Oktoberfest is coming soon, and, as ever, Norfolk-based Beers of Europe has got its hands on the first delivery of the six Munich beers used to celebrate the event.
Oktoberfest Lagers are brewed to celebrate Oktoberfest, the annual beer festival originating in Munich. Oktoberfest beers are usually amber in colour, and slightly stronger than German pilsners at around 6% ABV. The flavour is rich and malty, with a crisp, dry finish, making them very drinkable.
There are two different styles — Märzen and Festbier. Märzen beers were traditionally brewed in March and left to mature over the summer, when brewing activity was paused due to the lack of refrigeration. That meant it was ready to drink in late September, making it the ideal beer for Oktoberfest.
Märzen is the more traditional style that was originally served at Oktoberfest in Munich, and it’s an amber coloured, medium-bodied lager. Märzens tend to be around 6% ABV and have a malty flavour and crisp, dry bitterness.
“Going to the festival is a great experience, but not everyone can make the journey to Bavaria,” said Amanda Waterfield, marketing manager at Beers of Europe. “But Beers of Europe gives you the next best thing. You can get the chance to buy and taste the beer, and we are the first to stock it in the UK.
“Nowhere else in the country have the Oktoberfest beers been delivered earlier than Beers of Europe, and that is credit to the great relationship we have built over the years with our suppliers.
“Being able to deliver across the country in quick fashion means our customers get a taste before anyone else, and that equates to plenty of happy beer drinkers.”
Festbier is a more modern Oktoberfest favourite, with a yellow-golden colour, and crisp bready/toasty flavours. It is generally around the same ABV as traditional Märzen lagers, but slightly lighter in flavour, without the caramel/roasted characteristics of a Märzen.
The annual celebration in Munich still passionately celebrates local beer. Only six Munich-based breweries are allowed to provide beer for the festival: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Hofbräu, Spaten and Paulaner. Only these breweries can call their beers ‘Oktoberfest’ beer, though Oktoberfest is celebrated in many other countries around the world.
Beer Today is an affiliate partner of Beers of Europe. To get your hands on this year’s Oktoberfest beers, and to help support Beer Today, click here then click the Oktoberfest link.
