Around Town: Oktoberfest

To some, mid-September typically means cooler weather, layered clothing and pumpkin’s ubiquitous return to our dishes and coffee cups. And while of course, there’s plenty of pumpkin beer to go around too, to others, mid-September means only one thing: Oktober[fest] is right around the corner. And while there’s plenty of ways to get your Oktoberfest on throughout the city, Thrillist has you covered here, there’s also a large selection of new delicious Oktoberfest beers in your grocery aisle! These beers, also known as Marzen, are a lager style which originated in Bavaria. They can be medium to full bodied and vary in color from amber to dark brown. With flavors of warm bread and dried fruit, it is not only easy to drink but also interesting, and can be enjoyed by both beer novices and connoisseurs!

So what to drink here in Chicago? Pick up one of these local options and you’ll be in the German spirit in no time. Prost! Images from Metropolitan Brewing, Revolution Brewing, Two Brother Brewing, Half  Acre Beer, and BeerPulse.com

Afterburner – Metropolitan Brewing Metropolitan Brewing says the following of their seasonal offering, and they’re right, it’s really all you need to know. “We brew Oktoberfest because Fall's hoodie-temps call for toasty malt aromas and a dry, elegant lager finish. We brew Oktoberfest because the malty sweetness pairs perfectly with freshly harvested food native to the Midwest. We brew Oktoberfest because everything about this beer makes you want to gather up your friends and laugh hard. We brew Oktoberfest in honor of an annual party thrown to celebrate beer itself. And when you think about it, that's all you really needed to know.” 6.1 percent.

Oktoberfest – Revolution Brewing This popular beer has doubled its production each of the past three years. This year’s version is brewed with a hop called Hallertau Gold, which is grown on only one farm in the whole of Bavaria. It’s nutty with a lightly sweet and easy-drinking finish. 5.7 percent.

Atom Smasher – Two Brothers Brewing Aged in Oak Barrels, this beer is considered the heartiest, and booziest, of local options here in Chicago. 7.7 percent.

Lager Town – Half Acre Breer Co. Half Acre invites beer drinkers to take a drive through Lager Town and Munich’s Storied Tradition. This beer boasts a dry, yeasty nose with a dried fruit finish that increases as the beer warms. 6 percent.

Oktoberfest – Goose Island Beer Co. This option is balanced and perfect for those new to the style, and with a toffee and burnt sugar aroma, how can be it be anything but delicious. 6.4 percent.

-Carly Holstein, Senior Publicist