When it’s almost heaven, West Virginia, blue ridge mountains 🏔️ and Shenandoah River you’re craving, then look no further than the blue can of Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier 🍺 . This golden lager is the original and authentic beer of the Munich Oktoberfest, brewed by Paulaner since 1818. It is the closest you can get to the Oktoberfest grounds meadow without a plane ticket. Most people even call it liquid gold 🥇 , as it is a rare and precious treat that is only available for a limited time each fall season.
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier is a bottom-fermented lager that has a rich and malty taste, balanced by a light hop bitterness. It has an alcohol content of 6% ABV and a medium body. The color is a bright and clear gold, with a creamy white head. The aroma is sweet and grainy, with hints of bread, honey, and caramel. The flavor is smooth and refreshing, with notes of biscuit, toast, and nuts. The finish is crisp and dry, leaving you wanting more and more.
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier is not to be confused with Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen, which is a darker and stronger amber lager that was traditionally brewed in March and stored until September for the Oktoberfest. The Märzen style was developed more than 200 years ago to celebrate the original Munich Oktoberfest. However, in the early 1970s, Paulaner introduced a new lighter and more drinkable lager for the festival, which became known as Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier. This style appealed to the attendees and by the 1990s all the beer served at the Oktoberfest was festbier and Märzen had been officially replaced.
One of the secrets behind the quality and taste of Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier is the water that is used to brew it. Munich water is high in temporary hardness and well suited for dark lagers such as Munich Dunkel, Schwarzbier or Doppelbock. Because of its high residual alkalinity, this water profile is not recommended for Munich Helles or Maibock. However, Paulaner has found a way to adjust the water chemistry to make it ideal for their Oktoberfest Bier. They use a process called decarbonation, which involves boiling or adding slaked lime to reduce the alkalinity of the water. This lowers the pH of the mash and enhances the flavor and stability of the beer.
Another factor that makes Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier special is that it conforms to the Purity Law (German Reinheitsgebot) of 1516, which requires that all German beers be brewed with nothing more than barley, hops, and water. This law ensures that no artificial additives or preservatives are used in the brewing process, resulting in a natural and pure product. Moreover, Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier follows the Munich city law that prohibits only beer brewed in Munich to be served at Oktoberfest. This law guarantees that only six Munich breweries are official participants in the festival, namely: Löwenbräu, Spaten, Augustiner-Bräu, Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu, Hofbräu-München and Paulaner. These breweries also produce different styles of beer for the festival (but some of these can be hard to find), such as Helles (pale lager), Dunkel (dark lager), Weißbier (wheat beer), Radler (beer mixed with lemonade), and Alkoholfrei (non-alcoholic beer).
Drinking Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier is not just a sensory experience, but also a very Bavarian cultural one. With every sip, you can hear polka music playing in your ears, smell roasted meats and pretzels in your nose, and it all coalesces as a Bavarian symphony for your taste 👅 buds. Hence, this beer transports you back to a time of Munich at Oktoberfest, where Country Roads is playing every other three songs.
Country Roads is not just a song 🎶 sung about West Virginia; it is also an unofficial anthem of Oktoberfest in Munich. The song became popular among German fans in the 1970s when Denver performed it at his concerts in Germany. Since then, it has been adopted as a sing-along favorite at Oktoberfest events, as well as other occasions such as soccer matches and festivals. Soon after this song is played and sang by everyone, table standing and Prousting is an absolute musst! Maybe the song resonates with local Germans because it expresses a longing for home, nature, and simplicity, but it’s just Dam proud to be an American and hear 👂 foreigners in their Land go nuts 🥜 over it. Therefore, you could say it creates a sense of unity and Christian joy among people of the whole world 🌍 who share a common love for Beir 🍺 and merrymaking!
If you want to experience the Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier at its best, you should visit the Paulaner Festzelt at the Oktoberfest. The Paulaner Festzelt is a large and modern tent that can accommodate up to 10,000 people (so make a Reserviert!) It has a clear view of the band and the hustle and bustle from any seat, and a south-facing outdoor area where you can enjoy the sun. The Paulaner Festzelt is also the first tent to have a central beer supply via an underground loop, which ensures a fast and smooth service of up to 15 pours per tap in one minute. The Paulaner Festzelt was formerly known as the Winzerer Fähndl, which was the first large beer castle at Oktoberfest in 1895 and started the evolution of small beer stands becoming the large beer tents we know today. After the acquisition of Thomasbräu by Paulaner, the Winzerer Fähndl became Paulaner’s brewery tent.
The tent is operated by Arabella Schörghuber, who is also a member of the Paulaner Foundation that owns 51% of the brewery. The tent attracts many regular guests, including FC Bayern players and other celebrities. The music is provided by Die Nockherberger and Die Bischofswiesener, two of the oldest and most traditional Oktoberfest bands. The menu offers a variety of Bavarian and Munich delicacies, from snacks to stews. And of course, the star of the show is the Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, which is served in one-liter steins with the iconic JW logo. The Paulaner Festzelt does not serve the Märzen style anymore, but only the festbier style that is lighter and more drinkable.
And again, this is all nice to know about the Beir of the tent but you can’t get to drink one ☝️ unless you have a seat 💺 at Der Tisch (the table). So make a Reserviert (Reservation) to the tent that can hold 10,000 people! And believe me, it will be full when you want to drink at 11am in the morning German time.
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier has a loyal fan base both inside and outside Munich. In fact, it is one of the most popular German beers in the world, especially in the United States, where it is widely distributed and enjoyed. However, in Munich itself, Paulaner faces a strong competition from another local brewery: Augustiner-Bräu. Augustiner is Munich’s oldest and most traditional brewery, founded by monks in 1328. It is also the only one of the six Oktoberfest breweries that still uses wooden barrels to store and serve its beer. Augustiner has a reputation for being a retro-hip brewery that rejects mass advertising and relies on word-of-mouth and quality to attract customers. Many Munich residents prefer Augustiner over Paulaner, claiming that it has a better taste and freshness. According to a survey conducted by the Munich newspaper Abendzeitung in 2019, Augustiner was the most popular beer brand in Munich, followed by Paulaner.
Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier is a beer that honors the history and tradition of the Oktoberfest, while also adapting to the modern tastes and preferences of the beer lovers. It is a beer that can be enjoyed by everyone, whether you are at the festival or at home. It pairs well with German cuisine, such as sausages, pretzels, roast pork, and cheese. It is also a great beer to share with friends and family, as it creates a festive and cheerful atmosphere.
At Seelos Brauhaus, we worship Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier every year. We believe that it is the best representation of the Oktoberfest spirit and culture. We invite you to join us in celebrating this amazing beer and experience the unique Oktoberfest feeling.
Prost! 🍻
- Dan Weimer – Brewmaster, Oktoberfest Tour Guide & Co-Founder
Blessed Fr. Seelos, Pray for Us!
