Firestone Walker Returns with Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager
The festive Oktoberfest season is fast approaching and once again, Firestone Walker Brewing has released its own unique take on this beer style. The 2024 edition of Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager is once again an oak-inspired homage to the modern festbier style that graces Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebration.
Oaktoberfest Oak Aged Lager is now hitting all Firestone Walker markets in 6-pack, 12 ounce cans and draft formats. The name “Oaktoberfest” is a riff on Firestone Walker’s longtime commitment to brewing and aging beer in oak barrels.
“There’s nothing that I look forward to more than good lager beer like Oaktoberfest,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “A sessionable beer like this is made to be consumed in celebratory moments, but it’s also the perfect everyday drinker.”
Oaktoberfest has been a last summer seasonal staple at Firestone Walker dating back to the inaugural release in 2006. Each year, however, tweaks are made to take the beer to new heights. For the 2024 edition this included a new finishing hop—Hallertau Mittelfrüh, a classic German heirloom variety.
“Hallertau Mittelfrüh is a perfect fit for Oaktoberfest,” Brynildson said. “It’s less fruity compared to a lot of modern hops, and it has more of a resinous and cedarwood character that really plays well with the beer’s malty base.”
Just as with every release of Oaktoberfest, it was brewed with all-German ingredients, including Weyermann Pilsner malts and Vienna malts, with a dash of Munich and Cara Red. “The Vienna malt helps drive the beer’s golden-amber hue and malty flavors,” Brynildson said. “We’re purposely going for more of a golden hue versus something reddish, because that’s how these beers are in Germany—just a bit more golden than a Helles.”
More recently, a portion of Oaktoberfest has been lagered in oak barrels inherited from a Napa Valley cult winery. This year, Brynildson and his team changed it up, sourcing the barrels locally from Winemaker Russell From of Herman Story Wines in Paso Robles. What an excellent decision as the wines created there are outstanding!
“Russell is a good friend of ours, and his barrels are every bit as awesome as anything we’ve used before,” Brynildson said. “We’re not looking for a huge oak or wine impact from the barrels. Rather, the barrels lend a fifth element and an underlying presence in the texture of the beer. It’s hard to put your finger on, but it’s wholly different than if the beer was lagered only in stainless steel.”
Sitting at 5.2% ABV, Oaktoberfest pours a light golden-amber color as it foreshadows its toasty, biscuity flavor. The oak-barrel lagering allows for an even smoother texture, all while remaining true to the beer’s crisp malt profile and hints of noble hops.
“Oaktoberfest is rich in flavor but also light-bodied and easy to drink—it’s the kind of beer you naturally crave as summer turns to fall,” Brynildson said. “Personally, it brings me back to all of our adventures sourcing hops in Germany and taking our team to experience Oktoberfest firsthand. It’s like putting those experiences into the liquid and then adding an extra touch of California flair.”
To find Oaktoberfest near you, use the Firestone Walker Beer Finder.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.