The party began in October 1810, when a great horse race was organized to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Everyone had so much fun that it was held again, and eventually became an annual event, dubbed “Oktoberfest” in 1872. It has since evolved into a 16-day Munich blowout, which begins today. Oh, to be in that great mass of humanity, dancing to the throbbing polka beats, scarfing down sausage, kraut, and strudel, and most of all, imbibing from the holy grail, er, stein, or today at Peaks and Pints — a taster glass. We’re offering another flight of Oktoberfest in keeping with the spirit of our month-long Fresh Hoptoberfest VII Days A Week. Don the lederhosen or dirndl and get to drinking our Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Oktoberfest.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Oktoberfest
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
5.8% ABV, draft – bottles in the cooler
The Oktoberfest beer style (Oktoberfestbeir) is one that is still brewed and served today and traditionally called Märzen (March beer). This beer was brewed in the spring and stored in cool locations like caves and cellars to last through the summer months. When the time came to store the newly brewed beer from the seasons harvest, the leftover beer from the prior season needed to be exhausted to make room for more beer. Sweet and grainy on the nose — think of fresh bread baked with honey and raisin — Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen features a pronounced sweetness of caramel and caramelized pumpkin on the palate. Hearty, and even a bit creamy as it warms, Oktober Fest-Märzen features a touch of bitter hops and fresh straw upfront before veering into a long malty finish. However, the beer dries out nicely to avoid a sticky or cloying aftertaste. This beer pairs beautifully with our pretzel bread sticks and side of beer mustard. Gemütlichkeit is, of course, free as always.
Weihenstephaner Festbier
5,8% ABV, draft – bottles in the cooler
The Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan is a German brewery owned by the Free State of Bavaria located on the site of the former monastery Weihenstephan Abbey in Freising, Bavaria. The brewery advertises itself as “The World’s Oldest Brewery”. While Peaks & Pints can’t confirm that boast, we can assure you that the centuries of experience show in its Oktoberfest. The Festbier is lighter in color than most — a brilliant gold — and in turn offers a lighter malt character. It hits the nose with all the malt, plus honey and caramel with a little grassy hop. The flavor has only a hint of caramel with dough and bread crust standing out in this supremely drinkable lager.
Warsteiner Oktoberfest
5.9% ABV, bottle
In 1753, German homebrewer Antonius Cramer was asked to pay beer tax as his homebrewing volumes surpassed the volume allowed for personal consumption. This marked the beginning of a long and successful brewing tradition and as the fledgling business continued to grow, Caspar Cramer was emboldened to finally establish what would become the original home of the small brewery by building the Warsteiner Domschänke, a brew pub in the centre of Warstein. Thanks to the efforts of Warsteiner, the small village, situated in the Sauerland, in the southeastern region of Westphalia, has since become famous around the world for its excellent beer production. As for Warsteiner itself, the company is presently in its ninth generation of family ownership under Catharina Cramer. A truly German import brewed according to the German Purity Law, as are all Warsteiner beers, Warsteiner Oktoberfest pours a deep gold with a bit of sediment in suspension. It hits the nose with cracker, bready malts, and grassy hops. The mouthfeel is light to medium with a prickly carbonation. This special edition is well-balanced with flavors of cracker, biscuit, hint of citrus, and grassy hops.
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier
6% ABV, can
The Paulaner brewery is one of the largest breweries in Munich, Bavaria in Germany and is part of the Paulaner Brewery Group, which includes Hacker-Pschorr, Auer Bräu, Hopf and Thurn, and Taxis. Founded in 1634, Paulaner is one of the six brands allowed to be served at the world-famous Oktoberfest. Brewed once a year, and only available while supplies last, Oktoberfest Wiesn is the first festbier to be poured at Oktoberfest in Munich. It’s deep golden color, full-bodied and wonderfully mellow, with a balanced harmonious taste and the pleasant fragrance of hops.
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Lager
6% ABV, bottle
Hacker-Pschorr Brewery of Munich ranks among Germany’s oldest breweries. It was first mentioned in a document dating back to 1417 as “Preustatt an der Hagkagasse” (a brewing place in the Hagka lane), located on the site of the current Altes Hackerhaus beer hall at Sendlingerstrasse 14, halfway between the old city hall at Marienplatz and the Sendlinger Tor city gate. A brewer named Simon Hacker purchased the premises in 1738 and renamed it “Hacker Bräu” (Hacker Brew). In 1797, another brewery owner, Josef Pschorr, acquired control of Hacker Bräu by way of marrying Therese Hacker, but the two breweries remained separate entities until they merged in 1972 to form the Hacker–Pschorr Brewery. Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Lager is the beer that they serve at The Oktoberfest. The aroma is buttered white bread roll, straw, cereal, cracker, spice, and hay. The taste is on the sweet side sweet with notes of white bread, grass, cracker, and cornbread with a dry-ish finish.
LINK: Regional Oktoberfest events
LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory
