Fall is just around the corner (sad, but true), which can mean only one thing… Oktoberfest, ja! So, in honor of Oktoberfest, today’s pairing lesson is all about German amber lagers, perfect for the coming season!

Oktoberfest/Märzen
Oktoberfest/Märzen is a medium-bodied lager with a broad range of color, from golden to reddish orange. The bitterness is moderate, though the emphasis is definitely on the depth of the malt here. Sweet malty flavor, but finishes dry, and definitely not cloying. Alcohol content is moderate, around 4.8-5.7% ABV.

Vienna lager
Somewhat similar to Oktoberfest/Märzen, Vienna lager is a reddish amber or copper colored lager, with a light, toasty malt aroma and flavor. This lager has minimal hop character, emphasizing the toasty Vienna malt. Alcohol content is 4.5-5.5% ABV.

These styles are perfect for fall — crisp, clean, gently malty and sweet. They come at a time when you’re done with light wheats and pale ales, and ready for something a little more hearty.

The foods that pair well with these styles just happen to be great during the fall weather! Roasted pork and chicken work wonderfully; the malty backbone of the beer compliments the carmelization on the meat. Spicy foods work well also, as the sweetness is a nice contrast to the spice. And of course sausage is an excellent pairing — bratwurst, knackwurst, or any other wurst you like are practically synonymous with Oktoberfest!

There are a lot of options as far as cheese. A nice, nutty cheddar would go well with the light sweetness of the beer, particularly with the toasted character of the Vienna lager. The tang of a mild blue cheese would be balanced nicely by the malty sweetness in these lagers. Even the spiciness of a Monterey pepper jack would work!

For dessert, go for something sweet and nutty, like almond biscotti or a spiced apple cake with nuts. The sweet, toasty flavors of the beer would compliment these flavors perfectly.

Take home message:
Beers that emphasize malty sweetness tend to pair perfectly with roasted meat. Sweetness in beer is also great for contrasting spicy food. And once again, we’re matching similar flavors here — toasty beer goes with toasty food.