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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 fi rst 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 fi ve 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 fl oats, 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
Beautiful. Insulated. Affordable.
Financing options available
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.
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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
fi nd 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 afi cionado.
Town Crier- October 17, 2024 Find Us Online at PennysaverPlus.com ! 128-129 St. James, Smithtown - Pg 17