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It’s Oktoberfest season…time to dust off your designer Lederhosen and bang out a new polka mixtape. And, oh yeah, you’re gonna need some serious seasonal lagers. So here are 5 Oktoberfest beers that you need to check out before you kick it…
Great Lakes Oktoberfest
The Great Lakes region is home to one of America’s largest German immigrant populations, so it should come as no surprise that Cleveland, Ohio’s Great Lakes Brewing has an exceptional award-winning Märzen that has already taken four medals at the World Beer Championships.
With Its uber-smooth, almost silken mouthfeel, Great Lakes Oktoberfest is a much stronger lager at 6.5% ABV than most traditional Oktoberfest releases.
Heater Allen Bobtoberfest
Leave it to a small artisan brewery in Oregon, with a passion for lagers, to brew one of THE BEST examples of a true Märzen, certainly in America…and right up there with the best in the world.
Named after the deceased brother of Heater Allen Brewing’s Rick Allen, Bobtoberfest is a near-perfect Oktoberfest beer, a bright amber and unabashedly malt-forward 6.1% Märzen, with just a touch of clean hop bitterness.
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
Any serious discussion of Oktoberfest beers needs to return to the land where it all started and cities like Aying, Germany, home to Brauerei Aying.
From its rich golden-orange color to its sweet malty nose, Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen is a 5.8% medium-bodied lager that’s considered by many to be one the best Oktoberfest beer in the world.
Surlyfest
Minneapolis, Minnesota’s Surly Brewing is home to many a great beer and their Oktoberfest seasonal is most definitely one of them.
A departure of sorts from the traditional fall lager, Surlyfest isn’t really a Märzen at all, but a brilliantly conceived dry-hopped Rye Lager with an earthy profile and a biscuity balance.
Schlafly Oktoberfest
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a St Louis, Missouri-based brewery would understand the art of crafting lagers better than most. And Schlafly Beer fall seasonal is one of their best.
Brewed with rich Munich malt and bright German hops, Schlafly Oktoberfest is a 5.5% ABV Märzen that, in keeping with the lager’s Bavarian roots, was fermented for several months.
