is a very good name indeed for this beer, since Ballast Point has produced a beer that would be right at home in Bavaria. Of course, Marzens are no longer the official Oktoberfest beers of Munich, having been replaced by the paler, hoppier Festbier version of Helles lager. Still, American brewers failed to get the memeo and by and large still crank out Marzens for the fall, and I am heartily glad of it.

From the website:

Our Dead Ringer Oktoberfest lager is inspired by old-style Märzen brews customarily enjoyed during Bavaria’s world-famous beer festival. Thanks to an abundance of toasted malt and a lower hop bitterness, this dark reddish brown lager is loaded with sweet, caramel toffee flavors and aromas. All the taste and celebration of Oktoberfest packed into one bottle; no lederhosen required.

They also describe the ingredients there:

Pilsner Malt, Munich Malt and German Noble Hops all help build those classic aromas into this cold fermented lager. Caramunich Crystal Malt and low bitterness also add to the creamy and complex flavors layered in this beer.

Munich malt is the key to this style my friends, and it definitely sings in this beer. Ballast Point Dead Ringer Oktoberfest has an alcohol content of 6% by volume with 26 IBUs and runs $10.99 a six-pack in these parts, about a dollar more than average.

Ballast Point Dead Ringer Oktoberfest pours to a deep amber color with a medium head of creamy foam and a heady caramel and toasted malts nose. Taking a sip, the beer has the delicious rich Munich Malty toasty nuttiness that is the hallmark of a great Oktoberfest Marzen. The finish is balanced with just a gentle kiss of hops, appropriate to the style.

All in all, a fantastic domestic Oktoberfest, not to be missed my friends. Prosit!

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

 

 

 

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