Beers must meet certain criteria in order to be officially designated Oktoberfest Beer.
Oktoberfest beer must conform to the Reinheitsgebot, at the minimum of 12.5% Stammwürze (original wort) to be served at Oktoberfest. Additionally, the beer must be brewed within the city limits of Munich, Germany. When beer meets these criteria, it may be designated as an Oktoberfest Beer.
At this time, the breweries that can produce Oktoberfest Beer under the criteria noted above are:
- Augustiner-Bräu
- Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu
- Löwenbräu
- Paulaner-Bräu
- Spatenbräu
- Staatliches Hofbräu-München
The original brewery which claims to have produced the first official Ur-Märzen Oktoberfest beer in 1872 is Spaten which is Munich’s original brewery. The Spaten brewery also brews a paler and more golden than amber – Oktoberfestbier. Both beers have a very fine finish and flavor.
In earlier times, most German beers were brewed in March (Märzen). These beers were kept in cold storage over the spring and summer months to ensure they would not be subject to bacterial infection. Due to the hot weather of summer, it was nearly impossible to brew beer because of not having the advantage of refrigeration. The Märzenbier beer has been described as a full-bodied, savory, toasty, and typically dark rich brown in color with a medium to a high content of alcohol.
The common Munich Oktoberfest beer served at Wies’n (the location at which Munich celebrates its Oktoberfest) contains roughly 5.0-6.0% alcohol by volume, is dark/copper in color, has a mild hop profile and is typically labeled as a Bavarian Märzenbier in style.
Here in the USA, there are a number of nationally distributed Oktoberfest/Märzen (March in German) beers. This selection involves both American and German brews. Most of these beers with an Oktoberfest theme contain about 5.6-5.9% alcohol by volume.
Ayinger Oktoberfest-Märzen
Originating from the Ayinger Brewery in Germany. This beer is amber and contains plenty of the malty flavor for which Bavarian malts are known for. There is also a spicy-dry aftertaste with a faint mild hop background.
Samuel Adams Oktoberfest
This beer comes from Boston Beer Co. It contains a combination of four malts and produces a deep amber beer. There is plenty of malty flavors with the initial tasting and is balanced by a combination of noble hops.
Paulaner Oktoberfest-Märzen
Coming from Paulaner Brewery in Munich Germany. Reddish-amber, richly malty, sweet and some fruitiness. Exits with a final dryness.
Beck’s Oktoberfest
From Germany. Brewed for export to the United States. Reddish-amber beer. It has a hint of malt sweetness but is said to have less of hops overtones than others of the style.
Pete’s Oktoberfest
From Pete’s Brewing Company. This is a bright amber beer and has a very malty flavor. Well known for its caramel malts. It contains both aroma and finish.
