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Pale gold Festbier in a tall von C Brewing branded pilsner glass on a coaster at the Norristown taproom bar, brass tap handles visible behind
German Festbier · 6% ABV · Oktoberfest Tradition

Festbier

Germany's modern take on the Oktoberfest style. Less intense than a marzen but not lacking in rich malt flavors — German Pilsner, Munich, and Vienna malts with Spalt Select hops. A traditional step mash builds the body.

ABV
6%
IBU
N/A
SRM
6

German Festbier · Spalt Select · Step Mash · Oktoberfest Tradition

Tasting Notes

The Modern Oktoberfest Pour.

Festbier is the modern Oktoberfest pour — the style that quietly replaced the heavier Märzen as the official beer of the Munich Oktoberfest tents. Pale gold instead of amber, lighter on the tongue, but the German malt richness is still very much present.

We chase that profile with the classic three-grain bill: Pilsner for clean lager base, Munich for warmth, Vienna for the toasty edge. Spalt Select hops do the bittering — soft, balancing, never assertive. A traditional step mash builds the body the right way.

Pours best in the cooler months. Seasonal release — when it's on the chalkboard, drink it. When it's not, Vienna or Helles cover the German lager territory year-round.

Appearance
Pale gold to light amber, brilliant clarity. Persistent thick-cream head.
Aroma
Toasty German malt, light bread crust, faint floral Spalt character.
Flavor
Rich malt center built on the three-grain bill — pilsner clean, Munich warmth, Vienna toast. Spalt Select adds a soft balancing bitterness. Body without weight.
Mouthfeel
Medium body. Soft carbonation. Clean dry finish despite the higher ABV.
Pairings
  • Roast pork shoulder
  • Smoked sausage with mustard
  • Pretzel rolls
  • Aged gouda
  • Apple strudel
Stainless-steel fermentation tanks lined along the back wall of the von C Brewing Co. brewhouse in Norristown PA — bar stools at the foot of the tanks, polished concrete floor reflecting the warm overhead work lights, the place every batch of every beer on the tap list passes through
Process

How it gets to the glass.

  1. 01

    Three-grain German malt bill — Pilsner, Munich, Vienna — for layered malt character. Spalt Select noble hops for the balancing floral-spicy bitterness.

  2. 02

    Traditional step mash — multiple temperature rests during the mash — builds body and full malt expression without leaving the beer cloyingly sweet. Four weeks cold conditioning.

The Brewlog

Brewed to spec.

Every batch passes through the same sequence. Nothing leaves the tank early.

Style
German Festbier (modern Oktoberfest)
ABV
6%
SRM
6 — pale gold
Malt
German Pilsner · Munich · Vienna
Hops
Spalt Select (noble)
Mash
Traditional step mash
Release
Seasonal — fall / Oktoberfest
The Short Answers

About Festbier.

How is a Festbier different from a Märzen?
Märzen is the older Oktoberfest style — amber, fuller-bodied, more caramel-toast malt. Festbier (this beer) is the modern Munich Oktoberfest pour — pale gold, lighter on the tongue, dryer finish, still rich on malt character. We brew the modern version.
Is this only available in the fall?
Mostly. Festbier is a seasonal release tied to Oktoberfest season. When it's on, you'll see it on the chalkboard and our /draft-list page. When it's off, Vienna and Helles cover the German lager territory year-round.
What does the step mash do?
It's the traditional German approach to mashing — instead of one temperature rest, the mash steps through multiple temperatures. The result is a fuller body and a fuller malt expression, without leaving residual sweetness. It's why German lagers feel substantial without being sweet.
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Drink the Modern Oktoberfest

Festbier on tap seasonally at 1210 Stanbridge Street, Norristown PA — call to confirm

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