Six Munich breweries are officially allowed to serve beer at Oktoberfest.
The permitted brewers are Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten. Their beers must meet the requirements associated with Munich’s Oktoberfest tradition, including being brewed within Munich and complying with the Reinheitsgebot.
This restriction is why Oktoberfest beer is not simply any seasonal beer labelled “Oktoberfest.” The festival’s large tents are linked to these local breweries, although one brewery’s beer may appear in more than one tent. Smaller food and specialty tents can have different arrangements, including wine service.
The six-brewery rule reflects both regulation and heritage. Oktoberfest began in 1810 as celebrations for the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese, and beer gradually became central to the festival’s identity. A related detail visitors often ask about is the serving format: beer is generally poured as a one-litre Maß, and the festival’s official beer is a Munich-style Festbier rather than the darker Märzen commonly associated with Oktoberfest abroad.