Ah, Oktoberfest! That magical time of year when the air is crisp, the leaves turn golden, and the celebration of beer and food takes centre stage. But did you know that cheese can be the unsung hero of your Oktoberfest spread? Yes, dear cheese lovers, pairing cheese with beer can elevate your festival experience to new heights! Read on to discover my best cheese & beer pairings for Oktoberfest.
SEE ALSO: Our complete guide to pairing cheese with alcoholic beverages →
Understanding Oktoberfest beers
At Oktoberfest, the beer selection is traditionally limited to six Munich breweries, each offering their own unique beers. These are five of the most popular ones.
- Märzen: A malty, amber lager that is the traditional beer of Oktoberfest.
- Festbier: A lighter, more modern version of Märzen, with a slightly hoppier and crisper profile.
- Helles Lager: A pale, refreshing lager with a mild maltiness.
- Dunkel: A dark lager with rich malt flavours, hints of chocolate and caramel.
- Weissbier: A light and fruity wheat beer with notes of banana and clove.
These beers are brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity Law, and can only be brewed within the city limits of Munich to be served at Oktoberfest.
Traditional breweries at Oktoberfest
Let’s take a look at the six historic Munich breweries that provide the festival’s signature beers.
Augustiner Bräu
As Munich’s oldest brewery, Augustiner Bräu has been crafting beer since 1328. Their Oktoberfest offering, a 6.2% Märzen, is famed for its rich, malty flavour.
Traditionally, they serve this beer straight from wooden barrels, giving it an authentic touch.
Hacker-Pschorr
With origins dating back to 1417, Hacker-Pschorr is a beloved brand known for its 6.0% Oktoberfest Märzen.
At Oktoberfest, this brewery offers a delightful taste of Munich’s brewing heritage with its traditional swing-top bottles.
Hofbräu München
Founded in 1589 as a ducal brewery, Hofbräu München is renowned worldwide.
Their 6.2% Oktoberfest Märzen is one of the festival’s strongest beers, offering bold flavours that have captivated beer lovers for centuries.
Löwenbräu München
A staple since the 14th century, Löwenbräu is famous for its iconic roaring lion and its 6.1% Oktoberfest Märzen. This beer boasts a robust character and a rich history that embodies the spirit of Munich.
Paulaner Brauerei München
The “youngest” of the bunch, Paulaner was established in 1634 by monks.
Their 6.0% Oktoberfest Märzen is a testament to centuries of brewing excellence, with a smooth, malty profile that delights festival-goers year after year.
Spaten
Founded in 1397, Spaten introduced the world to “Münchner Hell” (Munich Pale). Their 5.9% Oktoberfest Märzen is a classic choice, celebrated for its crisp and refreshing taste that has stood the test of time.
Together, these six breweries uphold the tradition of brewing Oktoberfest beer exclusively in Munich.
Cheese and beer pairing basics
Pairing cheese and beer is both an art and a science. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Match Intensity: Pair strong cheeses with robust beers.
- Contrast Flavours: Use a hoppy beer to balance the richness of creamy cheeses.
- Complementary Tastes: Look for flavour notes in beer that echo the cheese.
Best cheese and beer pairings for Oktoberfest
With these guidelines in mind, let’s explore some mouthwatering pairings!
1. Augustiner Märzen and Aged Gouda
Our first pairing brings together Munich’s oldest brewery and one of my favourite aged hard cheeses.
Augustiner’s Märzen is renowned for its malty sweetness and rich amber colour, offering a toasty finish that celebrates its legacy as Munich’s oldest brewery. And a mature Gouda develops a nutty, caramel-like flavour with a firm texture.
The malty richness of Augustiner Märzen complements the nutty complexity of aged Gouda, creating a playful interplay of sweet and savoury notes.
2. Hacker-Pschorr Märzen and Alpkäse
Hacker-Pschorr’s Märzen is smooth and balanced, with a slightly sweet finish that speaks to centuries of brewing excellence. And my recommended cheese pairing is the local Alpkäse.
Alpkäse is a firm, nutty mountain cheese with a rich semi-hard texture, often made in the Alpine regions of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
This pairing works because the smooth, malt-forward flavours of Hacker-Pschorr Märzen enhance the nutty and rich profile of Alpkäse. Besides, this combination offers a delicious blend of creamy and malty flavours that perfectly complement each other.
3. Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier and Appenzeller
Our next beer is Hofbräu’s Oktoberfestbier. This beer is robust and full-bodied, with a touch of sweetness and a bold character.
Therefore, it pairs beautifully with an equally robust mountain cheese, Appenzeller. Appenzeller is a semi-hard Swiss cheese with a unique herbal and spicy flavour profile.
The herbal notes in Appenzeller complement Hofbräu’s robust flavours, balancing the beer’s boldness with the cheese’s complexities.
4. Löwenbräu Märzen and Gruyère
Staying with a Swiss pairing, we bring you Löwenbräu’s Märzen and Gruyère. This Märzen offers a rich malt profile with a hint of bitterness. And, as you would know, Gruyère is known for its nutty and slightly salty taste with a creamy texture.
We love this pairing because the nutty flavours of Gruyère perfectly balance Löwenbräu’s malty sweetness.
5. Paulaner Märzen and Limburger
And we’re back to Germany with a spectacular monastic pairing.
Paulaner’s Märzen is smooth, malty, and slightly sweet, and is the result of a rich history of monastic brewing. As for the cheese, Limburger is a monastic washed rind that has a pronounced yeasty aroma and a meaty flavour.
In addition to their common origins, the beer and cheese’s flavours contrast playfully.
6. Spaten Oktoberfestbier and Aged Cheddar
Moving on to more gentle flavours, Spaten’s Oktoberfestbier is crisp and refreshing, with a subtle malt profile. And a mature Cheddar brings a tangy slightly sour flavour to the board.
When brought together, the crisp, clean finish of Spaten Oktoberfestbier cuts through the tanginess of Cheddar, enhancing both the beer’s refreshment and the cheese’s boldness.
7. Dunkel and Cambozola
Now this has got to be one of my favourite beer and cheese pairings period!
Dunkel, a traditional dark lager, is rich with dark malt flavours and hints of chocolate and caramel. Staying in Bavaria, Cambozola is a creamy, mild blue cheese with a hint of sweetness.
The rich, sweet maltiness of Dunkel complements the creamy texture and subtle blue flavour of Cambozola. Moreover, the hints of chocolate and caramel in the beer enhance the cheese’s mild tanginess.
8. Weissbier and Havarti
Weissbier is a light and fruity wheat beer, with notes of banana and clove. For this beer, a love a mild and buttery Havarti from Denmark.
The fruity notes in Weissbier complement the creamy tang of Havarti, creating a lively and refreshing combination.
9. Festbier and Alp Blossom Cheese
Next, we have one of Germany’s most famous cheese exports, Alp Blossom.
Festbier is lighter and hoppier than traditional Märzen, with a crisp, refreshing finish. And Alp Blossom is a semi-hard cheese with a wildflower rind and nutty, herbal flavours.
The floral and herbal notes of Alp Blossom beautifully enhance the crisp, hoppy characteristics of Festbier. Undoubtedly, this pairing brings out the cheese’s nutty complexities and balances them with the beer’s refreshing qualities.
As a bonus, the cheese’s spectacular rind creates a vibrant and aromatic combination perfect for celebrating Oktoberfest.
10. Helles Lager and Butterkäse
Finally, I have another 100% German pairing for you.
Helles Lager is pale, refreshing, and slightly malty and is a staple of Munich’s beer culture. And Butterkäse is a mild, creamy and buttery German cheese, with a smooth texture.
The reason why this works is because the light, refreshing profile of Helles Lager matches perfectly with the creamy, buttery texture of Butterkäse.
Furthermore, the mild flavours of both the beer and the cheese create a subtle, smooth pairing that’s ideal for a relaxing Oktoberfest experience.
Tips for hosting an Oktoberfest cheese and beer tasting
Setting the Scene: Embrace the Oktoberfest spirit with Bavarian decorations and traditional music.
Serving Suggestions: Present cheese and beer pairings on wooden boards with labels for each selection.
Tasting Tips: Encourage guests to explore flavours, take notes and discuss their experiences. It’s all about having fun and discovering new favourites!
Conclusion
Cheese and beer are truly a match made in heaven, especially during Oktoberfest. With these pairings, you can elevate your festival experience and impress your guests with your newfound knowledge.
So grab your stein and cheese knife, and let the festivities begin! Prost!
Jonah is a a hipster, eco-warrior and slow food afficionado. Coming from a scientific background, Jonah has a particular interest in cheese science. And yes, he loves a good cheese pun!
