Summer is coming to a close and the impatient among us are already reaching for sweaters, pumpkin spice candles, and apples. Along with shorter days, colder temperatures, and falling leaves, the fall season is associated with Oktoberfest, a massive beer festival held yearly in Munich, Germany.
What started off as a royal wedding celebration has transformed into one of the world’s largest festivals, attracting six million visitors yearly. If you’re not familiar with the event, it’s basically a two-week-long homage to German beers. There are some bratwursts and soft pretzels thrown in there, but the beers take center stage.
Given how important beer is to celebrating Oktoberfest, you might be thinking that it’s impossible to celebrate this autumnal holiday if you’re not drinking. Thankfully, you couldn’t be more wrong. Each year, more and more non-alcoholic beer companies rise to the occasion and create Oktoberfest-style brews without alcohol.
So, grab your lederhosen and check out this list of 9 Oktoberfest non-alcoholic beers to try this fall.
What is an Oktoberfest Beer?
We know you’re eager to discover all of the Oktoberfest non-alcoholic beers out there. But before we do, it’s important to first understand exactly what Oktoberfest beers are all about.
For starters, we should point out that Oktoberfest beers aren’t just brews associated with the festival. Rather, they’re a specific type of beer combining rich malts and clean hop bitterness. Outside of the fall season, no other beer styles are exactly like them, but they’re most similar to Vienna lagers.
There are two main types of Oktoberfest beers — Marzens and Festbiers (also called Wiesn).
Marzen takes its name from the German word for March. Historically, these beers were brewed in the early spring and then left to age over the summer.
This style of beer is brewed using bottom-fermenting lager yeast and a unique hop blend. The result is a full-bodied beer with a malty backbone, a sweet profile, and a clean finish.
Festbiers are strong, golden lagers made from pilsner malt. On the nose, there are notes of toast and herbal or spicy hops. As for flavor, the malt flavors dominate, giving off notes of sweet bread dough. Overall, this beer has a clean lager character.
Best Oktoberfest Non-Alcoholic Beers
Rescue Club Oktoberfest
Burlington, Vermont-based Rescue Club Brewing is back with another winning seasonal beer. This time, it’s their Oktoberfest lager that’s stealing the show. Inspired by the Marzen style, this 0.5% ABV beer is brewed with German malts and hops (Hallertau Mittelfruh and Tettnang) for an authentic flavor you’ll have to taste to believe.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
UNTITLED ART Oktoberfest
Inspired by German Festbiers, UNTITLED ART’s Oktoberfest will have you dreaming of Munich from the first sip. It’s brewed with rich caramel and Vienna malts, two ingredients that give it a full, slightly sweet body. Cascade hops come in at the end to provide a crisp finish that invites you to keep sipping.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
Athletic Brewing Oktoberfest
Leave it to Athletic Brewing to come up with yet another winning fall beer. Their Oktoberfest brew is made in the style of traditional Bavarian Festbiers. With that in mind, expect a satisfying golden color, a foamy head, and a clean malt backbone (thanks to the Vienna and Munich malts). German Hallertau Mittelfruh hops come in to provide just a touch of bitterness to offset the bready aroma and mildly sweet body.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
Bravus Oktoberfest
Bravus’ beers may be brewed in California but this Oktoberfest ale will have you thinking you’re in Munich. That’s thanks to the pleasant copper color and notes of honey, caramel, and graham crackers. There’s also a hint of spice and hop bitterness to round out the sweet body.
Order direct from Bravus (within the United States).
Atmos Brewing – Stratus Non-Alcoholic Helles Beer
For a lighter, yet still traditional Oktoberfest beer, look no further than Atmos Brewing’s Stratus. This non-alcoholic Helles lager is made using pilsner malts and Saaz hops. Together, these ingredients produce a crisp, mellow beer that’s far too easy to pound.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
Go Brewing – Damn Good Oktoberfest Non-Alcoholic Marzen
Brewed in the traditional Marzen style, this 0.5% ABV brew is about as close to a true Oktoberfest beer as you can get. Damn Good is amber in color, has notes of caramel malts, and a smooth finish. Meanwhile, German Hallertau Mittelfrüh hops give a spicy, floral character to the beer.
Order from Amazon (within the United States).
Atmos Brewing – Oktoberfest! Non-Alcoholic Marzen
Atmos Brewing’s Oktoberfest! is perfect if you’re looking for a traditional Marzen lager this fall. It has a medium body that’s filled in with malts (Munich, Caramel Vienna, Vienna, and Red Wheat) and caramel sweetness. As for hops, German Tradition and Mt. Hood give this brew a spicy warmness.
Purchase Atmos Brewing Oktoberfest! from the Atmos website.
One for the Road Brewing – No Regrets Marzen
An award-winning Marzen-style beer with an amber color and rich copper highlights. Malts dominate the palate, giving this beer a rich, toasty flavor. At the same time, the hops give just the right amount of bitterness while also providing a clean finish.
Purchase No Regrets Marzen from the One for the Road website.
Athletic Brewing – Geralt’s Gold Hoppy Non-Alcoholic Helles
An aromatic, medium-bodied non-alcoholic lager with notes of citrus and florals. Malt sweetness helps complete the flavor profile, while Warrior, Chinook, Centennial, and Simcoe hops give this Helles plenty of complex notes.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More (within the United States).
More Oktoberfest Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Not a beer fan? No problem! There are plenty of tasty non-alcoholic fall drinks to get you into the Oktoberfest mood. Here are some of our favorites:
- Original Sin White Widow Non-Alcoholic Cider – A prebiotic blackberry cider made with fruit juice, monk fruit (sweetener), and apple cider vinegar.
- Sober Carpenter Non-Alcoholic Cider – A dry, de-alcoholized cider that tastes exactly like the real thing.
- Domaine Dupont Jus De Pomme Pétillant – Made in France using 100% natural organic apple juice with no added sugar, preservatives, or colorings.
- Remedy Apple Cider Vinegar Drink – Organic, no-sugar-added sparkling drink with live active cultures.
- CleanCo Clean V Spiced Apple Vodka Alternative – Crisp with a touch of cinnamon spice and green apple, this is the perfect base for NA fall cocktails.
- Mullin Single-Serve Mulling Spices – Drop one of these pyramid-shaped infuser sachets into a glass of your favorite non-alcoholic wine to transform it into mulled delight.
Other Non-Alcoholic Oktoberfest FAQs
Why is Oktoberfest celebrated in Germany?
Oktoberfest got its start in 1810 as a way of celebrating the marriage of the crown prince of Bavaria to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. As the years went on, the festival expanded more and more. For the first couple of years, there was a horse race and an agricultural fair. By 1818, food and drink booths started to crop up.
It didn’t take long for these small booths to transform into the beer halls we know today. Many of these temporary structures feature interior balconies and bandstands and some can seat thousands of people at a time.
The initial inspiration for the festival is long gone, replaced by amusement park rides, parades, and lots of food and drinks.
How is Oktoberfest celebrated in Germany?
The mayor of Munich kicks off the Oktoberfest festivities (which typically runs from mid-September to early October) by tapping the first keg. From there, the festival is a two-week celebration of all things Bavaria. Some of the main activities include amusement park rides, parades, and musical performances. Germans take the holiday pretty seriously, with many donning traditional folk costumes such as lederhosen and dirndls.
Besides all of the activities, you can expect lots of food and drinks at Oktoberfest celebrations. Common dishes include roast chicken, sausages, pork knuckle, coleslaw, and spread cheese. As for beers, Marzens, Helles, and Festbiers dominate the menu.
Why is Oktoberfest not in October?
Believe it or not, the majority of the Oktoberfest celebrations take place in September. That’s because the first Oktoberfest was held between October 12 and October 17. With that in mind, the name makes a lot more sense. As the festival grew, organizers set the first Sunday of October as the end date and extended the festival into September to capitalize on the warmer weather.
Also Read: Sober October: The Ultimate Guide On What To Expect, Rules, And Benefits
Where to celebrate Oktoberfest in the US?
The best places to celebrate Oktoberfest in the US are those where there’s a large German population. Some of the biggest celebrations are held in Cincinnati, Ohio (Oktoberfest Zinzinnati), La Crosse, Wisconsin (Oktoberfest USA), Frankenmuth, Michigan (Frankenmuth Oktoberfest), and Helen, Georiga (Helen Oktoberfest).
We hope you enjoyed learning about these Oktoberfest non-alcoholic beers. Here are some more fall articles to get you inspired: