Victory has been on point lately, and their Festbier is no exception. Victory Festbier is an example of what Oktoberfest offerings strive to achieve; it’s the perfect mix of malty and crisp, with a little bready aftertaste. It’s complex but not heavy. It’s crisp and summery but also smooth and malty, caught between summer and winter with hints of nuts and toffee. As long as they keep selling it, I could drink this beer until the weather gets warm again—and even then, I’d still drink it.

Seriously, this beer is delicious. If you’re looking at all the Oktoberfest options with a mixture of joy and confusion, this is your Holy Grail, the beacon of light shining in the haze of the beer aisle. This is what we talk about when we talk about drinking Oktoberfest.

This Festbier doesn’t stop at the glass, either. You can do much more with this beer than simply drink it. Cooking with beer is always a good idea. Why should wine get all the fun? I could see this brewski being amazing in some hearty stew as a flavorful stock substitute. Or you could use it to caramelize some onions and Brussels sprouts…the possibilities are endless, until you run out of beer and go crying with your ID to your local beer haven.

No matter what you choose to do with these amazing suds, my favorite thing to do with beer is drink it, so I will leave you all for now while I finish off this tasty beverage with some cute locals. See that smile? Even deer love this beer.

DRINK!

Where: Wherever fine beers are sold

What: Victory Festbier

When: Fall through Winter, or until supplies last

Why: It’s the best Oktoberfest beer I’ve had this season

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