Written by The Brew Club has reviewed a bunch of domestic and imported Oktoberfest beers over the past two years – so many in fact we had to create an Oktoberfest category on the site to keep track of them all!
We’ve found that, for the most part Oktoberfest beers aren’t always all that great. Check out Bob’s recent reviews of Spaten Oktoberfest and Lowenbrau Oktoberfest. Both classic German brews, but nothing to really write home about.
On the other hand, I really enjoyed the Paulaner Oktoberfest and the Beck’s take on the style. One never knows!
Thinking I was all Oktoberfested out, and finished trying them for the year, sure enough something catches my eye at the local purveyor of beer. Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen. As we’ve seen, the German Oktoberfests can be very hit or miss – “should I buy it?” I thought… Then I saw the bottle cap (scroll down a bit to see it) and just had to! What the hell. Plus, according to the label it’s an ‘Authentic Bavarian Festival Lager’ – who can resist?
The Ayinger Oktoberfest is a 5.6% ABV lager from the Franz Inselkammer Brauerei located in Aying, Germany. The 500ml bottle was $3.99 + tax so it didn’t break the bank, and what’s more it has that ‘Protected Geographical Indication logo on the label…how can you not buy it? It’s got Protected Geographical Indication man! That and the cool cap.
As you can see in the picture, the Ayinger Oktoberfest looks much like most Marzens do, very clear, medium amber with a decent off-white head. The smell, again not really surprising to anyone who has had a German Marzen is more on the malty side, and there is that sweet distinctive bready smell that is just very appealing. Still, nothing stood out as a dominant component of the aroma – very well balanced I’d say.
Taking a sip of the Ayinger Oktoberfest, I find a smile forming on my face. This particular German Oktoberfest is not so plain-jane as some others we’ve reviewed recently!
There’s a very nice malty flavor and really nice mouthfeel. This beer is smooth and not bitter more than just a ‘smidge’. I poured the heck out of this beer, so I probably eliminated most of the carbonation, but that’s cool, it went down smooth without bite or burn without any notable alcohol flavor.
The flavor really follows the aroma, mildly sweet and malty with a nice biscuty type of flavor. Weird, but I get a flavor of butter in there as well, especially in the aftertaste, (I’m sure it isn’t butter though!) and overall I think this particular German Oktoberfest is nicely balanced and very flavorful.
There seems to be just enough hop in the flavor to give balance , the malt 
does not get all the attention here. Malty, sweet, slightly hoppy. None of this beer’s components overpowers another – really nice harmony. What else can I say?
I hadn’t seen this brand – Ayinger before, but I am glad that I did and I’m glad that the little cute bottle cap swayed my purchasing decision! This was a very nice German Oktoberfest, (brewed in accordance to the Reinheitsgebot) and I think its probably the best of the Germans I’ve had so far this year. I’d even say that the Ayinger Oktoberfest bests the Beck’s Oktoberfest which was also really good – but a little maltier I think. I’ll need to revisit the Paulaner Oktoberfest at some point as well which was lats year’s favorite – I gave that a killer rating, but I’ve tried a lot of Oktoberfests since then. Still…
I liked the balance of this beer, and that’s what did it for me.
Overall, the Ayinger Oktoberfest was a really easy-to-drink and enjoyable German Marzen. If you like German Marzens, look for the cutesy bottle cap and give it a try! You might have a new favorite too!
I’m giving this sucker 4 stars!
Rating: 
What’s your favorite German Marzen?
This just makes me want Oktoberfest beers. Lubbock still doesn’t have any!
.-= Nate´s last blog ..BR #30 Skinny Dip =-.
I have always wanted to try this one but never got around to it. I’ll pick it up next time I hit the store.
.-= Mike´s last blog ..Coney Island Lager =-.
Its a good ‘un Mike. Check it out of you can!
.-= Scott-TBC´s last blog ..Rock Art Brewery and the Monster =-.
Heya Guys,
I have recently stumbled across the site and very much enjoy the shared mentality towards the good drink.
I particularly wanted to comment on this post as I believe you’ve discovered the divide here between the traditional Märzen and the Oktoberfestbier.
Much like your Ayinger review, a good Märzen should have a balanced approach to the Hops/Malty flavours. The bier should be stronger but not be overpowered by the alcohol. So yes completely agree with your Ayinger review.
What I wanted to add is that Ayinger (like Paulaner) actually has a Märzen in their regular line-up, thus when they brew their Oktoberfestbier they tend to lean on their strengths. However they don’t brew a bier that is served during the festivities (unlike Paulaner).
If you look at some of the bigger brands such as Löwenbräu, they don’t actually brew Märzen in the day-to-day selection. Rather it’s a special concoction for the ‘fest. Because of the larger houses providing more and more of the bier to the tents you can see that the current typical Oktoberfestbier is generally paler and it can be said somewhat similar in style to pils…..somewhat. I do believe that it’s a closer relative of the traditional Märzen, but it’s a specific type for the event, rather than a concentrated specialty.
So that’s my 2 cents….. Oh and I wanted to add that if you want to try the best of the Oktoberfestbier, get your hands on (if you can) Augustiner Bräu festbier. It really is the smoothest of the biers on sale in the tents.
Keep up the good work guys.
Hey Nate, thanks for stopping in and leaving a great comment! I’ve had a lot of Oktoberfests, and now I learn there is even a distinction among that variety! How deep the rabbit hole goes!
Bob recently reviewed the Lovenbrau Oktoberfest, (link below) and he had the same sentiments as you. He actually felt is wasn’t all that much different than their regular brew, and that it had changed for the worse over the decades.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Löwenbräu Oktoberfest Bier =-.
I don’t believe this is an oktoberfest beer. Yes, marzen. Only beers brewed within the Munich city limits are allowed at Oktoberfest.
None-the-less, probably one of the best Fest beers I had this year.
.-= Simply Beer´s last blog ..Farnum Hill Semi-Dry Cider =-.
You’re correct but I think that limitation of the concept is kinda lame. Besides, many of the ‘real’ Oktoberfests seem to be a little weak – Spaten and Lowenbrau come to mind. I agree though, its the best German Marzen I’ve had this year.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Spaten Oktoberfest Beer =-.
I’m so far behind this year. i had my first fest bier of the season on Sunday, a Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest. It may not be the best, but it put me in the mood for more fest biers! I think it’ll be fun catching up. I’ll keep an eye peeled for this Ayinger.
.-= Jim´s last blog ..A Man of My Word! =-.
At the risk of moving the discussion slightly, Ayingerbrau is the name used by the well respected Samuel Smiths brewery in Yorkshire for their UK brewed lager.
And as for Protected Geographical Indication – Scottish and Newcastle deliberately REMOVED the protected status from Newcastle Brown Ale so that they could move the brewing over the Tyne from Newcastle to Gateshead, and now to Yorkshire.
.-= Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Old Money =-.
Bob that’s interesting. Odd name for a British lager? I guess if Windsor can be German then Ayingerbrau can be British!
Re: Scottish and Newcastle – Makes sense I guess, – you had recently posted about how they wanted to shut down the brewery to consolidate. (Link to post below)
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..When the music stops… =-.
In the sixties and seventies many British breweries – in the old days – gave their domestically brewed lagers European sounding names to make them sound more ‘authentic’. Britons were starting to travel to Europe on vacation and returning with a taste for the new light beers they had discovered on their travels.
For example we had ‘Hofmeister’ lager from Newcastle and the Greenall Whitley brewery in Warrington brewed ‘Grunhalle’.
Even today the best selling lagers in the UK are Carling Black Label (orginally Canadian), Fosters (Australian) and Stella Artois (French) – all brewed in the UK.
And as for Windsor being German, the House of Windsor were actually the Battenburgs, and took their name from Windsor Castle during the first world war to avoid any confusion as to which side they were on!
.-= Bob the Brit´s last blog ..Old Money =-.
@Bob the Brit – re: the Windsors – right you are! I actually knew that, but it didn’t come across all that well in my comment. Thanks for the clarification.
Regarding the beer names – how odd. I guess back then it was the trend, but I’d think that British beers can hold their own against anyone. “Clever” marketing I suppose to take advantage of the latest trends I guess. Thanks for sharing that.
.-= Scott-TheBrewClub´s last blog ..Löwenbräu Oktoberfest Bier =-.
Your beer review was featured as the Random review on SixPackTech.com.
Thanks.
FCG
If you like the Ayinger Octoberfest, you should try the Ayinger Kirta-Halbe. I love the Octoberfest, but the Kirta-Halbe is the best Marzen I’ve ever had. Even better than the Paulaner. A complete treat.
@Dave – Thanks for the tip! I don’t think I’ve had an Ayinger beer I didn’t like, so I’ll look for it to try.