Weihenstephaner Festbier

 Weihenstephaner Festbier.

5.8 % ABV, 26 IBU. Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Freising, Bavaria, Germany.

I have to come straight out and admit something to one and all. My understanding of the different types of "Oktoberfest" beers has been a bit slow to come to full fruition. I haven't had a solid handle on the Festbier style until recently. Here in America, when we hear of an Oktoberfest bier, we sort of expect it to be in the Märzen style, deep amber, rich and malty. We never pause for a second to think any Festbier offering might be a lighter, golden lager. Though the Märzen was the official style of the Munich celebration of the harvest for over a hundred years, the Festbier style is only about 30 years old, and is now the only version available at the actual event. When I look through the 43 posts here in the Nib labeled "Oktoberfest", only one appears to be in the Festbier style, and that is the one from Höfbrau. No, wait, also Sierra Nevada's 2016 collaboration with Mahr's. 

I have to admit that I was disappointed to find that this next beer that I am going to drink, from Weihenstephaner, is not a Märzen but a Festbier. I thought that since they are the world's oldest brewery, they ought to present a version of the style that's been around the longest. Never mind, let's just drink it...

Clear, bold yellow color, sizable white head, slims down swiftly. 

In the nose: Clean, faintly floral, slightly hoppy. touch of sweetness. 

In the mouth: Crisp, light, with delicate malt flavors. Clean and effortlessly downable. This is why the Festbier style replaced Märzen: because you can them back with greater ease, and remain in a celebratory mood, without worry. This one is just a little hoppier than your average lager, and just a little maltier, and quite tasty and refreshing. I could go for a couple, why not? 

A full rich bodied, hoppy, seasonal lager. Especially brewed for the Festbier season. This beer truly represents the Bavarian way of celebrating. Deep gold color, great mouthfeel and lots of flavor. Prost!

The Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan, founded in 1040, is the oldest continuously operating brewery in the world. Being owned by the Free State of Bavaria, it is run as a modern company brewing beers of the highest quality successfully selling them in more than 50 countries worldwide.