Ayinger Oktober Fest-Marzen

Review Date 10/16/2002 Last Updated 10/17/2014

Try? Re-buy?

Although Oktoberfest is now officially over in Germany (it ended on October 6th), it still lives on in the hearts (and taste buds) of beer drinkers everywhere. That’s because there are still a plethora of delicious, toasty-malty amber brews available to consumers. Many brewers now distribute their Oktoberfest beer widely, and one of those who does is the much respected Ayinger brewery of Aying, Germany.

The Ayinger brewery is not far from Munich, but not being one of the original Munich brewers it gets left out of the party when it comes to the annual Oktoberfest bash. Still, Ayinger brews a very respectable beer in the Vienna Marzen style (the style generally associated with Oktoberfest beer, though it is no longer the most popular style at the actual event.)

Ayinger October Fest-Marzen is seasonally brewed, and I wouldn’t recommend picking it up in mid-July. It’s a good idea to make sure you’re picking up a fresh supply; my local retailer had just erected a large display of gleaming half-liter brown glass bottles so I got several while the getting was good.

Ayinger brews a large line of beers including a wheat beer, dunkles, Pils, Helles, Maibock, doppelbock, and more. It has won numerous awards from the Beer Tasting Institute, including Small Brewery of the Year. In addition, Ayinger's beers have been awarded gold medals by the Deutschen Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, a craft industry group.

Ayinger October Fest-Marzen pours to a bright orange color with a sweet malty nose and a prodigious head formation. A gentle pour produced a good head from my bottle, so pour delicately. The palate is firm and malty with a light chewiness and toasty, nutty notes. There is an agreeable creaminess present and a subtle sweetness; the finish is balanced with a touch of bitterness. A very smooth and tasty Oktoberfest beer, to be sure.

But how does it stand up to other beers in the same style? Ayinger’s Fest beer is lighter in color, body, and flavor than Paulaner or Hacker-Pschorr, my two favorites this year. It is a bit more vivacious than Spaten’s version. Match it with roast pork or chicken as the perfect accompaniment. I enjoyed a bottle with boiled and fried bratwurst, buttered spatzel noodles, and sauerkraut.

Update 9/2/2013: This is GOOD. I have had it in the bottle many times but first time on draft (at Taco Mac tonight). Just amazing how nutty-toasty malty this beer is, so delicate yet so packed with malty melanoidin goodness. Balanced with just the right amount of grassy hop aroma and bitterness in the finish. Reasonable at $6.50 a pint.

Update 10/17/2014: This year I'm enjoying a bottle of Ayinger Oktoberfest in the bottle, as I normally do at this time of year. One of the best you can by for sure, and just $3.49 for the half liter bottle.

And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

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