(Courtesy Shiner Beer)

Oktoberfest in Munich kicks off today, but we’ve been celebrating at the ACB compound for weeks now. It’s time to dig out your designer lederhosen, update that polka mix tape and get your hands on the right beers.

And here are five American craft beer takes on the seasonal style that get it done, and then some.

An Oktoberfest Best! (Shiner, TX) – When one thinks of Oktoberfest beers, the mind doesn’t automatically wander to a small town in Texas – but it should because the brewing team at the Spoetzl Brewery, which was founded in 1919 by a German immigrant, brews one of the best around.

A Great American Beer Festival winner in 2012 that is still crafted with the finest German-grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops as well as a deft combination of two-row barley, Munich and caramel malts, Shiner Oktoberfest is a 5.7% ABV Märzen-Style Lager with a rich malty aroma, and a caramel sweetness that gives way to a dry, hoppy finish.

Prost Y’all! (New Orleans, LA) – Oktoberfest season is nearing as are its signature beers. And Urban South Brewery has just returned a delicious fall refresher you’ll need to chase down. Brewed with the traditional characteristics of a classic Märzen while showcasing the balance and drinkability that have made the style a longstanding fav, Urban South Oktoberfest is a 6.2% ABV full-bodied fall seasonal with a robust malt-forward profile that gives way to a light bitterness and a clean finish.

This seasonal drop speaks to Urban South Brewery’s commitment to balancing cutting-edge experimental releases with the timeless classics that started it all. Urban South’s latest Oktoberfest is currently available at retail and on tap at bars and restaurants across Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, so you know what to do.

A Buzz-Free Oktoberfest That Nails It (Boston, MA) – For the first time, the Samuel Adams has released a non-alcoholic version of its classic Octoberfest, offering beer lovers drinkers a way to get their lederhosen ON without the alcohol.

Like any great NA beer Samuel Adams Non-Alcoholic Octoberfest mirrors the original, with the smooth body, toasted malt character and rich caramel notes that have helped make Octoberfest one of the brewery’s most recognizable seasonal releases.

Another Beer, Please (Sausalito, CA) –  Best Day Brewing, the second largest independent non-alcoholic craft brewer in the country, has released something special, an Oktoberfest beer that won’t muddy your head.

Delivering the full festival beer experience without any of the alcohol, Best Day Oktoberfest is a Märzen-style lager with a malty nose, a subtly sweet body and delicately hopped Character. A beloved style originally enjoyed at Oktoberfest in Munich and now brewed all over the world, Best Day’s version pays homage to the centuries-old tradition.

Unlike many non-alcoholic brands that rely on low-calorie, diluted bases, Best Day first brews their beer to full strength. The alcohol is later extracted through a gentle thermal technique where the liquid never rises above standard fermentation temperatures. This guarantees that the standard bready body expected of a true German festival beer remains fully intact.

Prost Dude! (Chico, CA / Mills River, NC) – Sierra Nevada has made its annual Oktoberfest release something of a passport program in recent years, partnering with German breweries to put a fresh spin on one of fall’s most traditional beer styles. And their latest take is one of their best.

The 2026 Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest is a 6% ABV Festbier brewed in collaboration with Hoppebräu, an innovative, modern Bavarian brewery from Waakirchen, Germany. Lightly dry-hopped for a hint of floral character and balanced by biscuity flavor thanks to Munich malt, this year’s vintage delivers a crisp, forward-thinking golden lager that bridges classic German heritage with an American craft brewing touch.

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And while we’re at it, there’s this…

Serious Oktoberfest Beers From Germany And The States

Oktoberfest Beer And Festbier: What’s The Difference?

New Oktoberfest Beers For Fall 2026