Pairs Best With: Knowing the difference between Marzen and Fest Bier
Under the festival tents, there are the Oktoberfest Marzens made “in honor of the fest,” and the Festbiers made “for drinking at the fest.” As more and more quality Marzens show up at Autumn-fests around NJ, we decided that the drift off the beaten craft opportunity here was to make the “drinking beer of the fest” as traditional as possible. A floor-malted German-pils malt bill picks up a Festbier touch of autumnal richness through the addition of light Munich and Victory. Then hop spiciness comes in the form of Tettnanger and Strisselspalt for both the kettle and late-hop additions. Drink Festy because these days, a commitment to tradition is as far off the path’s trend as can be.