Vienna, Märzen, Oktoberfest

Book excerpt: In the simplest definition, Viennas are amber-colored beers brewed with bottom-fermenting lager yeast. On the other hand, the terms Märzen and Oktoberfest originally referred to a brewing process—not a beer style. While the terms Vienna, Märzen and Oktoberfest may seem unrelated, history indicates otherwise. Over time, Viennas became standard beers brewed on a regular basis and often at a lower gravity. The Märzen and Oktoberfest beers became “festbiers,” brewed for celebrations each October. Historical records, nevertheless, indicate that successful versions of both latter styles had a definite “Viennese character,” and it is the primary goal of this book to delineate the fundamental attributes of the Vienna character. Recipes are included. Brewers Publications’ Classic Beer Style Series is devoted to offering in-depth information on world-class beer styles by exploring their history, flavor profiles, brewing methods, recipes, and ingredients.