An additional kettle dose of Hallertau Tradition hops gives Tröegs Oktoberfest Lager a bright herbaceousness that’s countered by the richness of the Pilsner and Munich malts. Märzen— Known for brewing oft-forgotten or a bit off-the-beaten-path styles, Off Color keeps the tradition alive with their own Märzen— Waddle. Märzen— Developed over 200 years ago to celebrate the original Munich Oktoberfest, this amber full-bodied bier has a rich malt flavor and dark toffee notes with an underlying fruitiness and masterful hop balance. Drink Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen to instantly turn your home into an Oktoberfest celebration. Prost! Märzen— Elsewhere Brewing just continues to impress us with every new beer they send our way (I guess we were right when we named them one of our < ”10 Best Breweries to Watch in 2021.”

Actually, during the first sixty or so years the darker Bavarian dunkel dominated. But by 1872 Spaten brewery introduced the more amber-hued Märzen, which became the official beer of the fest. And in the mid 1960s Paulaner’s golden-colored Oktoberfest Bier, considered a Festbier, began to take over. Tröegs Independent Brewing – Hershey, PA Photography courtesy of @troegsbeer | Tröegs Independent Brewing It would be challenging to enjoy a keg without the best home bar set up. Designed to fit seamlessly with the PerfectDraft Philips and PerfectDraft Pro models, PerfectDraft kegs provide a hassle-free and convenient way to enjoy your favorite brew in the comfort of your own home. However, kegs from other competitor systems are not compatible with these machines.

According to European Union regulations, only beers brewed by the aforementioned six breweries can use the label “Oktoberfest” (much like real champagne can only technically come from the Champagne region of France). All other breweries must call their seasonal lagers Oktoberfest-style beer. But that hasn’t stopped American brewers from using terms like Oktoberfest, Märzen, and Festbier pretty much interchangeably. To further confuse things, American breweries will often see beers with punny variations such as Oaktoberfest, Octoberfest, etc. We liked it for its fizzy aroma of cream soda of all things. On the sip it’s much toastier and less sweet. Kind of like the charred ends of buttered toast. We actually like that this one is a bit more bitter than some of the other versions on this list. There is a complex depth to the bitterness that rounds out the whole beer, giving it a robust mouthfeel and body. The official 188th Oktoberfest celebration, starts on Saturday, September 16, 2023, so with the party is just getting started let’s toast with the best Oktoberfest beers. This year was the second time since the global pandemic that the annual festival that attracts millions of visitors to Munich, Germany, to imbibe a very specific style of beer, returned in person. The answer is a little complicated. In Germany, Oktoberfest means beers that are brewed specifically for the Oktoberfest event in Munich.

Märzen— We love how breweries known for other styles put an equal emphasis and care on nailing these German-style Märzens.

So, What Does the Term Oktoberfest Actually Mean?

Like the kegs, need a machine? PerfectDraft kegs only work with our PerfectDraft Machine. Be the envy of your friends; get one now! Firestone Walker Brewing Company – Paso Robles, CA Photography courtesy of Firestone Walker Brewing Company Märzen— Yes, one of the best IPA-producing breweries in the country makes a couple of damn fine Märzens. In fact, this beer made it onto Untappd’s list of All-Time Top-Rated Märzens.

Beer enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike can enjoy the PerfectDraft beer keg system, which offers a diverse selection of high-quality draught beers and ciders suitable for every palate. From the crisp and light taste of a classic lager to the bold flavors of an IPA, each keg delivers a taste experience that is unparalleled. A creamy foam almost like melted ice cream burst with a light floral, buttery biscuit on the nose. But dig underneath the delicate head and you’ll discover a clean, crisp Oktoberfest-style beer that’s not over the top or too fancy. Coming to you live from Germany! OK OK, we’re actually in our apartment in Leeds and we just transformed it into an Oktoberfest party over here but you get the gist. What do you think? Would you like to come party with us? Hell yeah you would! With PerfectDraft, pour the perfect draft beer at home! With PerfectDraft Kegs and a PerfectDraft machine, you will discover the ultimate home beer experience. Basically, the Oktoberfest-style beers brewed in America are actually nothing like the Festbiers made for the real Oktoberfest in Germany. Instead, they align more closely with the original styles served in the 1870s.Today, Germany’s largest folk festival and one of the most famous beer festivals in the world normally welcomes over six million visitors. And has spawned local celebrations at breweries and bars across the globe. What Is the Difference between Oktoberfests, Märzens, and Festbiers? Photography courtesy of Brewery Silvaticus Ales and Lagers