Not sure which of these to grab first? Our budget vs splurge guide and non-alcoholic roundup break down the budget, splurge, session and Munich-import picks in more detail.
Oktoberfest in Munich only lets six breweries call their beer “Oktoberfestbier”: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, and Spaten. Everything else, from Samuel Adams to the six-pack at your local grocery store, is brewed in the same Marzen tradition without the trademark name. Both camps are worth drinking. We have rounded up 30 real Oktoberfest and Marzen releases, all six Munich originals plus 24 widely available German and American versions, ranked from the festival originals to the easiest bottles to actually find, based on each brewery’s own published data and real Untappd community ratings.
1. Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
| Brewery | Paulaner Brauerei, Munich |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.8% |
One of the six true Munich Oktoberfest breweries and the best-selling Oktoberfest beer worldwide. A classic deep amber Marzen with toasty malt and a clean, dry finish.
2. Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen
| Brewery | Brauerei Ayinger, Aying, Bavaria |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.8% |
Brewed just outside Munich rather than inside city limits, so it isn’t one of the official six, but it’s routinely rated among the best Marzens available in the US for its balance of caramel malt and a light, dry hop finish.
3. Samuel Adams Octoberfest
| Brewery | Boston Beer Company, USA |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.3% |
The most widely available American Marzen, brewed with Munich malt and German Tettnang and Hallertau hops. Rated “Good” (83) on BeerAdvocate and the easiest of this list to actually find in a US grocery store.
4. Spaten Marzen Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Spaten-Franziskaner-Brau, Munich |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.9% |
Spaten claims the oldest version of this style, first brewed for Oktoberfest in 1872, and is one of the six official Munich Oktoberfest breweries. BeerAdvocate reviewers describe a deep copper-to-brown color with toasted malt, caramel, and a classic old-school German lager character.
5. Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier
| Brewery | Staatliches Hofbrauhaus, Munich |
| Style | Festbier |
| ABV | 6.3% |
The strongest beer on this list and one of the six official Oktoberfest breweries, first brewed for the festival in 1812. Hofbrau’s own description promises “aromas of light caramel, dried fruits, figs, honey, grapefruit,” with a fuller body than Sam Adams’ or Paulaner’s versions.
6. Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen
| Brewery | Hacker-Pschorr Brau, Munich |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.8% |
One of the six official Munich Oktoberfest breweries, brewing a traditional Marzen since the 19th century. Untappd rates it 3.69, among the highest of the Munich six.
7. Lowenbrau Oktoberfestbier
| Brewery | Lowenbrau, Munich (part of the Spaten-Franziskaner-Lowenbrau group) |
| Style | Festbier |
| ABV | 6.1% |
One of the six official Munich Oktoberfest breweries, founded in 1383. Its Oktoberfestbier is a golden, stronger take on the classic Festbier style, rated 3.35 on Untappd.
8. Augustiner Oktoberfestbier
| Brewery | Augustiner-Brau, Munich |
| Style | Festbier |
| ABV | 6.3% |
The oldest of the six official Munich Oktoberfest breweries (founded 1328) and, by most accounts, the hardest to actually find outside Bavaria. Augustiner rarely exports and is not currently listed on Saucey or other major US delivery apps; your best bet is a specialty German-import shop or the Munich festival itself.
9. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, California |
| Style | Festbier |
| ABV | 6% |
Sierra Nevada partners with a different German brewery each year to co-create its Oktoberfest; recent editions have been collaborations with breweries like Stortebeker Braumanufaktur. Rated 3.83 on Untappd for the most recent collaboration batch.
10. Weihenstephaner Festbier
| Brewery | Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, Freising |
| Style | Festbier |
| ABV | 5.8% |
Brewed by the world’s oldest continuously operating brewery (dating to 1040), just outside Munich. A full-bodied, hoppy Festbier at 26 IBU, rated 3.61 on Untappd.
11. Erdinger Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Erdinger Weissbrau, Erding, Bavaria |
| Style | Wheat Beer / Festweisse |
| ABV | 5.7% |
A Bavarian twist on the category: Erdinger’s version is a wheat beer (Festweisse) rather than a Marzen or Festbier lager. Rated 3.62 on Untappd.
Prefer wheat beers over Marzen lagers? See our Best Wheat Beers roundup for more picks in that style.
12. Warsteiner Marzen / Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Warsteiner Brauerei, Warstein |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.9% |
A well-balanced, mild German Marzen from the Warstein brewery, popular across Europe and one of the more widely exported German Oktoberfest beers. Rated 3.64 on Untappd.
13. Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest
| Brewery | Firestone Walker Brewing Company, Paso Robles, California |
| Style | Oak-Aged Lager |
| ABV | 5.2% |
A California take that leans into the brewery’s signature barrel-aging: this Oaktoberfest is matured in oak for a smooth, biscuity character. BeerAdvocate scores it 85 (“Very Good”).
14. Great Lakes Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, Ohio |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 6.5% |
One of the stronger American versions on this list, brewed with noble hops for a smooth, malt-forward profile. Rated 3.67 on Untappd.
15. Athletic Brewing Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Athletic Brewing Company, Stamford, Connecticut |
| Style | Non-Alcoholic Lager |
| ABV | 0.5% |
The non-alcoholic option on this list, for anyone who wants the malty Marzen flavor profile of the season without the alcohol. Rated 3.4 on Untappd.
16. Left Hand Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Left Hand Brewing Company, Longmont, Colorado |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 6.6% |
The strongest American craft version on this list, toasted and biscuity with a clean lager finish. Rated 3.59 on Untappd.
17. Odell Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Odell Brewing Co., Fort Collins, Colorado |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 6% |
A Colorado craft take on the Marzen style with a clean malt backbone. The 2025 batch is rated 3.75 on Untappd, among the highest-rated American versions here. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
18. Troegs Oktoberfest Lager
| Brewery | Troegs Independent Brewing, Hershey, Pennsylvania |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 6.1% |
A Pennsylvania craft Marzen with a 26 IBU hop bill for extra balance. Rated 3.79 on Untappd, one of the highest-rated American entries on this list. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
19. Bell’s Octoberfest
| Brewery | Bell’s Brewery, Comstock, Michigan |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.5% |
A flavorful, sessionable take on the style from one of Michigan’s best-known craft breweries. Rated 3.66 on Untappd.
20. Von Trapp Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Von Trapp Brewing, Stowe, Vermont |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.6% |
A full-bodied amber lager from Vermont’s Von Trapp Brewing, blending light and dark Munich malts. Rated 3.66 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
21. Flying Dog Dogtoberfest
| Brewery | Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Maryland |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.6% |
Brewed with 100% imported German ingredients for a full-bodied caramel and graham cracker sweetness. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
22. Golden Road Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Golden Road Brewing, Los Angeles, California |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.8% |
A California craft Marzen blending Vienna and Munich malts. Rated 3.63 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
23. Karbach Karbachtoberfest
| Brewery | Karbach Brewing Co., Houston, Texas |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.5% |
A Texas take on the traditional Marzen, brewed with Munich malt for a well-rounded profile. Rated 3.66 on Untappd.
24. Brooklyn Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Brooklyn Brewery, Brooklyn, New York |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.5% |
A classic Marzen lager from one of New York’s best-known craft breweries. Rated 3.5 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
25. Narragansett Fest Marzen Lager
| Brewery | Narragansett Brewing Company, Providence, Rhode Island |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.5% |
A New England seasonal Marzen from the historic Narragansett brand. Rated 3.48 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
26. Schell’s Oktoberfest
| Brewery | August Schell Brewing Company, New Ulm, Minnesota |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.8% |
A Minnesota Marzen from America’s second-oldest family-owned brewery, founded in 1860. Rated 3.63 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
27. Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest
| Brewery | Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.1% |
A widely-distributed Wisconsin Marzen, on shelves nationally from August through October. Rated 3.4 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
28. Devils Backbone Octoberfest
| Brewery | Devils Backbone Brewing Company, Roseland, Virginia |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 5.8% |
A Virginia craft Marzen from a brewery known for German-style lagers. Rated 3.63 on Untappd. Not currently confirmed on Saucey; check the brewery’s own site for availability.
29. Victory Festbier
| Brewery | Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, Pennsylvania |
| Style | Festbier |
| ABV | 5.6% |
Brewed with imported German Vienna and Munich malts for a true Festbier profile. Rated 3.49 on Untappd.
30. New Glarus Staghorn Octoberfest
| Brewery | New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, Wisconsin |
| Style | Marzen |
| ABV | 6.25% |
Rated 3.96 on Untappd, the highest score of any beer on this list, but only sold in Wisconsin since New Glarus famously does not distribute outside the state. Worth the trip if you’re nearby.
FAQs
What is the difference between Oktoberfest beer and Marzen?
Marzen is the traditional style (a malty amber lager historically brewed in March and lagered through summer). “Oktoberfestbier” or “Festbier” is legally restricted to the six Munich breweries allowed to serve at the actual festival: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbrau, Lowenbrau, Paulaner, and Spaten. Everything else, including Samuel Adams Octoberfest, is a Marzen-style beer rather than an official Oktoberfestbier.
What ABV are most Oktoberfest beers?
Typically 5.3% to 6.3% based on each brewery’s own published specs. American versions like Samuel Adams Octoberfest tend to sit at the lower end (5.3%), while the German Munich originals run higher, with Hofbrau’s Oktoberfestbier at 6.3%.
When can you buy Oktoberfest beer?
Most Oktoberfest/Marzen releases are seasonal, hitting shelves around August and disappearing by late October or November, timed to Munich’s actual Oktoberfest, which runs mid-September to the first Sunday in October.
Which Oktoberfest beer is easiest to find in the US?
Samuel Adams Octoberfest by a wide margin, since it’s distributed nationwide. Several others on this list, including Paulaner, Ayinger, Spaten, Hofbrau, Hacker-Pschorr, Erdinger, Warsteiner, Firestone Walker, Great Lakes, Athletic Brewing, Left Hand, Bell’s, Karbach, and Victory, are also confirmed available for delivery, with buy links above for each.
Looking for more Munich-brewed lager beyond the Marzen tents, see our Lowenbrau review, a Munich Helles-style lager from one of the same historic breweries.
Craving something sweeter and spiced instead of a crisp Marzen? Try our Pumking review.
