Oktoberfest is a 16-day festival held annually in Munich, Germany (Eb’s home town), running from late September to the first weekend in October. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair, with more than 6 million people attending every year. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event and many people just have their own celebrations at home.
Technically, authentic Oktoberfestbier is brewed only by the breweries within the city limits of Munich. These are also the only breweries allowed to participate in the annual Munich Oktoberfest. All other beers brewed to emulate the original must be labeled Oktoberfest-style beer. In spite of their name, Oktoberfest beers are not brewed in the fall. They are actually an outgrowth of the traditional, strong spring brews, called March beers or Märzen, that were put aside in ice-filled caves or cellars for summer consumption. The left-over Märzen was usually finished off… in Okotober, when the fresh beers made with the grain and hops from the new harvest season needed to be put into casks. Oktoberfestbiers, therefore, are always well-aged, sometimes for three to four months. They are usually deep amber in color and have an alcohol content of 5 to 6.2%.
Why are Munich’s beers so good and why did Munich become the world’s brewing capital? The answer has to do with beer’s biggest ingredient; water of course and Munich’s brewers are blessed with some of the purest water anywhere. The water’s underground travel from the alpine glaciers to the Munich brewer’s wellheads takes 300 years. Obviously no artificial filtration system in the world is up to that. So join in the celebration and enjoy some terrific beer brewed according to the Rheinheitsgebot – Germany’s ancient purity law, which lo and behold is totally hip and relevant in the 21st century.
Shop early for the best selection: there are limited quantities brought in by our wholesalers so our suggestion is to get them now!
Also check out our Weisswurst and other sausages, as well as a great mustard selection.
German versions:
Spaten Oktoberfestbier; Munich’s original; hearty malty palate finishes with a delicious hop note. $8.99/6pk
Paulaner Oktoberfestbier; Another favorite Munich brew, always the most refined and intricately balanced. Just arrived! $8.99/6pk
Ayinger Oktoberfest; 20 minutes from Munich’s center, this is one of the great breweries of the world. Complex, nuanced and hard to put down, this is one you do not want to miss. $3.49/16.9 oz/btl. Packed 20btls./case
Warsteiner Oktoberfest; True to its northern German roots, this is hoppier than its southern cousins. $12.99/12pk
Erdinger Oktoberfest; Wheat beer specialist’s rendition, lively with a nice wheat tang. $10.99/6pk
American versions:
Olde Hickory Brewing Oktoberfest; a local favorite from just down the road. $3.99/220z
New Belgium Red Hoptober Ale: a perfect sipper for those last warm days of summer and the slowly approaching
cool nights of autumn. $8.99/6pk
