Left Field Mr. Oktober Festbier (5.4%)

Next up in our parade of Oktoberfest beers is one from Toronto’s Left Field Brewing. But before we get to the review, a little Oktoberfest/Bavaria beer info.

If you go to Munich’s Oktoberfest – and if you’re interested, trust me, you should be making your hotel plans for 2025 now – you will be served your beer in a heavy glass mug called a Maßkrug, or in its anglicized spelling, Masskrug, often abbreviated to simply ‘Mass.’ (It’s a minor technicality, but it is not a stein, as in German that term is reserved only for stoneware vessels.) To order, simply say “Ein Mass, bitte.”

While a full litre of beer might seem intimidatingly large – especially for this Guardian writer for whom a pint is a “vast quantity of liquid” – such is the chaotic joy of Oktoberfest, coupled with the impressive quaffability of Munich Oktoberfest beers, that you might find yourself consuming more quickly than you anticipated. This can lead to problems, as Oktoberfests generally sit somewhere between 5.5% and 6% alcohol, so remember to temper your enthusiasm with a certain degree of caution.

And now, on to Mr. Oktober.

Light gold with a soft haziness – less than the Stockyards beer reviewed yesterday, but still too much for Bavaria – this offers a fresh and floral aroma that evokes equally wildflower honey and a walk in a fresh grain field. (Field of Dreams, anyone? Even though, I know, that was a corn field, not barley.) There is a very slight note of green apple, as well, but not nearly so much as to disrupt the honey-grain field reverie, especially when the beer is served cold, as it should be.

The start is sweet with malted barley notes and a touch of golden syrup, leading to a balanced mid-palate with notes of graham crackers, glazed pastry, and florals. (A post-tasting look at the brewery website reveals that this is hopped with German Tettnanger hops, which is likely what bestows the beer its floral character.) The finish dries slightly, though not close to fully, and adds a very light and vaguely cinnamony spiciness to the mix.

A thoroughly enjoyable Oktoberfest beer that I can’t help thinking is more deserving of a Maßkrug than it is its comparatively modest 355 ml can or my marginally smaller tasting glass.

79 ($3.35/355 ml)