Ayinger Brewery, founded in 1878 in the Bavarian village of Aying, 30 minutes from Munich, makes my favorite German beers.
Among its style-defining offerings, Celebrator Doppelbock, Maibock, and its refreshing Bavarian Pils, which I made a Beer Pick in late April, as spring was turning into an early summer.
After a hot and rainy four months, I’m hoping summer will soon be turning into a mild and sunny fall. And with the official start of Oktoberfest a mere three weeks away, I’m thinking about the pleasures of flavorful German Oktoberfest/Märzen-style beers.
I'm not sure how many Oktoberfest beers will be on offer at the 14th annual AtlantaGerman Bierfest on Saturday . But it will be great time to sample a variety of styles from venerable German breweries such as Ayinger, Franziskaner, Pinkus, Reissdorf and Weihenstephan.
And with German festivals from Atlanta to Munich in mind, Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen is this week’s Beer Pick.
Beer Pick
Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen
Ayinger Brewery, Aying, Germany
Available in in 4-packs of 330 mL bottles, 500 mL bottles, and on draft.
Profile
Oktober Fest-Märzen is a full-bodied lager in the rich Bavarian style. With a coppery-gold tinge, and a rocky head, its a beautiful beer that matches the colors of the fall season.
It’s also extremely food-friendly, with a clean, malty aroma and flavor that’s not too sweet and definitely not too bitter. Classic German hops offer a snappy herbal complement, and at 5.8% alcohol by volume, it’s great for a late afternoon of sipping at the pub or paired with a wide variety of foods, from pizza to schnitzel.
Pair with
Ayinger suggests serving Oktober Fest-Märzen with pretzels and radishes, goulash with dumplings, clam chowder, bock-wurst, weiner schnitzel, and the traditional Oktoberfest array of roasted chicken, pork and sauerkraut.
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