German Oktoberfest beers were the OG palate-shifting craft beers for most Americans thirsty for more than light lagers.
But then American craft breweries started cranking out IPAs and fruited sours and everyone forgot about Oktoberfest beers until—oh, wait a second—Oktoberfest beers are still really, really good. They’re often super-crisp and refreshing. Many are belly-patting in substance, but not so much so that you’re falling asleep in your backyard biergarten. And some are respectfully building off of centuries of traditional by branching out just a bit from the norm.
Especially now, with American breweries putting their own twists on German favorites. Twists like in these six stein-hoisters, which include a legit festbier from an Oregon brewer (!), a hopped farmhouse-style lager (!!), and an Oktoberfest ale (!!!).
So if you’ve already enjoyed the classics, this is your to-drink list for this year’s Oktoberfest celebrations. (Or, what the heck, enjoy the classics and these new-school offerings.) Though COVID-19 canceled the official 2020 festivities, that doesn’t mean you can pull together a toast or two on your own.
Fall is here, after all. Embrace its beer.
1
Modern Times Beer x Heater Allen Brewing Tentbier
This collab Festbier from two Oregon-based brewers, is legit. That’s because they lean on a balance of Vienna and Pilsner malts and then spike it with German hops. Tentbier pours the color of a well-worn biergarten table, and at an easygoing 5 percent ABV, that’s exactly where you should savor it.
DRINK SOME
2
Allagash Moselle
You’ve likely had their iconic white ale, which is funkier than most. Same goes for this limited-release, 6 percent ABV lager-saison blend. It’s the beer equivalent of an accountant in lederhosen: primarily business, but with a wild side. Pair it with a soft pretzel or a mound of charcuterie.
DRINK SOME
3
Rhinegeist Franz
Even though Oktoberfest ales aren’t really a thing, this Cincinnati- based brewery said screw it and made this 5.4 percent ABV autumn-hued beer. On first sip, you’ll notice that it drinks like a lager—malt heavy, bready, refreshing—and then finishes not sweet, but dry and clean.
DRINK SOME
4
Alesmith Aleschmidt Oktoberfest
Weighing in at a svelte 5.5 percent ABV, this Märzen-style lager from a 25-year-old San Diego brewery is true to tradition: malt-forward, versatile, crisp. That makes it a perfect match for a smoked sausage, smoked cheese—or even better still—both.
DRINK SOME
5
Half Acre Lager Town
Flavors of dried fruit and brown sugar duke it out with the spice of rye and the bitterness of hops in this lager from one of Chicago’s more experimental breweries. For all its oompah, Lager Town is also unexpectedly chill at 5.8 percent ABV and goes well with a sunset and a fire pit.
DRINK SOME
6
Fremont Festbier
Fremont is well known for its Barrel-Aged beers and IPAs, but this traditional German lager possesses all the expected toast-caramel-cereal-and-straw notes of an Oktoberfest beer, but then goes hop-heavy on the finish, resulting in a 4.6% ABV beer that’s supercrisp.
DRINK SOME
Kenny Gould
Kenny Gould is a New York-based drinks writer for Men’s Health.
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