Festbier
Bitburger Brauerei

FestbierFestbier
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From:
Bitburger Brauerei
 
Germany
Style:
Festbier / Wiesnbier
Ranked #28
ABV:
6.2%
Score:
88
Ranked #17,651
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 9.87%
Ratings:
205 | reviews: 94
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 02, 2025
Added:
Mar 01, 2005
Wants:
  15
Gots:
  14
Bitburger Festbier has a clear amber color that reminds one of the first days of autumn. It pours with an inviting, foamy white head. An intriguing spicy aroma-mix of slightly roasted bread and fruit cake with hints of caramel. A crisp and full-bodied mouthfeel brings out a variety of malty flavors like roasted nuts and bread with a well-balanced sweetness of raisins and dried fruits. It finishes with a light, yet lingering bitterness that is not overwhelming and plays well with the perceptible higher alcohol. A true example of the style that will pair perfectly with roasted turkey, strong cheese or grilled sausage.
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Ratings by dcscientist:
Photo of dcscientist
Reviewed by dcscientist from Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This was a decent, but not outstanding, festbier. I read the description below before writing my review and it's all there, but it's all really subtle and faint. I like this style of beer to be bready and malty and full, and this one wasn't quite there. It does indeed go well with the traditional foods, but I'd like a bit more punch, especially at 6.2% which is a little high for a festbier.
Oct 21, 2022
More User Ratings:
Photo of ttoadee
Rated by ttoadee from Texas

3.93/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
RB transfer
Jul 02, 2025
 
Rated: 4.08 by Mac_Cheesin from Maryland

Jul 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Wilkolaczek94 from Connecticut

May 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by DoctorRobert1969 from California

May 12, 2023
Photo of DMFF
Reviewed by DMFF from New York

4.52/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
My Fiancee found some of these at the beverage center she works at, so she picked them up for me because she knows how much I love a good Festbier. Pretty excited to give it a try!

L: Pours a translucent golden-amber, just at the edge of what is expected for the style. When poured, it formes a 1.5 finger eggshell head that dissipates into a quarter-finger ring. Delicate, yet sparing lacing.

S: Doughy, caramelized bread notes up front, with herbal, floral and spicy noble hops on the nose to round it out.

T: Flavors follow the nose with an additional nuttiness mixed with that wonderful maltiness. The Noble hops come in to cleanse the palate for the next sip.

F: Medium-bodied, midway between smooth and crisp, and finishes pretty dry.

O: This is a great offering for the style. I definitely prefer Weihenstephaner's take over any other, but this one is fairly unique. It falls into more of an in-between of Marzen and Festbier. I would happily seek this out alongside Weihenstephaner for something a bit more sweet and nutty for cooler days. Highly recommended.
May 10, 2023
Photo of Thatsthefactjack
Reviewed by Thatsthefactjack from California

4.41/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
A novice to festbiers but not to craft beer in general. Found this for 3.99/6pk at the local grocery outlet!

First impression: exquisite, mouth feel: smooth no hint of bitter speedbumps. Taste: complex- decidedly malty, sweet, pretzely. Nice and strong at 6
6.2%. Really no weak points, especially at that price point.

L'Chaim!
Jan 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.84 by Slyde180 from Texas

Jan 21, 2023
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a bottle at fridge temp. Pours a dark and somewhat opaque orange. Small amount of head. The nose is full of malty goodness. Caramel candy, bread, a slight nutty note, yeast, and a nice earthy note. Wheat.

The taste is sweet and refreshing. Malty, toffee, honey, maple, wheat, oranges, grass, and a nice yeast. No real bitter notes to be found. Mouthfeel is light and crisp. Very clean. Overall, a great beer.
Dec 15, 2022
 
Rated: 4.25 by smartassboiler from Illinois

Nov 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.69 by Rainintheface from Florida

Nov 24, 2022
Photo of BillAfromSoCal
Reviewed by BillAfromSoCal from California

3.84/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
11.2 oz bottlke with "best before 5/4/2023" consumed 11/19/22. Rich amber color, 2 finger white fluffy head, but no lacing. Smell and taste are malty/bready goodness, but I am not picking up the other advertised flavors. Points off for overly creative marketing claims. Moderate body, pleasant clean finish. Big added points for value. I picked up a 6x 11.2 oz bottle for $4. Doesn't get better than that. This would be a very decent beer at 2x that cost.
Nov 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.34 by Scotchboy from Idaho

Nov 02, 2022
 
Rated: 4.49 by Beecham from California

Oct 26, 2022
 
Rated: 3.79 by Mark-Leggett from Missouri

Oct 24, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Oct 22, 2022
 
Rated: 4 by NickThePyro from Washington

Oct 13, 2022
 
Rated: 4.08 by TwoTrees from Washington

Oct 11, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by JLaw55 from Missouri

Oct 02, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by mpenske from California

Oct 02, 2022