Eight American Oktoberfest beers hit the table, and we do not let a single one skate by on fall vibes alone. We’re tasting for the stuff that actually matters: that copper to amber color, the malt backbone, any caramel or “biscuit” notes the label promises, hop bite, sweetness, and the finish that either stays clean or clings to your palate like it owns the place. If you’ve ever grabbed an Oktoberfest lager expecting one thing and got something totally different, you’re going to feel seen.

We start with the reality that “Marzen style” does not guarantee sameness. Some of these seasonal lagers come across muted and beginner friendly, others swing hoppier than we expect, and a couple land with a weird bitterness or tart edge that sparks debate. Along the way, we also get distracted by can art choices, big label claims, and the ongoing challenge of scoring eight beers without boxing ourselves in.

Then we zoom out into Oktoberfest history and culture, because the festival is bigger than any single pour. We talk about the first Oktoberfest in 1810, the Munich rules and the six breweries allowed to serve at the official grounds, the massive tent sizes, and even steinholding, the unofficial “sport” where your shoulder taps out before your pride does. We close with our personal top threes and a simple truth for fall beer season: American Oktoberfest beers can taste dramatically different, so the best one is the one that fits your palate.

If you enjoy beer reviews, Oktoberfest beer talk, and Midwest craft beer banter, subscribe, share this with a friend who buys every fall seasonal lager, and leave a review telling us which Oktoberfest we should try next.

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Thank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at northwoodsbeerguy@gmail.com.

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A barrel-aged stout can taste like old wood, coffee roast, rye spice, and bourbon char all at once, and somehow still go down smooth. We’re back at Callahan Lake Resort with BK, catching up on what it’s like to trade corporate life for resort ownership, how a family-friendly lodge atmosphere changes the whole feel of a “bar,” and what they’ve got planned next, including a major remodel and an expanded black walnut bar setup for the winter season.

Then we get into the reason you’re here: a craft beer tasting and honest beer review scoring across five very different picks. Lagunitas Willetized Coffee Stout 2022 brings huge barrel-aged flavor at 13.1% ABV without the harsh burn. 3 Sheeps Hot Honey (with peppers) sparks a real debate about sweetness, stout bitterness, and how much heat a pepper beer should deliver. Pipeworks Phantom Unicorn adds bourbon-barrel and vanilla into the mix, while Commonwealth Brewing Modern S'morefare nails an impressive s’mores-style stout that still tastes like an actual stout.

We close with a curveball that stuns us both, Eagle Park Joint, a New England style double IPA that’s dangerously easy to drink for an 8% double. If you love barrel-aged beer, imperial stout, Wisconsin craft beer, or you’re hunting for your next “diamond in the rough,” you’ll have a lot to take from this one. Subscribe, share the show with a beer buddy, and leave us a review so more people can find the podcast.

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at northwoodsbeerguy@gmail.com.

You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), Instagram and Tik Tok.

If you are on Untappd, look up NorthwoodsBeerGuy and send a friend request.

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can click on our RSS feed as well.

Most cocktail mixers promise convenience and deliver regret, so we brought the bottles to the bar at Callahan Lake Resort to find out what’s real and what’s hype. We taste Fresh Victor mixers the “suggested” way first, then start tweaking like a true mixology session: rum versus tequila, shaken versus topped with soda water, and small adds that can rescue a drink from being too sour, too sweet, or just one-note.

We get into the details that actually matter for great cocktails, even if you’re making them at home. How acidity hits your palate and triggers that heartburn fear. Why aroma can completely change what you think you’re tasting. And why a quality spirit can make a simple build feel like a craft cocktail instead of a shortcut. Along the way we land on a few standouts: a tequila and prickly pear version of a citrus-mint mixer, a shockingly smooth bourbon drink with a raspberry finish, a thick strawberry-lemon pour that turns into a creamy “strawberry smoothie” little beer, and a cactus pear and pomegranate combo that gets even better when we swap triple sec for Northwoods maple syrup.

We finish with a lemon sour mixer that goes two directions: a whiskey sour that stays bright and natural, then a tequila-forward build that tastes dangerously close to a perfect margarita. If you love cocktail experiments, bar hacks, and real-world tasting notes from a working resort bar, you’ll get plenty to steal for your next backyard hang.

Subscribe, share this with your favorite drink-maker, and leave a review if you want more tasting sessions like this. Which mixer and spirit combo should we try next?

Send us Fan Mail

Thank you for listening to The Northwoods Beer Guy Podcast. If you have a question, comment or would like us to review your beer, please feel free to contact us at northwoodsbeerguy@gmail.com.

You can also find us on Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), Instagram and Tik Tok.

If you are on Untappd, look up NorthwoodsBeerGuy and send a friend request.

Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts, or you can click on our RSS feed as well.