Beer Review: Yuengling Oktoberfest

Serving Type: Bottle

ABV: 5.4 percent

Appearance: Yuengling Oktoberfest pours a deep amber, which isn't typical of most Oktoberfests I've had the past few years. It reminds me of the amber color that Yuengling Traditional Lager has. It also features the bubbly white head we love with Yuengling's flagship beer. Already, we can see homage paid to one of the great beers of Pennsylvania. The only qualm I have is that you can somewhat see through the beer (If you look closely I have this in a Coors Light pint glass (Apologies, but it was a long day prior to drinking this) I prefer a darker color in this style.

Smell: This beer's aroma consisted of strong roasted grain. This is something I've come to adore in the Traditional Lager as well. Notes of sweet caramel dance in your nostrils too.

Taste: The caramel is sweet and spicy on the front of the tongue. The strong roasted grain helps out with a smooth finish. The grain taste is very similar to the Traditional Lager taste when it's consumed from the bottle. It's very close to a strong roast in a cup of coffee. It's slight, but you notice that it's there. (Yuengling on draft tastes different to me). I didn't get a good amount of hop character on the back of the tongue when drinking this one. The flavor was just a tad weaker than I prefer.

Overall Rating: 

Overall, not a bad beer. I'm happy I have a case of this. I love that Yuengling decided to brew an Oktoberfest. Looked everywhere for it last year in pubs, but couldn't get a drop. I like that this beer is similar to the flagship, but would have preferred it set itself apart. The flavors need to come together a little bit more.

Monday Rant: Let Yuengling Be

When I first became interested in beer, Yuengling Traditional Lager was that first beer other than the Natural Light and Coors Light you could find in the pubs around your college campus that you drank and reminded yourself that it's a damn good beer.

The bottle has a classic look to it. I don't see many with that green tint anymore. The beautiful brown liquid that houses itself inside that bottle is even better once it hits your tongue. Making it that much better was the fact that this product was made in Pennsylvania. There was always a sense of pride when it came up in conversation. Having family and friends just down the road in West Virginia, I witnessed some of the rejoicing when Yuengling was finally sold in that state.

Dick Yuengling caused a few ripples a few weeks ago when he said that Pennsylvania wasn't the best business climate in the world. He could be right for all we know. I'm not typing this to argue whether or not Pennsylvania (even a spot closer to Pittsburgh) is the best spot for Yuengling to expand. I'm just writing this to bring up the point that Yuengling has earned his and his brewery's right to do whatever he sees fit for his company.

Come on. Yuengling has provided the country with a nationally-recognized product. That beer bottle is pretty much a trademark, isn't it?

Yuengling has done enough. That brewery has done just about everything and more for Pennsylvania. If this supposed expansion occurs in another state, so be it. That's how the cookie crumbles. Yes, it could hurt jobs somewhat in this state, but I don't feel that it's Yuengling's obligation anymore. The brewery can do what it so chooses. I'm still going to be proud the next time I open a bottle of it. It will always be Pennsylvania's beer.