The world’s biggest beer festival, Oktoberfest in Munich, dates back to 1810. Originally celebrated to mark the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria, the two-week festival now attracts about 6 million revellers annually.
At the heart of the festivities is the beer, poured by the six officially sanctioned Munich breweries: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten.
The scale of the festival cannot be understated. The largest beer tent is the Hofbräu-Festzelt, which can accommodate roughly 10,000 guests. It’s safe to say that if you didn’t book your Oktoberfest flight and hotel about this time last year, you aren’t going.
Not to worry! The UK has a thriving German-inspired scene allowing you to replicate all the jolly fun of the bierkeller without the expense and stress of international travel. Stage a mini-fest at home or attend one of the many events happening up and down the country.
Skip to:
- What to drink for Oktoberfest
- What to eat for Oktoberfest
- How to throw an Oktoberfest bash at home
- Five Oktoberfest events in the UK
Six German-style beers to try
Purists wanting a taste of authentic Munich beers could do worse than putting in an order at The Hoptimist in Leeds for a selection from the big Bavarian brewers. But our bold British brewers are also doing a fine job of taking on the Germans at their own game. All of the beers recommended below are vegan-friendly.
Neptune Brewery Oktoberfest Editions Bock
6.5%, DrinkItIn.co.uk, £3.89 for 440ml can
This strong deep red beer has a wonderfully toasty malt and dried fruit aroma. Expect flavours of toffee and subtle red fruit but with a balancing bitterness that leaves a clean, dry finish. Warming and perfect for the season.
Anspach & Hobday Rauchbier Smoked Lager
5.5%, Hop Burns & Black, £4.10 for 440ml can
This deep brown beer has an intense beechwood smoke aroma and the flavour is laced with tones of cinder toffee and a meaty savouriness. Don’t be surprised to smell bacon. This is the Marmite of the beer world, and you’ll probably taste a hint of yeast extract too. The smoke is dominant at first, but as you drink it settles down to give a tasty rich tone.
McColl’s Brewery Fest Lager
5.0%, Wee Beer Shop, £5.10 for 440ml can
A brilliant take on the Bavarian Märzen style, this amber lager has a spicy and slightly bready smell. It fills the mouth with a lightly sweet toasted malt flavour but the dry, bitter finish keeps it crisp. A wonderful stein lager.
Indie Rabble Brewing Co x Utopian Brewing Screaming! Hefeweizen
5.3%, Vinny & Ted, £4.50 for 440ml can
Everything you could hope for from a hefeweizen or German wheat beer. A brilliant collaboration brew that is low in bitterness and full of body. Expect gentle spice and a touch of bubblegum with a long, soft finish.
Moor Beer Company Lager Kellerbier
4%, Moor Beer Co, £11.20 for 4 x 440ml cans
A magnificent naturally hazy golden lager. It’s spicy, fresh and crisp with a very light touch of citrus and a slightly dank resinous hoppy flavour. Light on bitterness with incredible balance. Drink it served directly from the tank at their Bristol taproom for best results.
Brass Castle Brewery Beowulf Unfiltered Helles Lager
4.2%, Beer Ritz, £3.04 for 440ml can
Helles is one of the quintessential lager styles of Munich and this is a brilliant take on the style from one of Yorkshire’s finest breweries. It’s got lots of body despite being lighter in alcohol than some. Enjoy an easy drinking lager that is a little bready, quite lemony and incredibly refreshing thanks to the long smooth finish.
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What to eat for Oktoberfest
You’ll need something to soak up all that beer. Roll up your sleeves and get in the kitchen with Mark Hix’s Bavarian potato salad recipe, or take the easy route and pick up the authentic flavours of Munich straight off the supermarket shelves.
At any self-respecting Oktoberfest celebration, the sausage is king. Enjoy a tasty bratwurst sausage (£3.50 for 6 at Sainsbury’s) in a bun with the traditional fried onions, mustard and Bavarian-style sauerkraut (£1.85 at Sainsbury’s) on the side. Or spice things up with a currywürst – adding curry ketchup (£3.65 from myogb.co.uk) to sliced, grilled bratwurst served with crisp fries.
Potato dumplings are also popular in Munich. They’re a little harder to get hold of here, you’ll probably have to source them from a specialist deli (£3.10 at German Deli) unless you make them yourself. A little crunchy red cabbage to accompany them and you’re ready to go.
The prince amongst beer snacks is the soft, hand-knotted pretzel (£1.10 at Tesco). The delicious chewy texture and salty glaze make it the perfect accompaniment to all things lager. Or cut out the middle man with Aldi’s new German-themed crisps – available from 26 September. I’ve got my eye on the Specially Selected German Pilsner Beer Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.15, Aldi) but the Specially Selected Currywurst Sausage Hand Cooked Crisps (£1.15, Aldi) sound intriguing too!
How to throw an Oktoberfest bash at home
If you’re throwing an Oktoberfest party at home, find a German lager you love and buy in bulk, or offer your guests a choice of styles. Beer steins are a must: in Munich, traditional stoneware mugs with pewter lids are favoured. A litre vessel might be a little over-enthusiastic for home consumption – check out garage-bar.co.uk for a range of glass and ceramic tankards in a variety of sizes.
The blue and white lozenge pattern from the Bavarian flag is integral to Oktoberfest decorations. Stock up on all the bunting, tablecloths and balloons you could wish for from Partyrama.
Traditional costume is practically mandatory in Munich. This season, muted tones are in for dirndl dresses – dark shades of green, red and blue. Look beyond comedy costume suppliers for lederhosen too – high-quality hand-embroidered leather trousers are de rigueur in 2024. But be warned, quality doesn’t come cheap, as the beautiful selections at Mister Lederhosen, and Alpen Classics for dirndls, show.
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Five Oktoberfest events in the UK
Most authentic beer: Fyne Ales Oktoberfest, Cairndow, Argyll
Fyne Ales’ Technical Brewer, Yvonne Wernlein, is a third generation German brewer who has developed a recipe for a cask kellerbier. It will be pouring at the brewery tap alongside local live music and German-inspired street food.
28 September; fyneales.com
Biggest event: London Oktoberfest
More than 10,000 people have been filling out the giant marquees in the capital since the event began in 2011.
17-19 October; 25-26 October; london-oktoberfest.co.uk
Best würst: Albert’s Schloss Oktoberfest, nationwide
Albert’s Schloss’ four venues in Birmingham, Liverpool, London and Manchester are dedicated to bringing a slice of Bavaria to the UK. Pig out on the most indulgent European treats from their Cook Haus menu while you enjoy the oompah band.
21 September to 6 October; albertsschloss.com
Best beer selection: A Hoppy Place Oktoberfest, Maidenhead, Berkshire
The fifth annual event offers six imported festbiers and numerous UK interpretations to be enjoyed from two-pint steins. Costumes are encouraged with spot prizes of Schnapps and snacks for the best.
5 October; ahoppyplace.co.uk
Most fun: Evenwood Oktoberfest, Bishop Auckland, County Durham
The whole village descends on McColls Brewery for this family-friendly event. The local colliery band will be playing a mix of trad and new wave classics while 200 people will participate in a stein-holding competition.
20-21 September; mccollsbrewery.co.uk
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