Oktoberfest is one of the world’s greatest beer-centric events. The original, and still the greatest, Oktoberfest is held annually in Munich. It has spawned similar events that frequently borrow the Oktoberfest moniker but rarely meet the standard of the Munich Oktoberfest. If you cannot make it to Munich, you can likely find an Oktoberfest celebration near you.
Munich’s Oktoberfest serves beers that are brewed within the city limits. Roughly 7 million liters of beer are served at Oktoberfest annually. Oktoberfest is more than just beer; it’s friendly for the entire family, with over 80 carnival rides and games, including a giant Ferris wheel that holds 400 people. Visitors to Munich’s Oktoberfest take advantage of the fest’s temporary post office, constructed on the grounds, which allows guests to send postcards and souvenirs to jealous recipients around the globe.
Oktoberfest is an event worth attending and one you would likely feel the urge to return to (as opposed to Mardi Gras, Carnival in Brazil, and your last family reunion). The event takes place 15 days before the first Sunday in October, and the festival lasts for two weeks. The very first Oktoberfest was held to commemorate the marriage of then-Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen (say that three times fast) in 1810. The festival has a rich history. It is said that Albert Einstein worked as an electrician assisting with the setup of beer tents during the 1896 festival. Oktoberfest is prized for its jovial atmosphere, live music, magnificent food, and the great Oktoberfest Beers.
Oktoberfest Beers are part of a beer family, distinguished not only by their appealing flavors but also by the longest and most confusing style name in the world of Beer. Vienna/Märzen/Oktoberfest is the moniker that you will find these brews living under. Vienna is the city where this style originated in the mid-1800s. However, Vienna, as a brewing town, hardly produces beers like this anymore. Instead, they have surrendered the style to their northern neighbors, Germany. Märzen is simply German for March, the last month that Beer could historically be brewed due to the lack of refrigeration and the coming warm spring days. These March beers were nestled away in cool caves and lagered (aged) until September and October. The first German Beer, primarily Bavarian versions, likely displayed both Märzen and Oktoberfest. Today, brands typically opt for one or the other, while I have seen hybrid Fest-Märzen labels.
Fest Beers are lagers ranging in color from deep gold to deep bronze and should display brilliant clarity. They impart a rich, yet not cloying, malty sweetness and a mild spice note derived from toasty malt, as the hop impression of this style is quite subtle. They are the perfect accompaniment to many Oktoberfest favorites, such as roasted chicken, sausage, pork stews, and roast oxtail. Fest Beers possess more strength than your typical Pilsner, but go down just as easily, so leave the car keys at home.
Today, Oktoberfest-style Beers can be found year-round under the Märzen moniker. Still, many brewers opt for the seasonal approach, and these Beers can be seen trickling onto our store shelves about now and will predictably remain through the remainder of the year. The style is enjoying a bit of a revival, being produced in dozens of US breweries and often with great success. US consumers are flush with a healthy selection of Fest Beers, both domestic and imported. Considering that most are seasonal offerings, the bottles you find on the shelves of your favorite mart or tavern are reliably fresh. Be sure to sample a range of these gems while the season remains; you’ll be glad that you did (lederhosen optional).
Do you want to better understand beer and beer culture? May we suggest Be A Beverage Expert (BABE), a guide to understanding wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails.