Issue One

The Origin of the Oktoberfest

Many people have celebrated Oktoberfest; here in the United Stated, usually as a typical German Festival. Probably because more than 75 million Americans claim German heritage. Some people have traveled across the Atlantic to celebrate the original Bavarian Oktoberfest in Munich. There are more Oktoberfests in the U.S. than anywhere, including Germany. People have questioned me may times about what Oktoberfest celebrates and when it originated.

Oktoberfest began in 1815 in Munich, Bavaria, when King Ludwig I and Princess Maria Theresia exchanged their wedding vows. The citizens of Munich honored the newly wed royal couple by having a fair and a horse race. The grounds where these festivities were held is called Theresienwiese (Theresia's Meadow). Their wedding festivities were so successful that the people of Munich began to hold the fair with its horse race to honor the popular royal couple every year thereafter on their wedding anniversary. Munich is close to the Bavarian Alps and the festivities would periodically be interrupted by early snowfalls. This caused what was now called Oktoberfest to begin in the middle of September instead of at the beginning of October. Oktoberfest always ends the first Saturday in October. By the early 1900s, the horse races were moved to the racetracks at Daglfing because of the limited space at Theresa's Meadow.

In Munich, the brewers' guild is one of the most important and influential tradesmen's group. The eight breweries in Munich made rules governing the beer served at the Munich Oktoberfest. Only beer brewed in Munich could be served and the beer had to have a minimum of 13.5% Plato starting gravity, which guarantees a minimum alcohol percentage of 5.5 by volume. Oktoberfest beer produced outside of Munich could gave no greater than 13% Plato, thus producing a lower alcohol volume percentage. This law is still in effect. These laws guaranteed that the only true Oktoberfest beer in Munich would never be diluted and never be any other style of beer, only märzen lager. The law of purity is still in effect and still enforced since its inception in June 1516. Only malted barley, yeast, hops and water are allowed in German beer.

Bayern Brewing is very proud to present authentic Oktoberfest beer to its customers. It is the same dark märzen lager as originally brewed in 1815 with a strength of 14% Plato, giving it an alcohol percentage of 6.25 by volume. We hope you enjoy it as much as the royal couple, King Ludwig I and Princes Maria Theresia on October 1, 1815.

Over the years, the fair became so popular that it is now the world's largest non-stationary fair. It has carnival rides and 16 gigantic beer tents which hold more than 10,000 people each. The fair grew from a 1 day celebration to a 17 day party.

Today, Oktoberfest in Munich hosts one million people at any given time during the event. Beer consumption exceeds 120,000 15.5 gallon kegs in those 17 days.