Märzen Is Introduced at Oktoberfest

At the 1872 Oktoberfest in Munich, Josef Sedlmayr of the Franziskaner brewery introduced an amber-colored Märzen inspired by Vienna lager. Sedlmayr had first brewed and tested the beer in 1871, but the public introduction at Oktoberfest followed the next year. Its success began the long association between amber Märzen and Munich’s festival. The first Oktoberfest had taken place in 1810, more than six decades before this amber Märzen appeared there. During that earlier period, the beers served at the festival were predominantly the dark lagers characteristic of Munich brewing. Märzen subsequently became the traditional Oktoberfest beer before paler Festbier gradually replaced it at the festival during the twentieth century.