Crisp air, cider donuts, foliage, Okoberfest beer – all are signs of fall in Vermont. Someday I’ll make it to Munich for Oktoberfest. But for now, I’m happy with the seasonal change that marks the release of numerous Okertoberfest beers in Vermont. The commencement of fall brings the move away from refreshing sours and juicy IPAs to something more malt-forward. Seeing Oktoberfests plastered over social media and lining beer aisles at beer stores signals fall has arrived.

But what Vermont Oktoberfests are the best drinking and truest to the Oktoberfest style? We sampled six popular Oktoberfest beers from Stone Corral, Zero Gravity Brewery, Four Quarters Brewing, Queen City Brewery, 14th Star Brewing and Goodwater Brewing. See our ranking of the top 5 Vermont Oktoberfest beers to drink this fall below. (Not included in the taste test, but worthy of a pint or, better yet, a das boot, is Von Trapp Brewery’s Oktoberfest, Otter Creek’s Oktoberfest and Harpoon’s Octoberfest as well…)

What Exactly is a Vermont Oktoberfest Beer?

Vermont Oktoberfest beers are lagers, slightly sweet and often reddish-amber in color due to the malt backbone of the brew. Oktoberfest beers, or Märzenbier or Märzens, historically are brewed in March to weather over the summer and are released in October, hence the name. In drinking a variety of Vermont Oktoberfests at the same time, it began quite apparent how different the coloring and malt presence is among them, as well as differences in bitterness, sweetness, and hop character.

Blind Taste Test of Vermont Oktoberfest Beers

To be fair and not play favorites, we did a blind taste test of six of Vermont Oktoberfests, paying attention to color, aroma, drinkability, and fidelity to the Märzen-style of beer. We wrapped each beer in newspaper, poured two at a time and saved samples of the others to compare as we went down the line. We then ranked each beer and compared our notes and favorites. Our favorites? Without further ado, here were our favorite Vermont Oktoberfest beers to drink in 2018. What’s your favorite Vermont Oktoberfest to mark the passage of summer to fall?

The Winners: Top 5 Vermont Oktoberfest Beers to Drink This Fall

5. Zero Gravity Oktoberfest, Burlington, Vermont

4. Four Quarters’ Brewing Oktoberfest, Winooski, Vermont

3. Stone Corral Brewing’s Oktoberfest, Richmond, Vermont

2. Queen City Brewing’s Oktoberfest, Burlington, Vermont

1. 14th Star Brewery’s Oktoberfest, St. Albans, Vermont

Keep the conversation going! What’s your favorite Vermont Oktoberfest to mark the passage of summer to fall?