Tuesday, August 9th, 2022

Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: August Oktoberfest Beer Flight

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Ah yes, the annual paradox: Oktoberfest beers arriving not with the crisp rustle of fallen leaves or the first whisper of sweater weather, but in August, while the sun still sizzles sidewalks and your flip-flops stick to the pavement. And yet—we want it. We crave it. Because as the dog days crest and our brains melt into barbecue sauce, the siren song of Märzens and festbiers calls to us like a lederhosen-clad hallucination, promising caramel malts, brass bands, and a polite kind of beer-fueled chaos.

It all started, of course, with a royal wedding in 1810, when Crown Prince Ludwig tied the knot and the people of Munich celebrated with horses, beer, and the kind of raucous energy that begs for encores. By 1872, it was officially dubbed Oktoberfest, and the legend only grew—16 days of wurst, waltzing, and stein-hoisting ecstasy. Fast-forward a few wars and one pandemic later, and here we are: celebrating a centuries-old Bavarian tradition with beers that now drop in mid-August because, well, beer marketers are maniacs and we love them for it.

While our own Fresh Hoptoberfest is still a few weeks out, we at Peaks & Pints simply couldn’t wait. The malts are too toasty, the nostalgia too strong. So we present Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: August Oktoberfest Beer Flight—a preemptive prost, a sun-drenched salute to the festival to come. Swing by, raise a glass, and dream of the day you’ll polka again under a tent packed with strangers and sausage.

Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: August Oktoberfest Beer Flight

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

5% ABV, 24 IBU

Firestone Walker Brewing’s Oaktoberfest is a twist on the German Märzen bier — a Paso Märzen, if you will. Traditional imported malts offer subtle honey-like aromas with hints of Noble hop spice. The stars of this brew are the imported Pilsner and Vienna malts that offer malty sweetness that carry through to the end. German Hallertau hops add rich Noble hop character to balance this Märzen. Pro tip: This beer is 100 percent stainless steel and gets the name Oaktoberfest as an ode to their hometown, Paso Robles, Spanish for “Pass of The Oaks.”

Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen

5.8% ABV, 25 IBU

Sweet and grainy on the nose — think of fresh bread baked with honey and raisin — Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen features a pronounced sweetness of caramel and caramelized pumpkin on the palate. Hearty, and even a bit creamy as it warms, Oktober Fest-Märzen features a touch of bitter hops and fresh straw upfront before veering into a long malty finish. However, the beer dries out nicely to avoid a sticky or cloying aftertaste. This beer pairs beautifully with our pretzel bread sticks and side of beer mustard. Gemütlichkeit is, of course, free as always.

Warsteiner Oktoberfest

5.9% ABV, 21 IBU

A truly German import brewed according to the German Purity Law, as are all Warsteiner beers, Warsteiner Oktoberfest pours a deep gold with a bit of sediment in suspension. It hits the nose with cracker, bready malts, and grassy hops. The mouthfeel is light to medium with a prickly carbonation. This special edition is well-balanced with flavors of cracker, biscuit, hint of citrus, and grassy hops.

LINK: Peaks & Pints cooler inventory