Founders Oktoberfest and Sierra Nevada Oktoberbest Festbier

On August 13, 2026 I purchased two new Oktoberfest beers at total wine. I figured that they would never be fresher. Initially both were disappointments; but, they grew on me as I went through the 12 packs.

Founders Oktoberfest is a traditional Märzen. 

Here is what BeerAdvocate 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!

IBUs: 20

The raters at BeerAdvocate rate is as being Very Good. 

Tasting Notes
2026-09-21: I have had more and now think that I like it better than Weihenstephaner Festbier. I downgraded the rating for the Festbier and I am upgrading the rating here. 

Rating = 2, 3, 3.5, and now 4 glasses

20260821: Ditto as below.

20260815: The beer is growing on me. I like it better. Very much a Märzen.

20260814: Very malty - I think it resembles a Scotch Ale. I am not sure how much I like the style or beer.

This year's Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest is a collaboration with Hoppebräu. Sierra Nevada's decription is:

Each year, we partner with a German brewer to create a traditional Oktoberfest, but this modern Festbier breaks the mold. A collaboration with innovative Bavarian brewer,  Hoppebräu, our 2026 Oktoberfest is lightly dry-hopped for a hint of floral character, balanced by biscuity flavor thanks to Munich malt. But it won’t last long; this seasonal beer will be gone before you can say prost!

The raters at BeerAdvocate rate is as being Very Good.

Tasting Notes
20260815: The one is also growing on me. More festive.

Rating = 2, and now 2.5 glasses

20260814: It breaks the mold for Oktoberfest. It is more Festbier than Märzen but maltier than a Festbier. It tastes something like a Vienna Lager.  

Beers from New Hampshire

I bought some beers in New Hampshire while attending a wedding there.

Fiddlehead IPA is a hazy New Englandish IPA with a mild bitter bite. 

20260917: ML gave me a can. I liked it. It was more West Coast than I remember and drank well.

Rating = 3.5 glasses and thought about 4

20260812: I am happy to drink it again but will not seek it out. The raters at BeerAdvocate like it better than I; they say that it is outstanding.

Rating = 1.5 glasses

Wormtown Be Hoppy is a pleasant IPA.

Tasting Notes
20260815: The last impressed me. Nicely balanced with a decent hop bite.

Rating = 4 glasses

20260812: The taste combines mild sweetness with gently bitterness from the hops. Easy drinking! The raters at BeerAdvocate rate it as Outstanding.

Rating = 3 glasses

Schilling Erastus is a nice abbey-style tripel. The taste combines citrus, orange rind, and hints of clove and banana. Tasty! The raters at BeerAdvocate rate it as Outstanding.

Rating = 4.5 glasses

Weihenstephaner Festbier

 

Brewer's Notes: A full rich bodied, hoppy, seasonal lager. Especially brewed for the Festbier season. This beer truly represents the Bavarian way of celebrating. Deep gold color, great mouth-feel and lots of flavor. Prost! 

BeerAdvocate

Festbier v. Märzen

Tasting Notes

August 2026

I am not liking it as much as I remember. I has a tinny lemon taste.

Rating = 4 glasses

Nov 2022

I am updating the rating. I went back to buy more and keep liking it more and more.

Rating = 5.5 glasses

02 Oct 2022

I am back to really liking the beer. It drinks easy and goes great with food. One bottle calls for another.

Rating = 5 glasses and I thought about 5.5

10 Oct. 2020

With more tastes, I am downgrading the rating to 4 glasses. 

Rating = 4 glasses.

05 Oct. 2020

Festbier is a great Oktoberfest beer. It is light enough to encourage drinking massive quantities and flavorful enough to enjoy every sip and gulp. The more I drink Oktoberfest beers, the more I appreciate ones that are more delicate and quaffable. Festbier fits the bill. 

I like it better than the raters on BeerAdvocate. Some of them complain that the beer is more a Helles or Pilsner than an Oktoberfest beer. I call it good.

Rating = 5 glasses.

BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien Special 20th Anniversary Edition

Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien 20th Anniversary Edition is a one-time special version of Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien. It is aged in used Bordeaux Grand Cru Oak Barrels instead of regular "old wine oak barrels". It is even more fantastic than the parent. It was brewed in 2016 and is retired on BeerAdvocate. Beer Advocate classifies the parent as a Flanders Red Ale.

Notes from the label:
"Hand crafted - Swiss ale de garde. Ale aged in oak barrels."
"Aged in Bordeaux Grand Cru Oak Barrels"

Tasting notes
20260911: Wow! The beer is 10 years old and I just purchased it at Corks and Kegs. Oaky, musty, winey, vineous, tart, fruity, smoky, and complex are descriptors. I plan to head back to Corks and Kegs to get more. I'll never have another chance. I told Lisa that if I had to drink one beer for the rest of my life, this would be it.

Rating = 7 glasses

BFM Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien

Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien is a fantastic beer, one of my favorites. The 20th Anniversary Edition may be even better. Beer Advocate classifies it as a Flanders Red Ale.

Beer Advocate

Brewer's notes: The Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien is a strong sour ale of mixed fermentation, aged during a year in old wine oak barrels. The oak aging and the action of wild yeasts confer this beer’s astonishing wide range of aromas. Its outstanding komplexity, balance, roundness and long finish, are the fruit of the meticulous blend of selected barrels.
On the palate the blend reminds one of fruity red wines with a pronounced balsamic sourness.
The best way to enjoy a Bon-Chien is to serve it in an elegant wine glass at 16°C or 60.6°F paired with a duck breast or some panned foie gras for example.

Tasting notes
2312: I enjoyed a glass on draft at Can Can while dining with L and E. It continues to impress. It paired well with beef tartar and escargots. I have sampled the beer on draft and from the bottle several times since my last review but saw no reason to add new comments. "Sour with oak and smoke and tons of complexity" is accurate. I noticed more wine last night.

Rating = (still) 7 glasses

1308: Abbaye De Saint Bon-Chien is a fantastic beer. Sour with oak and smoke and tons of complexity.  Rating = 7 glasses.