Pete's Wicked
Oktoberfest
Review Date 9/22/2000
Try?
Re-buy?
While Pete Slosberg the man may not be as wicked as he
once was (he has sold his brewing company), Pete the brand is, to quote a
famous regional East Coast brewer, same as it ever was. Pete never had
a brewery, he always contracted out production of his beers to other
brewers. Some think that great beers can't be produced by this method (known
as contract brewing), but I would offer this beer as a refutation to them.
Yes, big breweries can make great beer, and Pete's Oktoberfest is great
beer, folks. Pete's Oktoberfest is deep ruby red in color with a light head
formation and a sweet malty nose. Brewed with pale, caramel and (YES!)
Munich malt, this is a rich and authentic beer with lots of toasty-nutty
flavor, hints of chocolate, a firm chewy caramel malt body, and a slightly
sweet sticky finish. Pete's Oktoberfest has always been a great beer, but
this year's is really incredible.
It has more body and rich toasty character than some imported German
Oktoberfests. It certainly beats out the other widely available American
brewed example of the style, Samuel Adams, in authenticity, flavor, and
body.
I give it 5 stars as an American brewed example of the style. Why? Because many domestic versions that I have sampled just don't match up to this one, including those brewed by such heavyweights as Victory, Dominion and Brooklyn Brewing. I may take flack for this, but hey, this is my Epinion, and I have the right to put in my three cents worth.
Match Pete's Oktoberfest with bratwurst, knockwurst, weisswurst, sauerkraut and perhaps spatzels with some Oom-pa-pa music playing on the stereo for a bit of Oktoberfest in your own home. If you're really enthusiastic, you could pitch a beer tent in the living room too.
I give it 5 stars as an American brewed example of the style. Why? Because many domestic versions that I have sampled just don't match up to this one, including those brewed by such heavyweights as Victory, Dominion and Brooklyn Brewing. I may take flack for this, but hey, this is my Epinion, and I have the right to put in my three cents worth.
Match Pete's Oktoberfest with bratwurst, knockwurst, weisswurst, sauerkraut and perhaps spatzels with some Oom-pa-pa music playing on the stereo for a bit of Oktoberfest in your own home. If you're really enthusiastic, you could pitch a beer tent in the living room too.
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
