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(Courtesy Firestone Walker Brewing)
There are few beers that we look forward to more than Firestone Walker’s annual take on the European “Festbiers” that are synonymous with Munich’s legendary Oktoberfest celebration.
And signaling the waning days of summer and the onset of fall, the 2024 Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager begins rolling out to all Firestone Walker markets this week.
“There’s nothing that I look forward to more than good lager beer like Oaktoberfest,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “A sessionable beer like this is made to be consumed in celebratory moments, but it’s also the perfect everyday drinker.”
Oaktoberfest has been a seasonal staple for Paso Robles craft brewery dating back to the inaugural release in 2006. Each year, however, Firestone Walker changes things up a little the 2024 release adds a new finishing hop—Hallertau Mittelfrüh, a classic German heirloom variety, to the mix.
“Hallertau Mittelfrüh is a perfect fit for Oaktoberfest,” Brynildson said. “It’s less fruity compared to a lot of modern hops, and it has more of a resinous and cedarwood character that really plays well with the beer’s malty base.”
And as always, the latest Oaktoberfest was brewed with all-German ingredients, including Weyermann Pilsner malts and Vienna malts, with a dash of Munich and Cara Red.
The name “Oaktoberfest” is a riff on Firestone Walker’s longtime commitment to brewing and aging beer in oak barrels and the 2024 Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager continues that tradition.
For the past several years, a portion of Oaktoberfest has been lagered in oak barrels inherited from a Napa Valley cult winery. This year, Brynildson and his team changed it up, sourcing the barrels from Winemaker Russell From of Herman Story Wines in Paso Robles.
“Russell is a good friend of ours, and his barrels are every bit as awesome as anything we’ve used before,” Brynildson said. “We’re not looking for a huge oak or wine impact from the barrels. Rather, the barrels lend a fifth element and an underlying presence in the texture of the beer. It’s hard to put your finger on, but it’s wholly different than if the beer was lagered only in stainless steel.”
Firestone Walker’s 2024 Oaktoberfest is a 5.2% ABV seasonal release with a light golden-amber color and toasty, biscuity notes. And this year’s oak-barrel lagering lends itself to something memorable, with its smooth mouthfeel, crisp malt profile and hints of noble hops.
“Oaktoberfest is rich in flavor but also light-bodied and easy to drink—it’s the kind of beer you naturally crave as summer turns to fall,” Brynildson said. “Personally, it brings me back to all of our adventures sourcing hops in Germany and taking our team to experience Oktoberfest firsthand. It’s like putting those experiences into the liquid and then adding an extra touch of California flair.”
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