Märzen vs. Festbier: What to Order This Oktoberfest Season in Miami

Every September, beer lovers start asking the same question: what exactly is an "Oktoberfest beer"? The answer is two beers, not one. Munich's Oktoberfest opens in the second half of September and runs into early October, and the season has shaped two classic German lager styles: Märzen and Festbier. Here is how to tell them apart, and how to celebrate the season without leaving South Florida.

Märzen: the amber original

Märzen takes its name from März, German for March. Before refrigeration, Bavarian brewers made their last big batch of lager in early spring and stored it in cool cellars through the summer. By autumn, whatever remained was ready to drink, just in time for harvest celebrations.

What to expect in the glass:

• Color: deep gold to copper amber
• Flavor: toasty, bready malt with a hint of caramel sweetness
• Finish: clean and smooth, with just enough hop bitterness to keep it balanced

Märzen is the style most people outside Germany picture when they hear "Oktoberfest lager": rich, malty and easy to drink.

Festbier: the golden beer of the tents

If you raise a liter mug inside a Munich festival tent today, you are most likely drinking Festbier. Over recent decades, the beer served at the festival moved to a paler, golden lager that is lighter in body and dangerously drinkable over a long afternoon. Only Munich's six major breweries (Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten) may pour at the official festival.

What to expect in the glass:

• Color: bright, deep gold
• Flavor: soft bready malt, lighter than Märzen, with a touch of floral hops
• Finish: crisp and dry, built for a second round

Which one should you order?

• You like amber ales or malty beers: start with a Märzen.
• You usually order a lager or pilsner: Festbier will feel familiar, with more malt character.
• You can't decide: order one of each and taste them side by side. That is the most Oktoberfest move of all.

Both styles are lagers, so serve them cold but not ice cold. A little warmth lets the malt come through.

What to eat with Oktoberfest lagers

These beers were made for food. The toasty malt of a Märzen pairs well with grilled and smoked flavors, and a crisp Festbier cuts through anything rich or salty. The classic match is simple: a German sausage, a sharp mustard and a cold mug. Browse the German Sausage section of our food menu and see what is pouring today on the beer menu.

Celebrate the season at Tap Beer Miami

You don't need a flight to Munich to enjoy beer garden culture. Tap Beer Miami is a beer garden in North Miami Beach built around cold draft beer, good food and long evenings with friends. A few weekly reasons to stop by:

• Tuesday, Cash Only Day: 50% off every mug when you pay in cash
• Wednesday, Ladies Night: two free glasses of prosecco
• Thursday, FIFA League: a PS5 tournament night

See all the current deals on our specials page.

Visit us: 17850 W Dixie Hwy, North Miami Beach, FL 33160. Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 AM to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 2 AM. Questions or a group booking? Contact us or call (305) 454-0337.

Prost!