How to Select a Beer at Oktoberfest

German beer is the most important aspect of the Oktoberfest. Beer plays a major role so be sure to select your brew wisely. Over one hundred types of German beer are available in the United States, so if you can't make it to Munich, Germany for the festival, you can still have a good selection to choose from.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Know German Beer from Light to Dark

1. Try Bitburger Light Reduced Calorie beer if you want to enjoy beer without all the calories. It has a refreshing flavor while having 40 percent fewer calories and less alcohol.
2. Try an Ayinger Oktoberfest Maezen, brewed at the Ayinger brewery 15 miles from Munich. This is a golden, malty beer made largely with barley malt which grown by the brewery.
3. Try a Löwenbräu beer, which adheres to the strict German Purity Law and is one of the sponsored beers at Oktoberfest in Munich. This is a light amber lager.
4. Try a Hacker-Pschorr, which is brewed three times longer than the average beer. The Märzen brew is a rich and creamy beer, and a bit darker than the lighter ales already mentioned.
5. Try a Paulaner, which is one of the most popular ales at Oktoberfest in Munich. Similar to the Hacker-Pschorr beers, this one has its origins from the Paulaner monks, who first crafted this fine brew. This is a rich and full-bodied brew which should be savored.
6. Try the Spaten Oktoberfest Beer,a a medium bodied and malted beer, which was the very first beer brewed specifically for Oktoberfest, way back in 1872.

Tips & Warnings

• Many German beers follow the Purity Law, which was instituted in the year 1516 and mandates that beer be brewed only with malt, hops and water. Yeast was later added to this list of natural allowable ingredients. If you want to select a genuine German beer that abides by these standards, check the label carefully.
• If you don't know much about beer to begin with, the best way to learn is to attend a tasting. Consider visiting a local brewery so you can sample the entire spectrum of beers. Once you know if you prefer light beers over dark, or vice versa, you will know better how to select the best beer for you for your Oktoberfest celebration.
• Most U.S. breweries allow you to sample each of their beers for free.
• Decide on a designated driver before attending Oktoberfest--never drink and drive.