Falling For German Beer

BY DAVID NUTTALL

Märzen

True Märzen (March) beers are brewed in early spring and stored away (lagered) over the next few months to be released for Oktoberfest and other fall festivals. Usually copper to amber in colour, it is also often higher in alcohol, close to 6 percent ABV. The use of Munich malt provides the colour, and the result is a toasty, malty, medium bodied, almost sweet tasting lager, with minimal noble hop presence in aroma and flavour. The style has evolved over the years and modern versions, especially those from North American craft breweries, are now märzens in name only. These beers may be found as year-round products, and are usually slightly darker, more malty versions of a lager.

Oktoberfest Beers

If the beer is a lager, it is similar to a märzen, but probably a bit lighter in colour and body. Indeed, there are also ale versions as well, and while some are aged for several months, many are not. Either style will be amber in colour with a bit more malt body than light lagers and ales. This name is often used by German and craft breweries to denote beers that are available only in the fall, and are usually attached to seasonal celebrations.

Festbier

As Oktoberfest beers evolved through the years, the breweries of Munich felt they were becoming too heavy bodied and filling (which, of course, can affect sales) so there needed to be some other options available. Enter the Festbier, and by the last quarter of the 20th century it had become the most popular beer at Oktoberfest. Its appearance is clear and straw to light gold in colour, with a lighter body and greater drinkability than other celebration beers. Some Festbiers are now lower in alcohol and, as a nod to modern times, even nonalcoholic beers are rearing their foamy head.

Although great any time of the year, German beer really gets highlighted in the autumn. Not only are many special seasonals released, it is also the time for the world’s largest and most famous beer festival, Oktoberfest.

Beginning in Munich in 1810 as a celebration of the marriage of Kronprinz Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen, it has been held every year since (with a couple of exceptions). It has become such a popular event, locations throughout Germany now stage their own festivals and imitations of various sizes are also held all over the world.

Of course, one of the most important components of the festival is the beer. Only six breweries are represented at the original festival: Hofbräu, Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Spaten, Löwenbräu, and Paulaner. With over six million visitors each year, a whole range of beer varieties are available, some of which are made specifically for the event. The main styles that are usually brewed for the festival are Märzen, Oktoberfest, and Festbier. Each has its own unique qualities, but the names do not always represent a strict style definition. However, most are only available for a limited time, so they are well worth exploring at this time of year.

It should be noted that craft breweries play fast and loose with these names and attach them to any beer style they want to serve in the fall. The real German imports usually appear in September and are available in Alberta liquor stores and some restaurants and bars until they stock out, usually by the end of the year. You are also sure to find local craft brewery versions with variations in authenticity to the German originals.

Below are a few German imports and a couple of Alberta craft beer versions available now.

Ayinger Oktober Fest- Märzen

A clear amber colour, this is a medium bodied lager with a malt forward flavour of toasted caramel. Brewed in March and aged until release in September, it is from the town of Aying, just outside of Munich, and is a favourite at many Oktoberfest celebrations. 5.8 percent ABV.

CSPC 728875, $6, 500 mL bottle

Erdinger Oktoberfest

Coming from the town of Erding, a half-hour north of Munich, this cloudy, amber wheat ale is refermented in the bottle, and matured for several months, giving it a rich yet spicy flavour.

5.7 percent ABV.

CSPC 894464, $6, 500 mL bottle

Paulaner

Oktoberfest

A golden colour lager with a nice bready malt flavour. Low hopped, but with a medium body and a 6 percent ABV. CSPC 644740 $5, 500 mL can

Dandy Festbier (Alberta)

Made to celebrate Oktoberfest and their own Dandy Fest, it also marks this Calgary brewery’s tenth anniversary. It is a classic pale lager with a bit of wheat malt and a grassy hoppiness from German hops. Crisp and easy drinking at 3.5 percent ABV.

CSPC 115003 $19, 4 x 473 mL can

Grizzly Paw Mountaineer Märzen (Alberta)

From Canmore comes a local version of the märzen. A coppercoloured lager with a little less body than the Ayinger, but with all the right caramel notes and subtle hoppiness. 5 percent ABV.

CSPC 877881, $19, 4 x 473 mL can

There are other imported German celebration beers available, but also check out what local craft breweries have brewed for the fall. There is much more to German beer than these seasonals, and we will look at some of those styles in early 2025. In the meantime, Prost!