German Oktoberfest Beers 2021

After trying some American-made Oktoberfest beers (see here), I thought I would give a set of German-made beers a similar trial. Seems only fair, right? Here they are...

Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier by Hofbrau Munchen (6.3% alcohol by volume)--The label is quite wordy: "The Oktoberfest originated in 1810 in Munich, Germany, as a wedding celebration for the Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria. This product was created especially for this event and is brewed usually for the Oktoberfest, now the largest beer festival in the world. Hofbrau Munchen (HB) is one of a selected group of breweries granted the privileges of supplying the Oktoberfest with their products. Using the highest quality ingredients, HB's Oktoberfest Specialty has it own distinctive and unique taste." The color is a rich gold. The flavor is smooth and easy drinking, with a little tang of lager flavor at the end. It's so easy to drink, I can see why it is popular at festivals. I enjoyed it a lot.

Warsteiner Oktoberfest Special Edition by Warsteiner Brauerei Haus (5.9% alcohol by volume)--The label just says that they brew according to the German Purity Law and the business has been a family tradition since 1753. The website is more verbose: "Celebrate German heritage with this authentic, German Specialty Beer. A truly German import brewed according to the German Purity Law, as are all Warsteiner beers, in limited quantities especially for Oktoberfest celebrations. This special edition has a well-balanced, mild and smooth taste with a uniquely soft, hoppy aftertaste and 5.9% alcohol. So bring a bit of Germany with you to your next Oktoberfest celebration and bring a Warsteiner Oktoberfest Special Edition." The beer has a nice, clean taste at the start but then hits the hops at the end. The bitter kick is not to my taste but otherwise it is a fine beer. The color is dark for a lager but not black or opaque. This is a typical lager experience with a little more smoothness at the beginning.

Bitburger Festbier by Bitburger Braugruppe (6.2% alcohol by volume)--According to the website, "A seasonal edition, available only in the US from August each year for a limited time: our Bitburger Festbier – tasty, full-bodied and delicately malty-mild. Created by our brewmasters to enjoy the traditional German beer festival atmosphere. A very special malt composition, including Pilsner Malt, Münchner Malt and light Caramel Malt, accounts for its fine color and smooth body. Additionally, the beer is refined with Bitburger’s proprietary and unique hop blend called ‘Siegelhopfen’ (seal hops), which is sourced from a farm just a few minutes from the brewery. This drinkable 6.2% ABV full-bodied beer is the perfect marriage of hops and malt with a slightly sweet backbone, while finishing dry." The color is rich and hazy. The initial taste has a delightful caramel sweetness that naturally blends into the dry lager ending. The aftertaste is very nice and makes this a fun, easy drinking beer.

Weihenstephaner Festbier by Weihenstephaner (5.8% alcohol by volume)--The label says nothing about the beer and the website is barely better, "Not only a hit at the Volksfest - the Weihenstephaner Festbier." This pale yellow lager from the "World's Oldest Brewery" is also a bit non-descript. It tastes like a standard lager, fairly dry with a bit of the bitter at the end. The bitterness is fairly light and would probably pair well with something salty or some nice sausages.

Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen by Hacker-Pschorr Brau (5.8% alcohol by volume)--According to the website, "Forbidden as it was to brew in summer, a stronger beer – the Märzen – was brewed earlier in March. It would finally be served at the Oktoberfest, under the “Heaven of Bavaria”. We have returned once again to the age-old recipe and recreated that gloriously smooth, honey-coloured piece of history from times gone by. And all is brewed with due reverence to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516." The color is more like honey than copper. The flavor has the smoothness but not the sweetness of honey. The slightly sour ending makes it satisfying with some salty snack. It's a nice beer but not earthshaking.

Benediktiner Festbier by Benediktiner Weissbrau (5.8% alcohol by volume)--The website (which says Benediktiner is part of the Bitburger group!) states, "The closest thing to heaven: Benediktiner Festbier is a pleasure to drink thanks to its fine flavor, malty aroma, and intense golden-yellow color. The aromatic profile of Ettal cellar yeast paired with a soft bitterness from the hops makes Benediktiner Festbier a flavor experience.Brewed in Lich in accordance with the original Benedictine recipe for Benediktiner Weissbräu GmbH, Ettal." With a light golden color (maybe even like straw?), this beer has a light malt flavor that is very drinkable and refreshing. It goes down smooth and makes for a nice time. I liked it a lot. 

These beers all comply with those good old beer purity laws (maybe the exact opposite of Prohibition?) and sit in the same alcohol-by-volume range. They are all very close but the two favorites for me are the Benediktiner and the Hofbrau. Either one is a winner!