Skip to content

BACK TO BLOG

H72A0150

It’s Time to Talk Oktoberfest

Picture of Bill Nosan

Bill Nosan

Bill (he/him) is France 44’s beer buyer. He's been at the store since 2006 and has his WSET Level 3 Wines & Spirits certification. He regularly stocks his fridge with local Craft Pilsners, Chenin Blanc, Rosé, Gin, Cocchi Americano, and Bubbles ... always Bubbles. At home, you'll find him cooking for his wife Bec, and arguing with his dog Mavis, the most stubborn Pyrenees in St. Paul.

Okay — It’s time.  I’ve held off as long as I can. It’s time to talk about Oktoberfest beers.  

I’ll spare you the history about a wedding 200 years ago, you’ve heard about that before. I’ll just get down to what you care about, the beer.
  
But first, a quick breakdown of the two styles. Germans drink two types of Oktoberfest beers under the tents in Munich; the traditional Marzen, which in amber in color. And Festbiers, which are typically golden in color. The Marzen commonly drinks a bit heavier, with a more toasty, bready malt style. Where the Festbier usually drinks a bit lighter and brighter. Still malt forward, but with a bit more hop bite to them (but not hoppy!!) Both carry a similar alcohol weight, and both are perfect Fall weather beers. We feel that Oktoberfest beers are, without a doubt, the best seasonal beers of the entire year.  

We currently have over 40 Oktoberfest style beers in the store.  We love all of them, but here is a list of a few that we wanted to highlight for you. Last year, we discussed the first two beers, but they’re so special to us, I wanted to quickly touch on them again.  

Kloster Andechs Spezial Hell Festbier

This is the 2nd year this Festbier has been available in Minnesota. We love it! Made in an Abbey Brewery run by its monks, this beer is a classic Festbier is every way. Bright, clean but complex and silky. One of the more limited items on this list. Grab it while you can. You’ll love it.

Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen

Our most popular selling German Oktoberfest Marzen and most of the staffs favorite Marzen beer. Like I said last year, when I close my eyes and think of what a Marzen Lager smells, looks and tastes like, this is the beer I picture in my mind. A true benchmark beer.

Modist The Time is Nigh Festbier

For a few years now, this local Fest beer has kept growing in popularity at the store. This is brewed with traditional German malts and sends about a month in an oak foeder at the brewery before being canned. A staff favorite, we think Modist is secretly one of the Twin Cities best lager producers.

Fair State Co-Op Festbier

Here's another Festbier that we all love. Crisper, with a bit more hop backbone than the Modist, this is the ultimate Fall crusher. A beautifully brewed Lager, it's what we've come to except from Fair State. It's always one of our 1st local Oktoberfest beers to sell out.

Untitled Art Non-alcoholic Oktoberfest

With the popularity of NA beers skyrocketing at the store, we'd be foolish not to include one of our favorites. Untitled Art out of Wisconsin seems to have the Non-alcoholic Lager game figured out. They brew our favorite NA Pilsner (Italian Pilsner), so it makes sense that they brew one of the best NA Marzen Oktoberfests. Malty and delicious, these NA beers are getting closer and closer to tasting like a "real" beer.

X