BJCP 4B · Pale Malty European Lager

Festbier

The golden lager served at Munich's Oktoberfest today: stronger than a Munich Helles, with rich bready malt and a clean, dry finish.

Festbier by the numbers

Alcohol (ABV): 5.8 – 6.3%on a scale of 2.0 to 14.0
Bitterness: 18 – 25 IBUon a scale of 0 to 100
Color: 4 – 6 SRM8–12 EBCon a scale of 1 to 40
Original gravity: 1.054 – 1.057on a scale of 1.026 to 1.130
Final gravity: 1.010 – 1.012on a scale of 0.990 to 1.040

From the palest to the darkest shade the style allows.

What Festbier is like

A golden lager with more body and alcohol than a Munich Helles, rich in bready malt, with just enough bitterness to keep it from getting cloying. Made for drinking by the liter at a festival.

Appearance

Deep gold to dark gold, very bright. Dense, long-lasting white head.

Aroma

Rich bready malt with a light toasty touch and low to medium floral or spicy hops. Clean, with no esters or diacetyl.

Flavor

Bready malt with light toastiness, restrained sweetness and medium bitterness for balance. The finish is more dry than sweet, and the alcohol is barely noticeable.

Mouthfeel

Medium body, smooth, medium carbonation. A slight warmth may be noticeable.

Where Festbier comes from

It's the beer Munich's breweries serve at Oktoberfest today, paler and lighter than traditional Märzen. The breweries began lightening the festival beer in the 1970s, and the golden version took over in the late 20th century.

Ingredients

Pilsner malt with a portion of Vienna or Munich malt. German noble hops and a clean German lager yeast.

Brew it yourself

How to brew Festbier at home

Start with pilsner malt plus 10-20% Vienna or Munich for the toasty touch without darkening it. Ferment at 9-11 °C (48-52 °F), do a diacetyl rest and lager cold for at least a month. Carbonate to 2.5 volumes; the typical mistake is a sweet, heavy beer from mashing too hot.

Food pairing

Pairs with roast chicken, pork knuckle or pretzels with mustard.

Glassware: beer mug (stein), big and with a handle, as in German and Czech beer halls.

Classic examples

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier
Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier
Augustiner Oktoberfest Bier

Frequently asked questions

How strong is Festbier?

Between 5.8% and 6.3% ABV, according to the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines. That is a high strength.

How bitter is Festbier?

It has 18 to 25 IBUs, a low bitterness. For reference, a mass-market lager is around 10 IBUs.

What color is Festbier?

Yellow to gold: 4 to 6 SRM (8 to 12 EBC).

What food pairs well with Festbier?

Pairs with roast chicken, pork knuckle or pretzels with mustard.

Which styles are similar?

If you like it, also try Märzen, Munich Helles and Helles Bock.

If you like Festbier, try these

BJCP 6A