Heater Allen Bobtoberfest

Review Date 9/28/2021  By John Staradumsky

  Style: Oktoberfest   Brewery: Heater Allen   Country: USA   State: Oregon   $ Per OZ: N/A   ABV: 5.6%

There are three breweries on the west coast that I am following with much enthusiasm: Enegren, of Moorpark, California; Occidental, of Portland, Oregon; and Heater Allen, of McMinnville, Oregon. As you may well know, I simply adore German and German style beer, and each of these brewers specializes in just that: German style beer. As I type, it’s late September, the time for Oktoberfest beer! I’ve enjoyed a malty Märzen and a bready Festbier from Enegren, and tonight I’m here to tell you about my latest Oktoberfest score: Heater Allen Bobtoberfest Oktoberfest Lager.

I just love discovering “new” (to me anyway) Oktoberfest brews, so when I saw Heater Allen Bobotoberfest available at Craftshack.com, it went right into my cart. Here’s what the brewery says about it on their website:

Bobtoberfest is our version of a traditional Oktoberfest-style beer or a high gravity Märzen, which is different from the Fest beers you would find today at Munich's Oktoberfest. We named this beer for Rick's late brother Bob, the person who sparked his interest in brewing lager beers in general and Oktoberfest beers in particular. Bright amber color; rich, malty, and smooth, with a just touch of clean hop bitterness. If you can't make it to Munich this fall, this beer is the next best thing. Bobtoberfest is released at the end of August, beginning of September.

Heater Allen Bobtoberfest Oktoberfest Lager has an alcohol content of 5.6% by volume. I paid $4.26 for my can from Craftshack; I have no other pricing information. My can is stamped CANNED ON 08/13/21 PROSIT! I bought it on September 3^rd, got it a bout week later, and drank it on September 26^th. Heater Allen says on the label they give their beers extended lagering time. I like that!

Heater Allen Bobtoberfest Oktoberfest Lager pours to a brilliant orange amber color with a thick fluffy white head and a nose of soft caramel. Taking a sip, the beer has that same caramel up front, then the toasty nutty Munich malt melanoidin goodness the label promised. The latter does not pop as it does in favorite German Märzen Oktoberfests (Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and Spaten), or even as much as some domestic examples. I was on the fence between giving this one 3 ½ or 4 stars, but I really do love the way the bitter spalt hops pop in the finish. The spicy hops at the last pushed this one to a four for me.

Would I buy it again? Only every single Bobtober, I would.

Glad I tried it?  T

Would I rebuy it??