You must have come across several beer fests in your lifetime, but the largest people’s fest, the Oktoberfest, is sure to stand out. With the perfect combination of chilled beer and a colorful fun fair, this fest in Munich is indeed one of a kind.
Stealing the spotlight at Oktoberfest are the six Munich breweries. Now, the beer buff in you must be wondering why there are just 6 breweries, and what about them makes them so special! Here’s everything you need to know about the 6 Oktoberfest breweries that make their appearance year after year.
Why Are There Only 6 Oktoberfest Breweries?
Unlike ordinary beers, the beers served at Oktoberfest are specially brewed and also have high alcohol content. To make it to Munich’s Oktoberfest, the breweries must meet two main conditions.
First, they should be producing beers that are brewed with the limited ingredients mentioned in the regulations of Reinheitsgebot. Reinheitsgebot is a Bavarian purity law that states that only 4 ingredients should go into brewing beer – water, barley, yeast, and hops.
The other condition is that the breweries producing these beers should be within the city limits of Munich. And only 6 breweries meet these requirements, so they are the only six to be a part of the Oktoberfest in Munich.
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The 6 Oktoberfest Breweries Stealing The Spotlight
- Augustiner
- Hacker-Pschorr
- Löwenbräu
- Hofbräu
- Paulaner
- Spaten
1. Augustiner
Let’s start with the oldest surviving brewery in Munich, the Augustiner. Started in 1328 by the monks of the Augustinian Monastery, this brewery continues to operate and supply beer to date.
It is also the only brewery that still stores beer in traditional wooden barrels. Augustiner is the oldest brewery in Munich that serves beer at Oktoberfest. Augustiner Wiesn beer served at Oktoberfest comes with an alcohol content of 6.3%.
Known to be the best beer in Munich, it has an earthy essence and clean crisp flavor with a tinge of caramel in it. So if you ever plan on going to the Oktoberfest, you should definitely chug on a cold glass of Augustiner beer and have fun at the fair.
Fun Fact: With just 350 employees, Augustiner manages to produce around 1.2 hectolitres of beer.
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2. Hacker-Pschorr
Next on the list is the fourth-oldest brewery in Munich, the Hacker-Pschorr brewery. This leading brewery was started in the early 1400s by a couple named Maria Theresia Hacker and Joseph Pschorr. Later, it was run by their sons under the names Hacker and Pschorr separately and was once again reunited in the year 1972.
Hacker-Pschorr’s beer comes with the weakest alcohol content of 5.8% and has a flavor that covers a little bit of all tastes. With a blend of sweet, malty, dry, and bitter, the Hacker-Pschorr beer is sure to tickle your tastebuds!
Fun Fact: In 2007, it was the first brewery to go back in time and sell its complete beer range in traditional swing-top bottles.
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3. Löwenbräu
Started in the 14th century, this brewery has been serving beer all over Munich for over 700 years. After its tremendous growth, the Löwenbräu brewery was shifted to Nymphenburger Street, where you can enjoy the beer at their famous beer hall of Löwenbräukeller.
In fact, you can also witness events like the ‘Night of the Tracht’ and the ‘Stout Beer Festivals’ held in the lush green gardens right outside the beer hall. With the name Löwenbräu meaning “Lion’s Brew”, it was only fair to choose a brand logo of a lion.
So while you’re at Oktoberfest, don’t be surprised if you come across the statue of a giant lion sipping on a beer and roaring “Lööö-weeen-bräääu” on a beer tent. This is the tent where you’ll find one of the most popular beers in Munich. With a light texture and a flavor of slight bitterness, the Löwenbräu beer leaves behind a refreshing sweetness.
Fun Fact: Löwenbräu’s lion emblem was originally taken from a fresco in a brewery.
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4. Hofbräu
If you’re looking to get in touch with the royal flavor of Munich, then Hofbräu beer has to be your choice. Founded by the Duke of Bavaria, Wilhelm, this brewery was later turned into a state-owned enterprise. But to date, you can find the royal legacy of Hofbräu being carried on the beer bottles with the crown logo.
Not only does this beer have a royal history but it is also rich with a strong alcohol content of 6.2%. With every sip you take, you can relish the aroma of hay, taste the refreshing bitter hops of the Hofbräu beer, and unwind. Hofbräu also has a gorgeous beer hall named Hofbräuhaus am Platzl, which is also Munich’s main tourist spot!
Fun Fact: Unlike normal currency, Hofbräuhaus has its own currency or tokens used to pay for the beer.
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5. Paulaner
This brewery gets its name from the monks of the Paulaner order, who were the ones that started brewing Paulaner beer. Initially, their beer was available to the public only on special occasions and was otherwise just the monks’ beverage. But with its growing popularity, it was soon a must-have among the beer drinkers of Munich.
Paulaner is one of the largest breweries in Bavaria and serves one of the best beers at Oktoberfest. With a toasted malt flavor, a touch of lemon, and spiced banana, it becomes a perfect drink to compliment your food. Also, Paulaner is the brewery that enjoys the title of being the youngest brewery in Munich.
Fun Fact: Other than being one of the leading breweries to produce alcoholic beers, it also holds a high rank in producing non-alcoholic beers.
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6. Spaten
Belonging to one of the most popular brewing families, Spaten still holds a special place in the Munich markets as it was the first brewery to introduce the beer ‘Münchner Hell’. If you happen to get your hands on a bottle of one of these beers, then you are drinking one of the best-selling beers by Spaten.
At Oktoberfest, the Schottenhamel tent is where you can find Spaten beer. It is also the place where the city’s mayor opens the first beer barrel and exclaims “O’zapft is!”, meaning, ‘it has been tapped’.
This marks the beginning of the 16- to 18-day long festival. A bottle of the beer brewed by Spaten would give you the flavor of a biscuit-malt with a smidge of lemon, making you want to drink more with each sip.
Fun Fact: Spaten was declared to be the official beer of Pittsburgh’s annual festival of retro cars in 2011. And, the proceeds from the same were given to a charity for the welfare of autistic kids.
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Summing Up
These are the six breweries holding their places at Oktoberfest and also in the hearts of Munich’s people. Now you don’t have to wait for your chance to take a trip all the way to Munich to attend Oktoberfest, as there are many Indian cities hosting Oktoberfests near you. So keep an eye out for these local Oktoberfest events and get your gang to fully enjoy these fun-filled celebrations!
FAQs
What Are The 6 Oktoberfest Beers?
As per the customs of Munich, only the breweries from Munich are allowed to set up beer tents at Oktoberfest. And for all these years only 6 breweries in the city have been ruling the festival. These are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Löwenbräu, Hofbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten.
What Beer Is Drunk At Oktoberfest?
Oktoberfest houses several beer tents on its premises. Of these, there are 14 large tents and 21 small ones of the Märzen variety. Märzen means ‘March beer’ in German, based on the fact that it was brewed in the month of March. It is a lager beer, which is a beer that’s brewed at a low temperature.
What Was The Original Oktoberfest Beer?
The first Märzen-style beer introduced at the 1872 Oktoberfest is to date known as the original Oktoberfest beer.
What Is Germany’s Number 1 Beer?
Krombacher is the leading beer brand in Germany. Some popular German beer brands are Warsteiner and Becks among others.
What Is The Oldest Brewery In The World?
Weihenstephan Hill in Freising, Germany is the oldest brewery in the world. In fact, it has been in the brewing industry since 1040.
Is Beer Free At Oktoberfest?
No, you have to pay for drinks, food, and accommodation at Oktoberfest. But the good part is that there are no entrance fees charged at Oktoberfest.
What Can You Drink At Oktoberfest If You Don’t Like Beer?
No worries, if you are not a beer lover you can still have fun at the Oktoberfest. For you, there are several non-beer drinks here like wine, champagne, Prosecco (an Italian white wine), soft drinks, and energy drinks.
What Country Has The Best Beer In The World?
Belgium is the best beer producer in the world. It has a rich heritage of traditional beer production and is popular for having a variety of beer styles.
