This year, the annual Oktoberfest celebration will run from September 19th until October 4th. Even if you didn’t plan a trip to visit Munich, Germany, this fall, nothing is stopping you from enjoying a classic Oktoberfest beer wherever you reside. Regardless of where you live, you can stop by a local Oktoberfest celebration or stay at home and crank up some ‘oompa’ music, put on your favorite lederhosen, and sip on a flavorful, balanced Oktoberfest-style beer. I know that I will.
Well, maybe not the lederhosen. But I’ll definitely be partaking in some traditional European and American craft takes on the classic Oktoberfest beer.
What is Oktoberfest beer?
Before I go any further, I must give you a little background on exactly what an Oktoberfest beer is. It’s more than simply a beer style to drink from late August through October. In fact, it’s not technically a beer style at all, as it’s an umbrella term for a variety of different styles. Keep scrolling as I take a deep dive into the term.
While looking for beer to pair with your schnitzel, bratwurst, and pretzels as big as your head, you might see the word ‘Oktoberfest’ written on a bottle or can of beer. This is a little misleading. While this is the overarching term for beer related to the fall festival, there are different types of Oktoberfest-style beer. The two most common are Märzen and Festbier. There’s a reason for the different names, as these beers, while both are Oktoberfest beers, aren’t the same.
Both beers are lagers and are higher in alcohol content than the summery beers you’ve been sipping on since June, with an average alcohol content ranging from 5.5%-6.5%. The more traditional of the two, Märzen gets its name because it was historically brewed in March and lagered during the summer months, making it ready for fall consumption. Dark amber in color, it’s known for its bready, caramel malt and light noble hop flavors.
The Festbier is more popular among contemporary drinkers. More closely resembling the lagers of the summer months, the Festbier is lighter in color, crisper, and more refreshing than its counterpart. Now that you’re aware of the two main Oktoberfest styles, you probably should take a gander at the label before consumption, so you know which one you’ll be imbibing.
Classic Oktoberfest beers
If you’re going to get the most out of your Oktoberfest beer experience, you’re going to go with tradition. If you didn’t know it already, only six breweries are allowed to brew beer to be served at the official Oktoberfest celebration. They are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten.
How I picked my Oktoberfest beers
As I mentioned above, I’m leaning heavily into tradition this year. As a result, I’m first selecting authentic German beers. These are the beers you’ll actually find in Munich if you were to hop on a plane and head to the big event next month. If you have the chance, you really should experience this epic event at least once in your life.
I’m also selecting a handful of American-made beers that are so flavorful and balanced, you’d think they were made by centuries of tradition in Bavaria.
Below you’ll find my list of the best, classic Oktoberfest beers that will make you feel like you’re partying in Munich (even if you’re in Tempe, Tampa, or Tacoma). I’m going to include some of the above beers, along with some American-made brews you’ll want to pair with your sauerbraten and spaetzle. Keep scrolling to see them all.
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest
This Märzen-style beer is brewed with simple ingredients including pure spring water, the brewery’s proprietary yeast strain, two types of two-row summer barley, and Hallertau hops. This results in a complex, memorable fall beer featuring notes of fresh-baked bread, toasted malts, honey, caramel, and gentle, floral hops at the finish. It’s a balanced, malty beer that pairs well with all that fall has to offer.
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest
If you’re only going to drink one American-made Oktoberfest beer this fall, make it Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest. The California-based brand pairs with a German brewery for this annual beer. This year, it partnered with Störtebeker to brew a beer using a mix of American and German hops, including Opal, Perle, Spalter Select, and Tradition. This balanced, 6% ABV Festbier features notes of bready malts, caramel, honey, and floral Noble hops.
Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier
Even if you’re nowhere near Germany and you don’t have a Hofbräuhaus nearby, you can still drink a Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier at home this fall. Brewed with a mix of Munich malt, light barley, and select Bavarian hops, this Festbier is known for its balanced, multi-layered flavor profile featuring toasted malts, barley, grainy sweetness, and floral, gently spicy hops. This is a very memorable Oktoberfest beer, one you’ll want to drink every year.
Victory Festbier
Victory Festbier is an example of an American-made Oktoberfest-style beer that’s staying true to its European roots. This 5.6% Festbier is brewed with 2-row Vienna and Munich German malts as well as whole-flower German-grown hops. The result is a complex beer loaded with flavors like toasted malts, toffee, honeysuckle, and floral hops. It’s crisp, malty, and perfect for a warm fall day.
Paulaner Oktoberfest
Paulaner’s take on the traditional Oktoberfest-style beer is a Märzen brewed in accordance with the Bavarian Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law), using water, malted barley, a proprietary yeast strain, and Hallertau hops. This creates a memorable beer with flavors like caramel malts, light fruit flavors, cereal grains, and gentle floral, lightly spicy hops at the finish. This Oktoberfest beer is all about balance. You’re going to want to stock your fridge with this flavorful, thirst-quenching fall beer.
Spaten Oktoberfest Ur Marzen
If you’re already a fan of Spaten’s highly memorable (and higher ABV) Optimator, you’re going to love Spaten Oktoberfest Ur Marzen. First brewed in 1872, this is believed to be the first official Oktoberfest beer. Made with simple ingredients including water, barley, Bavarian hops, and yeast, it remains one of the most popular Oktoberfest-style beers today. This well-rounded beer is known for its caramel malts, toasted malts, fruity notes, floral hops, and a crisp finish that leaves you craving more.
