Oktoberfest beer: Only from Munich breweries
Only beer from Munich breweries may be served on the Oktoberfest, as custom dictates. Already weeks before the starting signal for Oktoberfest, the breweries present their newly brewed Oktoberfest beer and increase the anticipation of the highlight of the year. We introduce the six breweries of the state capital allowed to fill the beer mugs of the Oktoberfest: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner und Spaten.
Augustiner: Munich’s oldest brewery
The monks of the Augustinian Order founded a brewery in 1328 that still exists today, and is the oldest brewery still existing within the Munich city limits. After privatization, Augustiner settled in Neuhauser Straße in 1817, where the Augustiner restaurant, popular with locals and tourists, is still located today. At the end of the 19th century, the headquarters and brewing facilities were moved to Landsberger Straße, where brewing continues to this day. The Augustiner Hell enjoys cult status in the bulbous half-liter bottle, with the also quite bulbous monk on the label. Oktoberfest has the 6.2% (2023) Augustiner Oktoberfest beer in the Augustiner Festzelt, in the Fischer Vroni, and in the Festzelt Tradition on the Oide Wiesn. There are also three small tents for Augustiner: the chicken and duck grill Ammer, the Wildstuben, and the Zur Bratwurst tent. The brewery is the only one still using the traditional 200-liter wooden barrels, the so-called Hirschen, for storage.
Hacker-Pschorr: Reunited since 1972
The brewery was first mentioned in a document in 1417 and was located in Sendlinger Straße, where today the restaurant “Altes Hackerhaus” is located. In the 18th century, under the couple Joseph Pschorr and Maria Theresia Hacker, it developed into Munich's leading brewery. Hacker and Pschorr were later continued by their sons as separate breweries, and have only been a common brand again since 1972. Today the brewery is located in the same premises as the Paulaner Brewery. Since 2007, the Hacker-Pschorr beer is sold again in the traditional bottles with swing stopper and “Plopp.” The beer at Oktoberfest, at 6.0% (2023), is available in the Hacker Festzelt, the Pschorr Festzelt Bräurosl, and in the Herzkasperl-Festzelt on the Oide Wiesn. The Fisch Bäda, the Heimer Enten- und Hühnerbraterei, and Poschner’s also offer Hacker-Pschorr.
Gallery: The big tents at the Oktoberfest
Hofbräu: The beer from the world-famous Hofbräuhaus
There is a Hofbräuhaus in Munich... In 1589, Hofbräu was founded under Wilhelm V as a ducal brewery, and the company has been run as a state-owned enterprise since 1939. The brewery was originally located in the middle of the city, where today the Hofbräuhaus am Platzl is one of Munich’s main tourist attractions. In the 19th century, due to lack of space, the company moved to Innere Wiener Straße, where the Hofbräukeller with one of Munich’s most beautiful beer gardens is still located today. Since the late 1980s, brewing has been carried out in Munich-Riem. At 6.2% (2023), Hofbräu is t one of the strongest of the Oktoberfest beers and is served in the Hofbräuzelt.
Löwenbräu: Beer from Nymphenburger Straße
The brewery probably began in the late 14th century, but the name Löwenbräu first appeared in the Munich beer brewing index in 1746. In the 19th century, the medium-sized company under the Brey family developed into the largest brewery in Munich and, due to its strong growth, moved to Nymphenburger Straße, where it is still located today. The Löwenbräukeller and its beer garden are famous for spectacular events such as Stout Beer Festivals or the Night of the Tracht. Since 2003, the Spaten-Franziskaner-Löwenbräu Group has belonged to the international brewing group InBev. The brand logo is of course a lion, which looks quite similar to the Bavarian heraldic animal. Every Oktoberfest visitor will also recognize the giant lion in front of the Löwenbräu-Festzelt, roaring “Löööö-weeeen-brääääu” and drinking beer, calling the thirsty onlookers towards him. The Löwenbräu-Wiesntrunk, at 6.1% alcohol (2023), is also available in the Schützen-Festzelt and in the small Haxnbraterei.
Paulaner: It all started with Brother Barnabas
The monks of the Paulaner Order served their first beer of their own in 1634, making Paulaner the youngest of the Munich breweries. At first, Paulaner beer was only served publicly during festivals; otherwise it was reserved for the monks. But soon the bock beer, based on a recipe by Brother Barnabas, enjoyed great popularity among all Munich beer drinkers. For a long time, the brewery’s head office was the Giesinger Nockherberg, in whose restaurant the annual Starkbierfest with the famous Politician Roast (teasing) takes place. Today, the breweries are located in Munich-Langwied. The Oktoberfest beer from Paulaner has 6.0% alcohol (2023) and is served in the Paulaner Festzelt, the Armbrustschützenzelt, the Käferzelt, the Kufflers Weinzelt (as wheat beer until 9 p.m.), the Heinz Wurst- und Hühnerbraterei, the Metzger Stubn, the Münchner Knödelei, and the Münchner Stubn.
Spaten: Inventor of the “Münchner Hell”
The Spaten brewery was founded in 1397 and was located in Neuhauser Gasse for its first few centuries. The brewery moved to Marsstraße in the 19th century, where at least the administration is still located today. Spaten deserves the honor of being the first brewery to bring the “Münchner Hell” (Munich Pale) to market in 1894 — a true bestseller to this day. Since 2003, the Spaten-Franziskaner-Löwenbräu Group has belonged to Interbrew, today InBev. Spaten and Franziskaner beer is available at Oktoberfest in the Schottenhamel-Zelt, where the mayor of Munich also celebrates the first tap every year. There’s also Spaten beer in the Marstall, in the Ochsenbraterei, at the Glöckle Wirt, at the Goldener Hahn, in the Kalbsbraterei, and in the Wirtshaus im Schichtl; you can drink Franziskaner wheat beer in the Feisinger’s Kas- und Weinstubn. The Oktoberfest beer has 5.9% alcohol (2023).
With letter and seal from the EU
Since 2022, Oktoberfest beer is holding the European Union’s “Protected Geographical Indication” seal of origin. This guarantees, that Oktoberfest beer is brewed exclusively in Munich according to its specification and is the beer that will be served at the Munich Oktoberfest. This confirms and protects across the EU what the Munich Breweries Association has always been committed to: Oktoberfest beer is the result of a unique interplay of local brewing and festival culture that can only exist in Munich. Wherever you enjoy your Oktoberfest beer – you can be sure that it is the original from the Oktoberfest.
