Oktoberfest 2019
Summer is finally drawing to a close but before we hit the winter months (with much anticipated Roasty Boi’s waiting in the wings) we’re hitting the crispy Märzen season that is Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest began as a wedding celebration more than 200 years ago when Bavaria’s Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. The wedding was celebrated with multiple days of drinking, feasting and horse races - the ultimate knees up for a wedding, really.
The tradition has been happening in Bavaria ever since, and is celebrated every year with Märzen beers brewed especially for the festivities.
The word Märzen literally translates as ‘March’ meaning that the beer used to be brewed in March and ‘refrigerated’ until late September. Märzen beer tends to have a medium to full body with a focus on a malty flavour and a clean, dry finish.
We’ve put together our own Oktoberfest Box, with these beers being specifically brewed once a year for Oktoberfest itself, if you’d like to get your hands on one, let us know as stock is limited!
Hofbräu — Oktoberfestbier
Hofbräu München brewery is has existed for over 400 years. Owned by the Bavarian state government, the Hofbräu brewery has had an integral part in forming the heritage of the city of Munich. Golden in colour and sparkling clear, Hofbräu’s Oktoberfestbier has notes of grainy bread, some lemon, and spritzy hops. A very light taste of sweet malts and some light grassiness, this light-bodied and delicate tasting German lager is a very drinkable beer.
Erdinger — Oktoberfest
This seasonal beer offers a combination of two classic German styles, Oktoberfest and wheat beer; a surprising alliance that works very well together. It has a cloudy body with some amber hints. The head is frothy, pleasantly white and with a soft texture. The wheat aroma combines with fruit, clove and strong malty flavour. It has the feel and crispness of Erdinger’s wheat-based trademark but with an Oktoberfest body. Boom.
Ayinger — Festmärzen
Ayinger Oktober Festmärzen has a deep golden colour tinted with amber. It is lightly sweet with a malty nose balanced with floral hops. The soft dryness comes from long maturation. It has a medium to big body that compliments the alcohol so it’s not overpowering.
Oktoberfest 2019 officially kicks off between 21st September — 6th October, there’s numerous events happening in London, including this one at Mercato Metropolitano with some of our favourite breweries and it’s free entry.
