What Is Oktoberfest?

Oktoberfest is a 2 ½ week beer festival held from late September through the first weekend in October in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. This year, more than 6 million visitors are expected to attend, downing 7 million litres of liquid gold before all is said and done. Only beer brewed within the city limits of Munich is allowed to be served at the famous Oktoberfest beer tents. Once it has been determined that a beer meets this criteria, it’s designated as Oktoberfest Beer.

The original Oktoberfest was held in Munich on October 12, 1810 to honor the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The village green that hosted the marriage is now a huge fairground known as Theresienwiese, after the royal bride. Oktoberfest was eventually lengthened and the date was moved up to take advantage of the longer days and warmer weather in September.

Oktoberfest gets underway with a 12-gun salute as the first keg of Oktoberfest beer is tapped by the incumbent Mayor of Munich with the cry, “O’ zapft is!” In the Austro-Bavarian language, this translates to, “It’s tapped!” The Mayor then gives the first beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria.

Traditional Bavarian costumes are worn during Oktoberfest, especially Oktoberfest Bavarian hats (Tirolerhüte) that contain a tuft of goat hair. Goat hair has always been held in high regard in Germany. The more tufts of goat hair on your hat, the wealthier you are considered to be, making it a very high ticket item, although newer and cheaper goat hair imitations have made the wearers of these hats a less exclusive group.

Oktoberfest started to become a worldwide phenomenon in the 1960’s. Today, more than 200 years after the legend was born, Oktoberfest is celebrated throughout the month of October across the United States with seasonal brews and themed festivals, fairs and parties.

Oktoberfest Classics

Paulaner. The foundation for today’s Paulaner brewery dates all the way back to 1634, when the order of the Paulaner monks began brewing beer in the Au. Oktoberfest Bier from Paulaner is the perfect balance of full-bodied taste and a hint of malty sweetness. Its alcohol content of 6% makes it somewhat stronger than the average lager beer. The hops approved for Paulaner come from the Hallertau region of Bavaria, the yeast from its own pure culture, the precious brewing malt from the region, and the purest, softest brewing water from its own two deep wells on the Nockherberg.

Hofbrau. Brewed by the more than 400-year old Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Hofbrau Oktoberfest is a rich, full-bodied beer with 6.3% alcohol by volume and a clean crisp edge. Legend has it that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart lived around the block from famous beer hall in the late 18th century and claimed to have written the opera Idomeneo after a few visits to the Hofbrauhaus rejuvenated his creative juices. Today, Hofbrauhaus franchises can be found around the globe, including eight in the United States.

Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen. This Oktoberfest classic has a sweet, malty caramel aroma and taste balanced with very mild hop bitterness. The Bavarian barley is slow roasted, caramelized to a rich, red amber color and combined with the purest spring waters from the Alps, a traditional Hacker-Pschorr yeast and the finest Hallertau hops. The earliest mention of the Hacker-Pschorr brewery dates back to 1417 when the Hacker brewery was originally founded. During the late 1700s, Joseph Pschorr purchased the brewery and left each wing, the Hacker and the Pschorr, separately to each of his two songs. Hacker-Pschorr became a united brewery in the 1970s and is now part of the Heineken family.

Samuel Adams Octoberfest. This American Craft Brewer’s take on Oktoberfest masterfully blends together five roasts of malt to create a delicious harmony of caramel and toffee sweetness, along with the elegant bitterness of Bavarian Noble Hops. It’s rich, deep reddish amber hue is reflective of the season. Brewed since 1989, this relative newcomer to Oktoberfest pays homage to the Bavarian tradition and signature flavors of the event.

Oktoberfest Craft Brews

Thomas Hooker Octoberfest Lager. Copper orange in color, this full-bodied brew with a malty flavor and lingering aroma comes from a special blend of imported German malts. Gently hopped and delicately balanced, Hooker’s traditional, slow fermentation and long, cold maturation produce a luxuriously smooth brew. Thomas Hooker Brewing Company in Bloomfield, CT offers 11 unique beers and recently ranked 15th among the top 50 American Breweries by the Beer Advocate.

Brooklyn Oktoberfest. Brewed from the finest German malt and hops, Brooklyn Oktoberfest is true to the original style. Malts from Bavarian Heirloom Munich and Pilsner malts are made in Bamberg especially for Brooklyn Brewery. Full-bodied and malty with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness, this craft brew would make Bavarians proud. Brooklyn Brewery has been a proud part of the underrated Brooklyn brewing scene since 1988.

Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest. This particular “Leinie” is clear and gold with orange highlights, combining a blend of pale, caramel and Munich malts with Tettnang, Perle, Cluster and Hallertau hops in a well-balanced, smooth, festive lager. The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company of Chippewa Falls, WI, the seventh oldest brewery in the United States, produced its first beer for thirsty lumberjacks in 1867. Today, a fifth generation of Leinenkugels continue to brew the Flavor Of The Northwoods.