Oktoberfest Seasonal Brews, or how long it takes to plan a proper party.

Coming up to the end of August and into September we're going to be seeing some of my most favorite seasonal beers from brewers across the world. Yes soon is the time for...

Held annually in Bavaria, Oktoberfest started as a wedding celebration for Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The original attractions included wine and beer tastings as well as horse races. But I'm not here to talk about the festival or the wenches, I'm interested in the beer. Even though the only beer that can be served at Oktoberfest are ones that meet the Reinheitsgebot (German Beer Purity Law), and are brewed within the city limits of Munich, this doesn't stop breweries around the world from making their own Oktoberfest inspired beer.

These brews are very popular for their full body, malty flavor, and clean dry finish. What are these beers really? Where did they come from and how long do they take to make?

Märzen beer (March beer) arose in Bavaria due to a decree that beer can only be brewed between September and April and was designed to last through those terrible months were brewing of new beer was not allowed. They needed a beer that could be stored for a long time mature in a controlled environment and last them through to the end of summer. This brought rise to Laggering.

Lager (aside from being a popular beer type) is German for storeroom or warehouse. So in beer terms a lager is a beer that has been stored, for a while, a long while.

All beer is made by one of two methods, the Ale method or the Lager method. The main difference is the type of yeast used and the cold storage for maturation that the Lager must go through. An ale takes around 4-6 weeks to ferment while a lager can take 4-6 months. So enjoy your March beers, they've taken a really long time to get here! Cheers!

- Veemun