Updated for 2022

Happy fall, hops fans! Along with the pumpkin-spiced glory that fall brings, it’s also finally Oktoberfest season!  If you are lucky enough to attend this year, Prost! If not, here is a little history and how to build your own Oktoberfest with some of the same celebrated charms.

How the Magic Started

The very first Oktoberfest, held in October of 1810, was actually part of a 5-day wedding celebration for Bavaria’s then Crown Prince Ludwig and his new wife, Princess Therese. Since then, crowds have returned to the Theresienwiese fairgrounds year-after-year to get their fill of German beer, food, and culture. While the Munich festival’s start date has since shifted into September to allow for better weather conditions, it is now the largest festival of its kind, and the Oktoberfest spirit has caught on with brewers and beer fans around the world.

How to Handle your Oktoberfest FOMO

Get ready to throw a proper beer fest in the comfort of your own home with these tips. Major bonus points if your DIY Oktoberfest is part of your wedding a la Bavarian royalty – we want pictures! #lifegoals

Prep some Classic German Foods: Ready to think beyond pretzels and sauerkraut? Serve up some German potato salad – made with a lot of vinegar, hold the mayo – and a batch of beer brats with spicy mustard on the side. Be sure to finish the feast with some apple strudel or yummy gingerbread!

Build a Party Playlist: Help set the party mood for a Theresienwiese-worthy festival with this playlist of fan favorites of all types. Lederhosen optional. Bonus: Paulaner created an Oktoberfest Spotify playlist that features classics to party hits to help set the atmosphere.

Grab Some Oktoberfest beers: Here’s where we are FILLED to the brim with ideas. Our recommendation is to aim for a beer fest style variety. Read on for some tasty brews we adore!

Straight Out of Germany

Want to serve up the most authentic German Oktoberfest beer you can find? Check out these classics out for a solid DIY fest flight.

  • Ayinger Oktoberfest
  • Weihenstaphaner Oktoberfestbier
  • Erdinger Oktoberfest
  • Hofbrau Oktoberfest
  • Paulaner Oktoberfest
  • Paulaner Weisn Bier
  • Spaten Oktoberfest
Bavarian-Style Beers to Stock your Oktoberfest Bar

While these brews may not hail from Munich, each one is a solid ode to the Oktoberfest style of beer.

  • Altstadt Oktoberfest
  • Avery The Kaiser
  • Breckenridge Brewery Oktoberfest
  •  Brooklyn Oktoberfest
  • Odell Oktoberfest
  • Real Ale Oktoberfest
  • Karbach Karbachtoberfest
  • Victory Festbier
  • Saint Arnold Oktoberfest
  • Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest
  • Goose Island Oktoberfest
  • Tupps Brewery McKinney Oktoberfest
  • Left Hand Oktoberfest Marzen
  • Founders Oktoberfest
  • Wild Acre Mondlift Oktoberfest

We hope you enjoy your Oktoberfest celebrations – feel free to share photos tagged with #HDOktoberfest! Prost!

Sources:
oktoberfest.de/en/
craftbeer.com/styles/german-style-marzen-oktoberfest
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oktoberfest