Deftoberfest is Deft Brewing’s Bavarian-style märzen, and it is one of the best reasons to visit the little Bay Park brewery in the fall. At 5.5%, it is a malt-forward lager that stays clean and drinkable instead of turning sweet or heavy, which is exactly what a good märzen should do.

The basics

• Brewery: Deft Brewing (Bay Park, San Diego, CA)
• Style: Märzen
• ABV: 5.5%
• IBU: Not published

What to expect

Deftoberfest pours a clear amber with a creamy off-white head. The aroma brings toasted bread crust, light caramel, and a touch of toffee. The flavor is smooth and malt-forward, with Munich malt sweetness balanced by a gentle noble-hop bitterness, and a medium body that stays clean thanks to Deft’s long cold-lagering. The finish is dry and highly drinkable rather than sweet or heavy, which makes it easy to go back for another.

Our rating

7.2/10

Rated by Alex (7.2). Alex gave this one a 7.2, and we think that score is earned. Deftoberfest is a well-executed märzen: malty without being cloying, clean without being boring, and exactly the kind of beer that makes an Oktoberfest celebration feel right. A strong seasonal from a small brewery that takes its lagers seriously.

Sources: San Diego Beer News, Deftoberfest Märzen Lager, 5.5%, https://sandiegobeer.news/whats-tapping-san-diego-9-17-26/ ; San Diego Reader, Deft Brewing märzen cold-lagered for weeks ahead of its annual Deftoberfest event, https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2019/sep/06/beer-its-always-funf-oclock-deft-brewing/