If I had a choice, I’d get a schnitzel right now, I’d get a Festbier to go with it, and oh my gosh, I’d be so happy,” says Jennings. Sierra Nevada keeps things fresh by changing its Oktoberfest release each year, including collaborations with German breweries. In 2023, Sierra Nevada collaborated with Kehrwieder brewery in Hamburg. The ingredients for Spaten Lager are carefully selected to meet these strict standards. The hops contribute to the beer’s floral and herbal notes and its slight bitterness. Munich malt, a type of barley malt, gives the beer its bready and grainy characteristics along with a touch of sweetness. The water used in Spaten Lager is sourced from local Munich wells, ensuring a high-quality base to enhance the flavors of the hops and malt. We liked it for its fizzy aroma of cream soda of all things. On the sip it’s much toastier and less sweet. Kind of like the charred ends of buttered toast. We actually like that this one is a bit more bitter than some of the other versions on this list. There is a complex depth to the bitterness that rounds out the whole beer, giving it a robust mouthfeel and body. No brewery has deeper ties to Oktoberfest than Spaten-Franziskaner Bräu. So, it seems only fitting, that as we enter into the first week of October and celebrations rev up in Munich, I should review the Ur Marzën, the “Original Marzën.”

Sweet graininess at the front. Very subtle signs of bread, toast, and caramel. No evidence of the 5.7% ABV at all. Has a touch of grassy hop flavor, and bitterness is a medium-low with just enough bite to keep things from getting completely dull. Finish is very crisp. Some light toast and caramel rise up in the aftertaste along with residual grainy sweetness. FINISHING THOUGHTS Spaten, a Munich-based brewery, has been a leading exporter of German beer for over a century, reaching markets such as North America and the UK. Adhering to the 1516 Purity Law set by Duke Wilhelm IV of Bavaria, Spaten uses only malt, hops, and water in their brewing process, ensuring a high-quality product that consumers can enjoy. Why? Because the original idea behind Oktoberfest was actually to unite folks during a turbulent period. Unfortunately, the largest beer festival in the world cannot take place in Germany in 2020 due to the spread of Covid-19.

Spaten distributes its beers internationally, making them readily available for consumers to enjoy. The rich history, adherence to traditional brewing methods, and wide range of beer styles make Spaten a must-try for beer enthusiasts. Next time you’re craving an authentic German beer, reach for Spaten and experience the heritage and flavor for yourself. Key Takeaways New Glarus Brewing Company – New Glarus, WI Photography courtesy of @newglaursbrewing | New Glarus Brewing Company We crafted this unique Festbier recipe with Kehrwieder with the goal of it being incredibly balanced, highly drinkable and flavorful at the same time,” says Scott Jennings, innovation brewmaster at the Mills River location of Sierra Nevada. “We both desired to create a modern Festbier style but with the critical distinction of expanding the hop character beyond where that traditional style typically lands.” Basically, the Oktoberfest-style beers brewed in America are actually nothing like the Festbiers made for the real Oktoberfest in Germany. Instead, they align more closely with the original styles served in the 1870s.

When enjoying a Spaten beer, it’s essential to pair it with the right foods to elevate your dining experience. Let’s dive into some excellent food pairings for Spaten beers, focusing mainly on Spaten Premium Lager (Münchner Hell) and Spaten Optimator.

To fully appreciate the flavor profiles of these Spaten beers, it’s worth considering factors like serving temperature. For instance, some Spaten enthusiasts recommend enjoying it slightly warm to enhance the full flavor potential. Frequently Asked Questions What is the alcohol content of Spaten beer? Actually, during the first sixty or so years the darker Bavarian dunkel dominated. But by 1872 Spaten brewery introduced the more amber-hued Märzen, which became the official beer of the fest. And in the mid 1960s Paulaner’s golden-colored Oktoberfest Bier, considered a Festbier, began to take over.