Over 6 million litres of beer will be drunk over the course of Oktoberfest. Beers served at Oktoberfest are among the best in the world, due to the strict purity requirements of Bavaria (only hops, water and barley are allowed, and the process is highly regulated). What types of beer are served at Oktoberfest, you might ask? Let’s see how the “liquid gold” of Oktoberfest stacks up:
1. Augustiner
Where to find it: Augustiner-Festhalle tent, Fischer-Vroni
Description: Munich’s oldest independent brewery was founded in 1328 and has the status of being Munich’s best beer and is sustained solely through popularitty with the locals, as they do not use any marketing or advertising to sell their beer. Augustiner make their beer using water drawn from a private well resting 700 feet under the brewery. Lightly orange in color, the Oktoberfestbier has a malty aftertaste with hints of citrus.
2. Paulaner
Where to find it: Armbrustschützenzelt, Winzerer Fähndl, Käfer’s Wies’n Schänke
Description: Paulaner is the largest brewery in Bavaria. This is a beer that demonstrates a luminescent orange hue, with a hazy and thick head. The aroma is highly grassy but large, heavy malts and almost bread-like. This is a heavier beer, or at least it feels that way, and goes to the head. Sweet throughout but is also clean.
3. Spaten-Franzikiner
Where to find it: Hippodrom, Schottenhammel, Ochsenbraterei/Spatenbräu-Festhalle
Description: One of the classic, true Oktoberfest beers in Munich. Light, smooth, and drinkable, you can definitely close your eyes and imagine yourself drinking this from a glass boot or enormous stein in Munich. Served in the Schottenhammel beer tent, where the mayor taps the first keg of Oktoberfest each year.
4. Lowenbrau
Where to find it: Schützen-Festzelt, Löwenbräu-Festhalle
Description: Named “lion’s brew” in German, Lowenbrau beer is easily drinkable on a hot afternoon. A clear, golden color and light carbonation flavor this clean, simple beer. For Oktoberfest, Lowenbrau brew a special beer called ‘Wiesenbier’ (meadow beer) which is an ocher-colored lager.
5. Hacker-Pschorr
Where to find it: Hacker-Festzelt, Bräurosl
Description: The Hacker brewery was founded in 1417 and was bought by Joseph Pschorr, thought to be the emperor of Munich brewers, in the late 18th century. Their brewing processes haven’t changed in over 580 years, and they have one of the largest tents at Oktoberfest with almost 10,000 seats. Hacker-Pschorr’s Oktoberfest beer, the Marzen, is a rich amber color with a slightly sweet malty feel and semi-bitter aftertaste.
6. Hofbrau
Where to find it: Hofbräu Festzelt
Description: This government-owned brewery was started in the 16th century by Duke Wilhelm V as the royal brewery, and today Hofbrau is the second-largest tent at Oktoberfest. The word ‘Hof’ originates from the royal connection, and the logo today still retains a crown emblem. Hofbrau’s Oktoberfest beer is the strongest at the festival, weighing in at 6.3%, and has a medium body with a slight caramel taste.
Article written by Jared Silvestri, Gina Baxter and Anna McNiel
Want to taste one of Germany’s great beers? Come with FlorenceForFun to Oktoberfest!
Other Articles about Oktoberfest:
- Prague’s Pilsner vs. Munich’s Helles: Beer Lessons from FlorenceForFun
- Hofbrauhaus and Oktoberfest: FlorenceForFun’s Bucket List
Join FlorenceForFun at Oktoberfest
If you’d like to try the famous Oktoberfest beer or simply experience all that Munich has to offer, all of the information about Oktoberfest tours can be found on our website at www.florenceforfun.com by searching under Oktoberfest in the Trip Finder on the right side of the page.
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