Record-Breaking Oktoberfest Beer Consumption

According to a report by Statistica, people generally refer to Oktoberfest as a thirst trap, with 6.5 million liters of beer consumed during the 16-18-day festivities. Besides the record-breaking beer consumption, the Munich Beer Festival only sells beer from six locally brewed breweries. Following the oldest food law to maintain beer quality is why Wiesn is popular. “Oktoberfest” is oftened synonymed for “Beerfest.” 

Oktoberfest Beer Consumption History

What started as a simple wedding of the Crown Prince and Princess turned into an annual tradition. Beer wasn’t that big in the early iteration of the Wiesn and was only included to pair with the food. Oktoberfest was “a very cool horse race gala” turned into the “biggest beer-laden celebration.”

Oktoberfest is deeply rooted in all the beer tents that emerged in 1896, which were once beer booths. All the tents were much alike in the beginning except for the seating capacity. Different landlords own today’s beer tents and are largely known for the distinct beer they serve, which the local Munich breweries sponsor. 

Oktoberfest Beer Trademark

“Oktoberfest Beer” has gone through slight changes over the years. But the key ingredients and persistent quality remain the same, thankfully. Strict compliance with the “German Purity Law,” known locally as “reinheitsgebot,” is the reason. In order of time, Oktoberfest beer was “Marzen” style, which was brewed in March and aged or lagered throughout the summer. The aroma of malt-like biscuits and toasted bread distinguished this type of beer.

Today, the beer served in Wiesn is more Vienna lager style. Vienna Lager varies in color from copper- to red-brown. The beer is known for its malty aroma and slight malty sweetness. The Vienna Lage has malt flavor and aroma and has a notable degree of toasted and slightly roasted malt character. The bitterness of hop can be felt from low to medium-low. The Oktoberfest beer is strictly brewed in Munich premises and sponsored at WIesn by “BIG SIX” : 

1. Hofbräu
2. Augustiner-bräu
3. Paulaner
4. Spaten
5. Hacker-Pschorr
6. Löwenbräu

Fun Fact: Oktoberfest beer is stronger than regular beer, with 6% alcohol content.

Beer Served in Oktoberfest Tents

Seventeen large and 21 small tents at Wiesn are famous for the beer served. Some of the Tents hosts own the Breweries while others source it.

Brewery	Big Tents
Hofbräu	Hofbräu Festzelt
Augustiner-bräu	Fischer Vroni,Augustiner Festhalle,Volkssängerzelt Schützenlisl
Paulaner	Armbrustschützen Festzelt,Paulaner-Festzelt, Käfer’s Wies’n Schänke,Weinzelt,Kufflers Wine Tent, Kaefer Wiesn Schaenke
Spaten	Ochsenbraterei,Schottenhamel Festzelt, Marstall
Hacker-Pschorr	Hacker Festzelt, Pschorr Bräurosl,
Löwenbräu	Löwenbräu Festzelt,Schützen Festzelt,

Beer served in small tents is also sourced from the “Big Six.” Some of the small tents serve a variety of local beer, while others serve wine.

Brewery	Big Tents
Hofbräu	No small tent serves Hofrbrau solely
Augustiner-bräu	Ammer Hühner-und Entenbratere, Zur Bratwurst
Paulaner	Heimer Enten-und Huehnerbraterei,Metzger Stubn,Muenchner Stubn
Spaten	Gloeckle Wirt,Wildstuben,Wirtshaus Im Schichtl
Hacker-Pschorr	Fisch Bada,Heimer Enten-und Huehnerbraterei, Poschner’s Huehner-und Entenbraterei
Löwenbräu	Hochreiters Haxnbraterei, Kalbsbraterei

Interesting Facts: Oktoberfest Large and small tents serve approximately 550,000 liters of Hofbräu beer during the 16- 18 days long festival (on average, 34,375 liters per day sold).

Oktoberfest Beer Consumption Trends

Oktoberfest beer consumption has been varying from year to year. The last ten years' trends of beer consumption at Oktoberfest tents are: 

Year	Consumption (Million Liters)
2013	6.7 Million Liters
2014	7.7 Million Liters
2015	7.3 Million Liters
2016	6.6 Million Liters
2017	7.5 Million Liters
2018	7.5 Million Liters
2019	7.3 Million Liters
2020	No Oktoberfest because of Covid-19
2021	No Oktoberfest because of Covid-19
2022	5.6 Million Liters
2023	6.5 Million Liters

In recent years, due to the rise in inflation, it has been noted that the price of beer has increased. The hit in prices caused lesser sales of the Oktoberfest beer. 

Oktoberfest Beer Consumption Tips

• Drink responsibly to avoid any inconvenience and enjoy the other aspects of the Beerfest.
• Pair your Wiesn beer with Bavarian delicacies to fully rejoice in the Beerfest experience. 
• Oktoberfest tent security officers recovered around 90,000-120,000 glass beer mugs from people trying to steal them.
• If you want to be treated well, tip well. Nobody asks for a tip, but it is understood that the more you tip, the better you are served. 
• Children are allowed in beer tents, but drinking is permitted only to teenagers above 16.
• Enjoy your rides well before you start drinking. You don’t want to end up throwing.