15 Oktoberfest Beers To Drink This Fall
No season is more conducive to drinking beer than the fall. To be clear, we love this drink any time of year, but there's just something in the air during the autumn — a certain je ne sais quoi that makes us yearn for the malted hops and barley-derived alcoholic beverage. Of course, when it comes to fall beer flavors, the choice almost inevitably comes down to two options: pumpkin or Oktoberfest.
For the uninitiated, an Oktoberfest beer — often anglicized as Octoberfest — is a lager-like German-style Märzen, according to CraftBeer.com. It is traditionally brewed in the spring ("Märzen" means "March" in German) but is withheld from consumption until the fall — generally, during Oktoberfest festivals. As a result, the beverage is closely associated with these yearly celebrations.
With Oktoberfest 2022 slated to begin in Munich, Germany this month, there's no better time to indulge in one of the many phenomenal Oktoberfest beers for sale this fall. To help celebrate the festival like you're there, we've compiled a list of 15 of the best American-brewed Oktoberfest beers currently available. So grab yourself a stein, and toast the season along with us. Próst!
Samuel Adams Octoberfest (5.3% ABV)
If you've only tried one craft-brewed Oktoberfest beer in the past, there's a decent chance it was from Samuel Adams. It is not only one of the more widely available craft brands in the U.S., but according to the company, a third of all beers consumed during the autumn happens to be their very own Octoberfest.
Now, we can't exactly vouch for that claim — we're simply the messenger for their declaration. But we can tell you this Octoberfest variety is a delightful experience for your palate, with a slightly lighter flavor than some may expect. The beer was less filling than other Märzen lagers we've tried, and with a reasonable 5.3% ABV (or alcohol by volume), the risk you'll end up under the influence too quickly is greatly reduced.
Samuel Adams Octoberfest is available seasonally in just about any format. Depending on your location, this beer can be found on tap, in its own case of bottles or cans, or as part of the brewery's seasonal Sweater Weather variety pack.
Harpoon Octoberfest (5.3% ABV)
While Boston Beer Company's Samuel Adams brand may be more widely known across the U.S., Harpoon Brewery easily stands as one of the original craft beer brewers in the city. After all, according to its website, Harpoon was issued brewing permit No. 001 by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1986 — not Boston Beer Company. Given this, it's likely no surprise the nearly four-decade-old business produces a top-notch Octoberfest beer.
First brewed by the company in 1989, the drink is actually the second-oldest specialty seasonal beer produced. A spin on the traditional Märzen lager served in Germany (per Harpoon), this beverage is an excellent choice for this year's Oktoberfest — as well as for the entire fall season.
As the 21st best-selling craft brewery in the U.S. in 2021 (via Craft Brewing Business), Harpoon clearly knows what it's doing when it comes to quality. It may use the Americanized spelling of Octoberfest, but after tasting this Märzen lager, you'll have no doubts about its great taste.
Jack's Abby Copper Legend Octoberfest (5.7% ABV)
Jack's Abby is fairly unique within the craft brewing industry. After all, the brand doesn't produce various beer types; instead, it brews lagers — and "only lagers" (via Jack's Abby). Of course, this distinction hardly narrows the scope of the business' creative approach or abilities regarding the alcoholic beverage, something readily apparent upon the first sip of its Oktoberfest beer, Copper Legend.
Like most of the lagers made by the Framingham, Massachusetts-based craft brewery, Copper Legend delivers exactly what it promises. According to the company's website, it is brewed with noble hops and was a delightfully smooth, light-tasting beer in our experience.
If you're looking for that Oktoberfest taste without leaving the U.S., you'll never be let down by this variety. Its reddish hue — like copper, hence the name — also provides a pleasant aesthetic appearance when poured. Though, as we can vouch, the beer tastes wonderful, no matter how you drink it.
Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest (5.5% ABV)
Named for the mountain range surrounding its first brewery in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada has been a leader in U.S. craft brewing since 1980 (via Sierra Nevada). Given its lengthy tenure in business — and the fact it was the third best-selling craft brand in the U.S. in 2021 (per Brewers Association) — it's only logical the company would produce a seasonal Oktoberfest offering alongside its usual products.
The self-styled amber Märzen contains what the brand's website describes as "inviting aromas of honey and ... flavors of caramel and graham cracker." Unfortunately, we couldn't verify that those exact flavors were present in this Oktoberfest variety. Still, having tried numerous other beers brewed by Sierra Nevada, we're apt to believe it tends to deliver what it promises.
Frankly, we can't see any reason not to take Sierra Nevada at its word. With that in mind, don't hesitate to grab an Oktoberfest beer from the business this fall. We're sure you won't regret it.
Yuengling Oktoberfest (5.3% ABV)
Yuengling is "America's Oldest Brewery," as its website so proudly and consistently declares, with a legacy stretching back to 1829. In other words, a successful track record of nearly two centuries should assuage any concerns if you're wondering whether the Pottsville, Pennsylvania-based company's Oktoberfest beer is worth purchasing.
Brewing a classic Märzen style lager, Yuengling's Oktoberfest appears fairly comparable to other options included on this list. A moderately sweet lager that's not inherently heavy, it also has an ABV on the lower end for Oktoberfest beers — meaning you can enjoy several casual rounds without falling under the influence. Additionally, according to Yuengling, the brewer uses Tettnang and Hallertau hops (presumably imported from Germany) in its brewing process, which only improves the odds you'll enjoy this variety.
The oldest brewery in the U.S. may not be the largest, nor are its products sold in stores in all 50 states (as of 2022). However, its long-standing tradition of producing delicious beers more flavorful than the mass-produced variety proves Barney Stinson was wrong: new is not always better.
Founders Oktoberfest (6% ABV)
At first glance, the Oktoberfest beer sold by Founders Brewing Co. appears remarkably similar to most others on the market. The company describes it as a "German-style Märzen" with the same amber-ish hue seen in countless other Oktoberfest beers. But Founders does have one feather in its cap that other craft breweries may be missing: Its variety is fully compliant with Reinheitsgebot — a strict set of rules regarding domestic German beer that stretches back 500 years (via BBC).
Introduced in 1516, Reinheitsgebot is designed to ensure a certain level of purity and benchmark is met for all beer produced in Germany. We couldn't exactly verify the authenticity of Founders' claim for reaching the German standard. But the website does note it uses ingredients directly imported from the country in the production of its Oktoberfest beer, which lends it some credibility.
The brand's Oktoberfest seems to be one of the heavier drinks on this list, with a 6% ABV. But if this is of no concern to you, you'll be well-suited to grab a six-pack of this seasonal beverage.
Bell's Oktoberfest (5.5% ABV)
The story of Bell's Brewery sounds a lot like other successful craft breweries in existence. First started as a personal hobby in the early 1980s, founder Larry Bell produced his first batches of beer with a soup pot in his kitchen (via Bell's). Eventually, though, a craft brewing giant grew from those humble beginnings. So, it's no wonder the sixth-best selling craft brewery in the U.S. in 2021 (via Craft Brewing Business) makes an Oktoberfest beer for the fall season.
Frankly, Bell's Oktoberfest sounds remarkably similar to other Märzen lagers brewed for this time of year. With a mildly sweet, toasty malt flavor profile (via Bells), it seems like the brand wasn't interested in rocking the boat with its Oktoberfest variety. But why would it? After all, consumers expect a certain taste from an Oktoberfest. If Bell's main goal was to provide a high-quality product that satisfied that expectation, no one could argue with its logic.
There's something to be said for a product simply seeking to satisfy a consumer's craving. Bell's may not be the flashiest choice — indeed, its packaging is by far the simplest on this list — but you'll never be disappointed when you crack one open.
Narragansett Fest (5.5% ABV)
A craft brewery founded by a group of German immigrants in 1890, Narragansett Beer has a long association with Oktoberfest beer — one befitting a company that previously featured a statue of King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer, at its brewery (via Narragansett Beer). Along those lines, it makes sense that it — the brand of choice for Captain Quint in the classic thriller, "Jaws" – produces a rich and flavorful Märzen lager for the season with its Fest beer.
This shorter-named Oktoberfest beer (with an image of King Gambrinus plastered on the can) contains similar notes as other Oktoberfests on the market. To be clear, that's not a bad thing since you're more likely to enjoy an Oktoberfest that meets your expectations. Described as featuring toasty malts and crisp hops flavor, we can say, from experience, that Fest easily fulfills that fall beer craving for anyone lucky enough to come across it.
Interestingly enough, the brewery actually stopped producing its Oktoberfest variety for several years during the 2010s before fan outcry led to its reintroduction in 2017. Thankfully for us, the company has continued to produce Fest every year since then — and fingers crossed, it does so into the future.
Leinenkugel Oktoberfest (5.1% ABV)
When it comes to Leinenkugel, we tend to think of its light and refreshing summer shandies before all others. But the craft brewery does more than just warm weather-friendly beers, as evidenced by the Oktoberfest beer it brews and sells each fall. Actually, Leinenkugel's variety fits perfectly with our preconceived notions of the brewery (that it mainly produces less-filling, more-crushable drinks) since it just so happens to brew the beer with the lowest ABV on this list.
Another traditional Märzen-style lager, as described on the brand's website, the Leinenkugel Oktoberfest won't make you feel like you've swallowed a brick after drinking a few. With a similar toasted malt flavor as you'd find in most other Oktoberfest beers for sale, it's clear Leinenkugel didn't try to reinvent the wheel — making it a fantastic choice for folks interested in a lighter selection.
Considering it calls Oktoberfest "arguably the world's greatest festival," it's only appropriate that Leinenkugel brews a relevant beverage. Then again, since the brewery was founded by a German immigrant in 1867 (via Leinenkugel), we should expect nothing less.
Brooklyn Brewery Oktoberfest (5.5% ABV)
The second beer on this list is under the Brooklyn Brewery umbrella. A Märzen lager from the New York-based craft outfit, the brand's Oktoberfest offering hits many of the timeless notes one expects from the German-inspired beer.
According to its website, Brooklyn Oktoberfest has a respectable ABV of 5.5% and contains flavor notes of "sweet, bready malts." In our estimation, this indicates the company likely aimed to produce a beverage anyone could recognize and enjoy — which sounds like a worthy endeavor all around.
It may not be the most memorable beer in the world, but if you're looking for a dependable Oktoberfest for this year's celebration, consider Brooklyn Oktoberfest's entry into the game. Since it's available in 34 states as of 2021 (via Brewbound), chances are good you can find a six-pack in a store near you.
Tröegs Oktoberfest (6.1% ABV)
Tröegs Oktoberfest is a brand new addition to the seasonal market in 2022, which may explain why the brewery hired German artist, David Leutert, to design the new beer's label. After all, anything to help stand out in an already crowded field is always welcome. Hoping to evoke the feel of the fall celebration, Leutert was "highly inspired by the entrance of those big festival beer tents," as he stated to the brand in 2022 (via Tröegs). Frankly, the move paid off, because if you're aiming to purchase an Oktoberfest beer with the most visually dazzling label, look no further than Tröegs.
The craft brewery appeared mainly interested in providing a people-pleasing lager with its Oktoberfest beverage, which comes with a higher-than-average 6.1% ABV. Described by co-founder John Trogner as "one of (its) simplest recipes," there's little reason to suspect the Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company was unsuccessful with that goal — or to doubt the label's promise of the drink tasting toasty, crisp, and festive.
If you're lucky enough to spot the playfully illustrated beer stein on a pack of Tröegs at your local liquor store, do yourself a favor and buy it. We guarantee you'll be satisfied and ready for Oktoberfest in no time.
Zero Gravity Oktoberfest (5.4% ABV)
Zero Gravity isn't so-named because it was the first beer consumed by astronauts in space, but that doesn't mean its craft beers aren't consistently out of this world. In fact, though we weren't surprised, we must admit we were over the moon (our apologies for the painful puns!) to discover the Burlington, Vermont-based craft brewery produces an Oktoberfest beer, as well as a non-alcoholic version with the Rescue Club Oktoberfest (via Zero Gravity).
Another Märzen lager modeled after the traditional German beer, the craft brewery's Oktoberfest is made entirely with ingredients imported from the European nation, according to Zero Gravity. The use of these German-grown malts and hops during the brewing process, along with a longer-than-average aging stage, delivers a final product that anyone would be lucky to sip.
While we haven't had the pleasure of sampling Zero Gravity Oktoberfest, having tasted other beers by the brewery, we're certain drinking its Oktoberfest will be nothing but a pleasure.
Avery Brewing The Kaiser (8% ABV)
You may have noticed a trend among the Oktoberfest beers featured on this list when it comes to ABV. After all, most entries range between 5% and 6%, which is an exceedingly reasonable alcohol level for the casual beer drinker. However, The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest lager from Avery Brewing makes the rest of the choices here seem like session beers by comparison, with its ABV coming in at 8% (via Avery Brewing).
The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest differentiates itself from the pack beyond its higher alcohol content, though. Describing its beer as having a "massive malty backbone," Avery Brewing appeared to take a more-is-more approach to The Kaiser — seeking to amplify what's expected from each attribute of an Oktoberfest beer.
Avery Brewing also stands out from the craft crowd by offering a homebrew recipe for The Kaiser, allowing aspiring brewers the chance to test their hand at this classic beer. Additionally, having won awards at the Great American Beer Festival, it's clear the brand's Imperial Oktoberfest beer is fit for a king. Or, more appropriately, a Kaiser.
Two Roads Ok2berfest (5.8% ABV)
We wouldn't fault anyone more familiar with Two Roads Brewing Company's other well-known fall beer — the pumpkin-flavored Roadsmary's Baby – compared to its Oktoberfest variety. The horror movie-inspired ale offers more bang for the buck ABV-wise than the (somewhat) cleverly-named Ok2berfest (5.8% versus 6.8% in Roadsmary's Baby). But anyone looking to drink a beer capable of mentally transporting them to the German festival should opt for the craft brewery's Märzen lager.
Actually, Two Roads chooses to describe its Ok2berfest as a Märzen-style lager on the label, though this doesn't mean its variety is all that unique. In fact, given the seasonal beer's description on its website, we'd expect it tastes more or less like a Märzen lager is supposed to taste.
Of course, we don't mean to diminish the quality or status of Two Roads or its Oktoberfest beer. Like every other craft brewery on this list, we've yet to be disappointed with one of its beverages. Given this track record, you're likely in for a treat with Ok2berfest, so don't hesitate to grab a can when you can.
Goose Island Oktoberfest (5.7% ABV)
To be honest, we've rarely looked at Goose Island Beer Company beyond its classic, always-delicious IPA. Maybe it's the fact the Chicago, Illinois-based brewery was sold to Anheuser-Busch in 2011 (via Goose Island), making it a subsidiary of the international conglomerate — and slightly reducing its craft credentials in the process. However, upon further thought, that point of view seems a bit pretentious: If your only option for an Oktoberfest beer is Goose Island, you're still likely in for a treat.
Like other drinks on this list, Goose Island brews a Märzen lager as a seasonal beverage. The brand's website indicates the beer includes flavor notes of "freshly baked rye bread" with each sip. It is also brewed using Hallertau hops, one of the so-called noble hops (via Craft Beer and Brewing).
We can admit holding Goose Island's no-longer-independent status against it is unfair. If nothing else, having been sold in all 50 states as of 2012 (via Chicago Tribune), the craft brewery provides a tasty Oktoberfest option for beer drinkers in more remote regions of the country.