Oktoberfest in August? Weird, right? Oktoberfest beer is arguably the one that has the strongest ties to the calendar. After all, there’s a month in its name! September would be completely legitimate for Oktoberfest beer sales since the Munich Oktoberfest carnival takes place in the two weeks before the first Sunday in October, so it’s mostly in September. Then there’s the historical fact that Oktoberfest beer was traditionally called Märzen (“MARE-t’zen”) because it was brewed in März, or as they say, March, due to the lack of mechanical refrigeration. Cold air was the only temperature control brewers had, and the cool caves and cellars they did have were mostly only good for keeping big vats of already made beer cool and fresh. But seasonal beers have a subtle timing component built into them in that the drinker always buys ahead of the season, much like fashion. The party has evolved into Oktoberfest beers being released in August. Oh, to be in that great mass of humanity, dancing to the throbbing polka beats, scarfing down sausage, kraut, and strudel, and most of all, imbibing from the holy grail … er, stein … while the sun beats down on us. While Peaks & Pints annual Fresh Hoptoberfest is a week away we thought we highlight more early arrivals. Stop by our craft beer bar, bottle shop and restaurant and grab Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: August Oktoberfest.
Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: August Oktoberfest
Black Raven Flocktoberfest
5% ABV
Flocktoberfest is Black Raven Brewing’s fall seasonal lager. Brewed in the German Marzen style, this clean and balanced lager is crafted with traditional Czech grown and malted barley for an authentic European malt flavor with a light, toasty undertone. Domestic and European hops provide a balanced, light hop profile.
Reuben’s Festbier
5.8% ABV
Only beer conforming to the Reinheitsgebot and brewed within the Munich city limits can be served at Oktoberfest. Beers meeting these criteria are designated “Oktoberfest bier” although the name also denotes two distinct beer styles: the traditional Märzen style lager and a paler “festbier” that’s more commonly served at Oktoberfest today. Less malty and more drinkable than Marzën, Reuben’s Brews’ festbier is based on the beer now served at the Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich. Expect layers of biscuity malt and bright orange zest wrapped around a distinct hop punch.
Fort George Half Liter Festbier
5.6% ABV
The identifying characteristic of a festbier is you can pound many a liter. The identifying characteristic of a Fort George Brewery beer is that it contains hops. The identifying characteristic of a Stoup Brewing beer is that it is delicious. Combine these three dominant beer traits and you get Half Liter — a pleasantly earthy, crisply carbonated, reassuringly toasty festbier with a caramel and toasted malt aroma brewed by Fort George and Stoup Brewing that you can pound many a liter.
Silver City Oktoberfest Lager
6.2% ABV
Silver City Brewery’s Oktoberfest Lager is a light butterscotch-colored beer that explodes with spiced aromas not unlike cinnamon and nutmeg, entirely symptomatic of the German Hersbrucker hops. A deep breadiness hits the palate, the fresh-baked pretzel character of rich Munich malt, with other malts — Pilsner, Northwest Pale, Caramel, and Carafa — riding shotgun adding malty sweetness to the spicy hop character.
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