It's that time of year again! In this annual Oktoberfest special, we're cracking open a selection of German and British lagers, enjoying a few frothy ones and celebrating all things Bavarian beer.
Along the way, we'll be tasting a selection of beers, including Utopian Brewing's 2026 Festbier, Verdant's Munich Dunkel, Rothaus Märzen and Augustiner's Oktoberfest Bier. Expect plenty of discussion about brewery heritage, malt character, hop balance, drinkability and how these beers compare.
Of course, it wouldn't be The Hop Addition without getting into the brewing detail. We'll discuss the differences between Märzen and Festbier recipes, Vienna, Munich and Pilsner malt, lager yeast selection, Bavarian water chemistry, fermentation temperatures and lagering. We'll also debate decoction versus infusion mashing and share practical tips for brewing your own Oktoberfest-inspired lagers at home.
Whether you're a fan of rich, malty amber lagers or crisp, golden Festbiers, there's plenty to enjoy in this annual celebration of German beer and brewing tradition.
Huge thanks to our sponsor, The Malt Miller, for supporting the podcast and the UK homebrewing community. Check out their Hop Addition recipe section and the latest ingredients and equipment at themaltmiller.co.uk.
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Grab a stein, pour yourself a proper lager and join us for an Oktoberfest celebration. Prost! 🍻
