Best Places To Buy Oktoberfest Beer

Oktoberfest beer, also known as Märzen, is a traditional German beer style. It is a dark lager with an ABV of between 5.1% and 6%. It is known for its medium-low bitterness, delicate hop aroma, and refreshing medium carbonation level. While it was originally a dark beer, amber-coloured and golden Märzen lagers are now more commonly served at Oktoberfest celebrations. If you want to buy Oktoberfest beer, there are several online retailers that stock a variety of brands, including Total Wine, Drizly, CraftShack, Go to Liquor Store, and Half Time Beverage.

Online beer delivery services

If you're looking to buy Oktoberfest beer online, there are several delivery services that can bring the celebration to your doorstep. Here's a rundown of some popular options:

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers a wide range of Oktoberfest beers, including well-known brands such as Spaten, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, and Samuel Adams. They provide a convenient online platform for you to browse and order your favourite brews. Check their website to explore the available options and place your order.

BeerMenus

BeerMenus is another excellent resource for finding your preferred Oktoberfest beer. They feature a diverse selection, including Paulaner Oktoberfest, a full-bodied beer with a rich malt flavour and dark toffee notes, and Sam Adams Octoberfest, known for its deep reddish amber hue and harmonious blend of sweet flavours. Visit their website to locate the nearest retailer or bar serving these festive beers.

Hacker-Pschorr Beer Finder

If you're specifically after Hacker-Pschorr beers, their dedicated Beer Finder tool can help you locate them. Simply enter your details into the search form, and you'll be guided to the nearest place to purchase their beers, whether that's a local store or an online retailer.

So, whether you're looking for a traditional German Oktoberfest Bier or an American interpretation of the style, these online beer delivery services have you covered. You can enjoy the flavours of Oktoberfest from the comfort of your home by taking advantage of the convenience and variety offered by these online platforms.

Local stores

If you're looking to buy Oktoberfest beer from a local store, there are several options available to you.

Firstly, you could try visiting a branch of Total Wine & More. They stock a wide range of Oktoberfest beers, including Spaten Oktoberfest Ur Marzen, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest, and Warsteiner Oktoberfest, to name a few. You can check the availability of these beers at your local store on their website, and even order online for pickup or delivery.

Another option is to check out CraftShack, which offers speedy delivery of Oktoberfest beers such as Warsteiner Oktoberfest and Grimm Artisanal Ales Grimm Festooning Marzen. You can also try Half Time Beverage, which stocks Spaten Oktoberfest, a medium amber-coloured German beer with a slight hop and an ABV of 5.9%.

If you're not sure where to start, Drizly is a great resource for finding liquor stores near you that stock Oktoberfest beers. Simply enter your delivery address, and they'll show you the options available in your area. You can also try GotoLiquorStore, which partners with local stores to fulfil orders. Just enter your address on their website to browse pricing and availability in your area.

So, whether you're looking for a local store to browse in person or want the convenience of delivery, there are plenty of options for buying Oktoberfest beer.

Beer styles

Oktoberfest is a unique beer style that can be difficult to classify. The Oktoberfest beer category includes both beers specifically made for the official festival in Munich and those brewed in a similar style. The festival features only six local breweries that are permitted to serve their beers: Paulaner, Spaten, Hacker-Pschorr, Augustiner, Hofbrau, and Lowenbrau. These are considered the "true" Oktoberfest beers in their purest form.

However, the Oktoberfest label is also used for many other seasonal beers produced both inside and outside of Germany, often aiming to mimic historical styles served at the official festival. While the flavour profiles vary, these beers are almost always lagers.

In America, Oktoberfest beers tend to be red-hued, slightly sweet, and known as Märzen—a lager-style beer brewed in March and then aged until autumn. They are malt-forward and gently hopped, with a moderate alcohol content ranging from 5.1% to 6% ABV. On the other hand, the beers served at the Munich festival are closer to traditional German lagers, paler, and similar to the Dortmunder style.

Over time, the colour of Oktoberfest beers has evolved. Initially, the beers were dark lagers, similar to modern Schwarzbiers. In the late 19th century, Germans began serving a particular amber-coloured Märzen during the celebrations. More recently, in the 1990s, golden Märzen lagers became the preferred choice for Oktoberfest.

While the traditional Oktoberfest beers are served at the festival in Munich, many other varieties are available for purchase online or in stores, allowing people to create their own celebrations at home.

German breweries

Oktoberfest is a German folk festival and one of the world's most famous beer festivals, attracting over six million visitors. The festival originated in Munich, Germany, and only beer from Munich breweries may be served at the event.

There are six breweries that are permitted to brew and sell Oktoberfest Bier:

• Augustiner: Munich's oldest brewery, founded in 1328 by the monks of the Augustinian Order. Their Oktoberfest beer has an alcohol content of 6.2% (in 2023).
• Hacker-Pschorr: The brewery was first mentioned in a document in 1417 and was located in Sendlinger Straße. It is now located in the same premises as the Paulaner Brewery. Their Oktoberfest beer has an alcohol content of 6.0% (in 2023).
• Hofbräu: Founded in 1589 as a ducal brewery, and has been run as a state-owned enterprise since 1939. Their Oktoberfest beer has an alcohol content of 6.2% (in 2023).
• Löwenbräu: The brewery probably began in the late 14th century, but the name Löwenbräu first appeared in the Munich beer brewing index in 1746. Their Oktoberfest beer has an alcohol content of 6.1% (in 2023).
• Paulaner: Founded by the monks of the Paulaner Order, who served their first beer in 1634. Paulaner is the youngest of the Munich breweries. Their Oktoberfest beer has an alcohol content of 5.9% to 6% (in 2023).
• Spaten: Founded in 1397 and was the first brewery to bring the “Münchner Hell” to market in 1894. Their Oktoberfest beer has an alcohol content of 5.9% (in 2023).

These six breweries have to follow strict brewing standards, but all their beers look and taste quite different.

Alcohol content

Oktoberfest beer, also known as Märzen, is a dark lager with a moderate alcohol content, typically ranging from 5.1% to 6% alcohol by volume (ABV). However, the specific alcohol content can vary slightly between different breweries and their beers.

• Augustiner: 6.5% ABV. Known for its smooth finish and soft body, it is considered the strongest of the Oktoberfest beers.
• Löwenbräu: 6.0% ABV. Described as having a round finish, with a good taste but nothing particularly special.
• Hacker-Pschorr: 6.3% ABV. The darkest and most bronze-coloured of the Munich beers, with a rich body and malty finish.
• Hofbräu: 6.3% ABV. A bitter beer with malt notes reminiscent of biscuits, apples, and pears.
• Paulaner: 5.9% ABV. A typical Munich sweet lager with malt-aromatic notes that are less prominent than in previous years.
• Spaten: 5.8% ABV. The lowest alcohol content among the major breweries, it is described as pleasing to the palate with light floral notes.

It's important to note that the alcohol content of these beers may vary slightly from year to year, and different sources may provide slightly different percentages. Additionally, there are non-alcoholic and low-alcoholic options available for those who prefer less or no alcohol.

Frequently asked questions