In honor of the world’s largest beer festival, Whole Foods Market is teaming up with yours truly to host a mini-Oktoberfest celebration live on Twitter. We  partnered with four U.S. craft breweries that share two things in common – all produce an awesome American-style Oktoberfest beer and all have women tweeting behind the brand.

On Oct. 4, from 7-8 p.m. CST, join Whole Foods Market (@WholeFoods) and me (@TheBeerWench) as we taste and tweet through four delicious American-style Oktoberfest beers with amazing and talented women in the craft beer industry. Tweet alongside beer professionals, beer enthusiasts and foodies to learn more about Oktoberfest traditions, cooking with beer, beer pairings, and the integral role women have played in the history of beer.

To participate, pick up one or all of the featured Oktoberfest beers and tweet your experience using the hashtag #WFMBeer. Every 15 minutes, the focus of the tasting will shift to a different beer. The schedule is as follows:

7:00 p.m. CST: Left Hand (@LeftHandBrewing) Oktoberfest
Woman behind the Twitter avatar: Emily Armstrong
7:15 p.m. CST: Victory Brewing (@VictoryBeer) Festbier
Woman behind the Twitter avatar: Karen Noonan
7:30 p.m. CST: Great Lakes (@GLBC_Cleveland) Oktoberfest
Woman behind the Twitter avatar: Marissa DeSantis
7:45 p.m. CST: Flying Dog (@flyingdog) Dogtoberfest
Women behind the Twitter avatar: Erin Biles & Holly Manthei

If you can’t find one of the recommended beers above, simply ask your local Whole Foods Market beer specialist to make an Oktoberfest recommendation and then join the conversation on Twitter. Just don’t forget the hashtag #WFMBeer.

Interested in learning more about women craft brewers? Check out Whole Foods Market’s featured film during its Do Something Reel Film Festival this month. “The Love of Beer” is a documentary that follows women as they struggle to end stereotypes, handle their rising fame and raise a family in the craft beer scene. The film is available to digital audiences with exclusive filmmaker interviews on iTunes and other platforms for $3.99 in standard definition and $4.99 in HD. Visit dosomethingreel.com for more information.

Participation is limited to those 21 years or older.

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If you have any questions on how to use and track hashtags, do not hesitate to contact me or leave a comment below. Here is a site that provides basic information for tracking hastags. Personally, I think Tweetdeck is the best tool to use when trying to follow and participate in a #WFMBeer tasting. Just add a column to your Tweetdeck searching for #WFMBeer, and you will get a live stream of all the people talking about the live tasting.

Screen Shot from Tweetdeck

Once again, if you have any questions about participating, do not hesitate to contact me!!!!

Cheers!

I recently received an email about an Oktoberfest Inforgraphic. As the beer wench and a lover of all things German, I was intrigued. Furthermore, the creators of the infographic stated: “This infographic shows interesting facts about the Oktoberfest – the world’s largest beer fest – including a detailed map of the area and some guidelines to dress properly bavarian-style for this occasion. Furthermore the infographic gives advice about interesting places to visit in Munich.” And then I became more intrigued.

Until, of course, I clicked on the infographic to learn that it was written completely in German. Despite barely being able to decipher a word on it, I still found the infographic festive and fun — and entertaining enough to share. Hopefully you will too!

CHEERS!

As with many regional designations in the alcohol world (Bourbon, Bordeaux, Trappist to name a few), the label “Oktoberfest” is reserved for only the beer produced within the city walls of Munich, Germany. Oktoberfest Beer is a registered Trademark by the Club of Munich Brewers — meaning only said brewers can use the name. The only breweries qualified to use the name are as follows:

• Augustiner-Bräu
• Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu
• Löwenbräu
• Paulaner-Bräu
• Spatenbräu
• Staatliches Hofbräu-München

As with Bourbons and Bordeaux, Oktoberfest-biers are also subject to production rules. The official Oktoberfest-biers must be produced according to the Reinheitsgebot — the German Purity law that states beer can only be made from a combination of barley, hops, yeast and water (no extraneous ingredients). Also, these beers must not exceed 6% alcohol per volume.

And last but not least, the only the official Munich Oktoberfest beers are the only beers allowed to be served at the traditional Oktoberfest celebration. Quite the exclusive club, if you ask me.

Alas, what happens to the poor little heathen brewers outside the Munch city limits? Well folks, a rose by any other name. Technically speaking, any brewer can brew the Oktoberfest-style, also known as a Marzen. They just can’t call it Oktoberfest-bier. All Bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is Bourbon — get me?

Although my favorite not-official-but-traditional Oktoberfest-style is from Ayinger, I also love many American interpretations. As with most traditional styles of beer, the Americans have a tendency to push the recipes limits, typically by giving them a dose of American hops. Instead of plugging the corporate-owned, not-technically-craft-beer producers of the official Oktoberfest beers, this post is dedicated to promoting the awesome O-Fest brewers in the U.S. (sorry Canadians).

It is important to note that the nature of these beers makes them extremely enjoyable while very fresh — but not so fun when drank old. So get your fill now, and please don’t cellar them unless otherwise instructed by the breweries!

10 American O-Fest Beers Worth Trying

1. Victory Brewing – Festbier

Commercial Description: Seductively smooth, this medium-bodied amber beauty is akin to the great Oktoberfest beers of Munich. All German malts and whole flower European hops make this lager true to style.

Abv: 5.6%

2. Flying Dog – Dogtoberfest

Commercial Description: Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients. Full-bodied caramel sweet with a light, toasted and crisp, clean finish.

Abv: 5.6%

3. Left Hand – Oktoberfest

Commercial Description: Biscuity, malty goodness dominates upfront while the noble pedigree hops lend a properly spicy, dry finish. Zicke zacke, zicke zacke, hoi, hoi, hoi.

Abv: 6.6%

4. New Glarus – Staghorn Octoberfest

Commercial Description: Brewed using the time honored methods and an extra slow lager to release the smooth flavor of our roasted malts. Expect this bier to pour with a rich head of foam that will enhance its incredible spice bouquet. Staghorn Octoberfest combines a smooth amber body with a clean crisp finish. Abv: 6.25%

5. Great Lakes – Oktoberfest

Commercial Description: An amber lager with rich malt flavor balanced by fragrant noble hops.

Abv: 5.2%

6. Bell’s Beer – Octoberfest

Commercial Description: Octoberfest trades in the assertive hop presence for a focus on a light caramel malt note, lending body without too much sweetness.

Abv: 5.5%

7. Avery – The Kaiser

Commercial Description: We took all that is good in a traditional Oktoberfest – gorgeous, deep copper sheen, massive malty backbone and spicy, floral, pungent noble hops – then intensified each into this, an Imperial Oktoberfest.

Abv: 9-10% (please note, this is an Imperial)

8. Brooklyn – Oktoberfest

Commercial Description: Brewed from the finest German malt and hops, Brooklyn Oktoberfest is true to the original style, fullbodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness.

Abv: 5.5%

9. Short’s – Noble Chaos Octoberfest

Commercial Description: A subtle hop bouquet and toasted caramel malt flavors create a well balanced beer that finishes fresh and clean. With a pleasant nose and medium body, this brew is a taste of the season.

Abv: 5.5%

10. Sprecher – Oktoberfest

Commercial Description: Traditionally brewed to celebrate the harvest season, this reddish-brown lager has a rich caramel character and a long flavorful finish. Its delicious malty sweetness is nicely accented by a slightly fruity bouquet and a mild hop flavor. Abv: 5.75%

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Was your favorite American O-Fest style not on the list? Tell us about it in the comment section below!!!

While several other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event and held on similar dates, none rival the authenticity and grand scale of the original. Unfortunately, the closest I have ever come to Oktoberfest is drinking Oktoberfest bier and polka dancing at local Oktoberfest festivals in the United States. Needless to say, that just doesn’t cut it. Alas, I will be forced to celebrate Oktoberfest state-side until circumstances finally allow me to travel to Germany for the real festival.

Surprisingly, most people know very little about Oktoberfest — except that it is a massive festival that spans across 16 (sometimes 17) days – consisting of excessive beer & German food consumption and lots of debauchery.

This past Saturday, (September 17th) marked the official start of the 178th Oktoberfest. Store shelves and bars across the country have been well-stocked stocked with various Oktoberfest biers, and today is the perfect day to talk about the history of the world’s largest party.

According to legend and lore, Oktoberfest is the result of an extended wedding reception that followed the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Balvaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. Both were later to become King & Queen of Bavaria.

The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the post-wedding festivities, which lasted several days and concluded with a great horse race. The decision to repeat the horse races in the subsequent year gave rise to the tradition of the Oktoberfest.

The first Agricultural Show, designed to boost Bavarian agriculture, was included in with the horse racing festivities in 1811. In the year 1812, Oktoberfest was canceled as a result of Bavaria’s was involvement in the Napoleonic war.

Carnival booths were introduced in 1816, with prizes mostly consisting of silver, porcelain and jewelry.  And in 1918, the first carousel and two swings were included into the event.

The founding citizens of Munich assumed responsibility over festival management in 1819 and it was agreed that the Oktoberfest festival would be celebrated each and every year without exception.

INTERESTING FACT: Since its beginnings the Oktoberfest has been canceled 24 times due to war, disease and other emergencies.

The first Oktoberfest parade, honoring the marriage of King Ludwig I and Therese of Bavaria, took place in 1835. Since 1850, the parade has become a yearly event and an important component of Oktoberfest. Each year some 8,000 people, mostly from Bavaria & dressed in traditional costumes walk through the center of Munich to the Oktoberfest.

The year 1850 also marks the first appearance of the Statue of Bavaria, commissioned by Ludwig I of Bavaria and constructed by Johann Baptist Stiglmaier and Ferdinand von Miller. The Bavaria statue is a bronze-cast statue of a female figure representing Bavaria’s “secular patron saint.” She is located at the border of the Theresienwiese in Munich, Bavaria, Germany – where Oktoberfest takes place each year.

Thirst was originally quenched at beer stands, which eventually turned into beer tents in 1896.  The beer tents and halls were originally set up by enterprising landlords with backing from local breweries and have been a main staple of the event ever since.

Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening consisting of a twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at noon by the Lord Mayor of Munich with the cry “O’zapft is!” (which literally translates to “It’s tapped!” in the Austro-Bavarian dialect). This event is held the first Saturday of each Oktoberfest in one of the enormous beer tents. Once the barrel is tapped, all visitors are then allowed to quench their thirst and the massive party officially begins!

The year 1960 marked the end of the horse races. By that time,  Oktoberfest had already turned into an enormous world-famous festival and has since grown to become the largest folk fest in the world.

Oktoberfestbiers have been served at Oktoberfest since 1818 and are supplied by 6 breweries known as the “Big Six.” These include Spaten, Lowenbrau, Augustiner, Hofbrau, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr.

Originally, Oktoberfestbiers were traditional German pale lagers called Märzen. They were brewed in March and allowed to ferment slowly during the summer months. They typically run at about 5 to 6% abv. Technically, authentic Oktoberfestbier is brewed only by the breweries within the city limits of Munich. Today, the terms Oktoberfest and Märzen are used by non-Oktoberfest brewers in Germany and the USA to market pale lagers of this strength.

THE GERMAN BEER INSTITUTE has an excellent article about this history Oktoberfestbier HERE.

I will be honest. Lagers do not particularly excite me. In fact, I tend to avoid that style of beer as much as possible. HOWEVER, I am predisposed to having a preference to Spaten – over all the other Oktoberfestbeirs.

Is it possible to have such a predisposition? YES. My father is a marketers dream. He is the king of brand preference and brand loyalty. When he finds something he likes, he becomes an obssesed man. And this is how he is with Spaten.

It did not matter where he goes and how much beer is already being provided, my father ALWAYS brings his own beer – and it is ALWAYS Spaten. At any given time, the refrigerator in his garage is loaded with Spaten. For my 21st birthday my dad picked out the keg. And guess what he chose? Yep, that’s right …  SPATEN!

Make sure to properly celebrate the season with a pint, liter, or boot of Oktoberfestbier!

CHEERS!