Oktoberfest, the world’s largest Volksfest or “people’s festival.” It begins every year since 1810 in September and runs 16 days (about 2 and a half weeks) until the first Sunday in October. The festival originated on October 12, 1810, in celebration of the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, who later became King Louis I, to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. The festival concluded five days later with a horse race held in an open area that came to be called Theresienwiese (“Therese’s green”). Each year since 1810 the festival has grown to include floats, parades, dancing and most importantly, BEER!

The beers of Oktoberfest are restricted to certain brewers and types of lager. The breweries are all Munich breweries, and all follow the German purity law of Reinheitsgebot. The Reinheitsgebot is a series of regulations limiting the ingredients in beer in Germany and the states of the former Holy Roman Empire. German brewers are restricted to using only water, barley, and malt. German beer, already highly regarded around the world as superior if not the best, utilizes two types of beer during Oktoberfest. Traditionally a Marzen lager was brewed and served exclusively at Oktoberfest but as of late, a paler Festbier has emerged and become the most popular of the two. The breweries that are permitted to participate in Oktoberfest are Augustiner Brau, Lowenbrau, Spatenbrau, Hofbrau Munchen, Paulaner and Hacker Pschorr Brau.

America loves a great festival and will party the hardest for any reason. What better reason than Octoberfest? Octoberfest is the Americanized version of Oktoberfest. Leave it to the Americans to create an offspin holiday which lasts for the whole month of October! One may begin to celebrate in September with the beginning of Oktoberfest but continue through the month of October. Most Americans are not aware that Oktoberfest begins in September, nor do they care. A lot of folks think Oktoberfest takes place in October and therefore many American celebrations and festivals do not begin until October anyway. In America we celebrate Octoberfest paying homage to the harvest and Autumn colors. The royal marriage has been forgotten but the respect for beer and Fall remains.

Most of America is warmer than Germany and therefore the month of October also lends itself well to that Oktoberfest activity of drinking beer. As such, we here in the States have a choice of beer styles since America does not restrict brewers with a beer purity code. Certainly, one may imbibe a malty Marzen beer. Marzen gets its name because it is brewed in March and lagered or cellared until it will be consumed in the fall. Marzen is an amber lager and the traditional Oktoberfest beer but in the 1970’s was replaced by Festbier a paler lager. Festbier is now what you will find in Germany at Oktoberfest but in America Octoberfest beer is still a complex delicious Marzen.

There are many American brewers who also brew Octoberfest beers to satisfy the thirst of American revelers. American beers may be spelled Oktoberfest as in German or Americanized as Octoberfest. Most American Oktoberfest beers are of the original Marzen style. I suggest that, if possible, to explore and experience all the various offerings. Try pairing your American Marzen or German Festbier with sausages or brats and a Bavarian pretzel or two. Some German brewers still export the Marzen style to the U. S. Many American Oktoberfest or Octoberfest beers are highly ranked and worth a taste. Say Prost, the German word for Cheers! Life is short, drink better beer!

Contributed by Rick A. Collins, President Rosebud Risk Management Consulting and beer aficionado.