Founders Oktoberfest

Review Date 10/12/2021 By John Staradumsky

  Style: Oktoberfest   Brewery: Founders   Country: USA   State: Michigan   $ Per OZ: $.11 (B)   ABV: 6%

Founders Oktoberfest! So, when did that happen? I’ll confess I first saw the beer for sale in the fall of 2020, but only in 15-packs, and I didn’t want to buy a 15-pack. I usually do a big fall shopping for Ofest and Pumpkin beers, so I had plenty of beer on hand. I wasn’t getting out as much, either, thanks to the dread Covid-19.

This year, though, I picked up a single of Founders Oktoberfest at Total Wine. Founders does just about everything they do exceptionally well, so I was quite confident their Märzen style lager would be a credible one. I was not disappointed.

Founders says:

Blink and you’ll think you’re in Bavaria. We went all in on tradition with our Oktoberfest, using imported German malts and hops with a beautiful lager yeast for the finish. Pours a gorgeous copper hue with a rich, malty and slightly sweet backbone. Our version is akin to the beer poured in the early days of Oktoberfest and, yes, it adheres to the Reinheitsgebot. Prost!

I took a sip, and I blinked, and I….didn’t think I was in Bavaria. Hey, it’s OK, there are few American brewers that can pull off a Märzen lager like the Germans can. Munich malt helps add some German character, but you will never equal one of the original German versions without a decoction mash.

Founders Oktoberfest has an alcohol content of 6% by volume with 20 IBUs. When I picked up my single, Total Wine was selling the beer for $19.99 a 15-pack or $11.49 a six. The 12-pack does make more fiscal sense, obviously. $1.50 less per six-pack and three extra cans to boot. My can is marked on the bottom CANNED ON 08.09.21 and I drank it on September 26^th of 2021.

Founders Oktoberfest pours to a beautiful orange jello color with a thick fluffy white head and a nose of caramel and toasted nuts. Taking a sip, the beer is medium in body with caramel up front in the palate but also packs some tasty-toasty nutty Munich malt melanoidin goodness. It finishes balanced with a wonderful malty “oomph”.

A very good example of the style.

Glad I tried it?  T