Ask Alpana

Ask Alpana

This year marks the 200th anniversary of Oktoberfest! What makes a good Oktoberfest beer, and which ones should we choose for this celebration? Check, Please! host and master sommelier Alpana Singh shares some of her favorites.

Alternatives to Kozel Dark Beer:

• Plank Dunkler Weizenbock – "This is a higher alcohol dark weizenbock from a small Bavarian producer, and drinks more like a wine, with a malt-forward mouthfeel and higher gravity."
• Kulmbacher Monchshoff Schwarzbier – "This is THE classic 'Black Lager' or 'Black Pils' from Kulmbacher. It’s beautifully hopped, with a roasted malt character and dry finish. It’s a 'beer lover’s beer,' with bold flavor but low alcohol, and pairs well with a wide variety of foods."

Diet Wine:

• Invivo Bella –"This so called "diet" wine is a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc at 9% alcohol without being sweet which is where the 30% savings come from in calories from a typical glass of wine."
• Twin Vines Vinho Verde –"Feather light in weight with a light spritz and flavors of green apples, lime and lemon peel."

Alpana’s Oktoberfest Beer Recommendations

• Left Hand Oktoberfest, Colorado
• Ayinger Oktoberfest Marzen, Germany
• Paulaner Oktoberfest, Germany