A smooth, clean, pale German lager with a moderately strong malty flavor and a light hop character. Deftly balances strength and drinkability, with a palate impression and finish that encourages drinking. Showcases elegant German malt flavors without becoming too heavy or filling.
Moderate malty richness, with an emphasis on toasty-doughy aromatics and an impression of sweetness. Low to medium-low floral, herbal, or spicy hops. The malt should not have a deeply toasted, caramel, or biscuity quality. Clean lager fermentation profile.
Deep yellow to deep gold color; should not have amber hues. Bright clarity. Persistent white to off-white foam stand. Most commercial examples are pale gold in color.
Medium to medium-high malty flavor initially, with a lightly toasty, bread dough quality and an impression of soft malty richness. Medium to medium-low bitterness, definitely malty in the balance. Well-attenuated and crisp, but not dry. Medium-low to medium floral, herbal, or spicy hop flavor. Clean fermentation profile. The taste is mostly of Pils malt, but with slightly toasty hints. The bitterness is supportive, but still should yield a malty, flavorful finish.
Medium body, with a smooth, somewhat creamy texture. Medium carbonation. Alcohol strength barely noticeable as warming, if at all.
Majority Pils malt, but with some Vienna or Munich malt to increase maltiness. Differences in commercial examples are mostly due to different maltsters and yeast, not major grist differences.
Augustiner Oktoberfest, Hacker-Pschorr Superior Festbier, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier, Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier, Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier, Weihenstephaner Festbier
| Data | Min. | Max. |
|---|---|---|
| Original gravity | 1.054 | 1.057 |
| Final gravity | 1.010 | 1.012 |
| Bitterness | 18.0 IBU | 25.0 IBU |
| Color | 7.9 EBC | 11.8 EBC |
| Alcohol | 5.80 ° | 6.30 ° |