Should Festbier and Märzen be two separate categories?

Concur. We don't need more styles, we need less. Twenty or fewer main styles would suffice, with others falling as sub-styles under that.

 

I only really care for Wiesn style. It might help but it isn't reliant on what the styles are. Brewers are where it lies.

 

Even for some of the lighter beers, like Weihenstephaner's Festbier or Paulaner's iteration, which are lighter in appearance, they still tend to have heavier bodies than a standard helles lager. In that regard, there are more similarities than differences between a darker Oktoberfest and a lighter one, given that they are both lagers and share similar mouthfeels and drinkability. Obviously there are differences, such as the presence of light caramel/toffee/toasted flavors, but I don't think that warrants a different style, any more than a slightly darker colored IPA warrants a different style over a lighter colored IPA.

 

nope

 

Jeez, yeah, that's overdue for a change.

 

Have a non beer-geek drink a Spaten Oktoberfest next to Weihenstephan's and try to tell them that's the same style.

Trying to say those two beers are the same style is akin to saying a Helles and Vienna Lager are the same style in my opinion.

Regardless, having them be the same style on this website doesn't really bother me too much. Like @dbrauneis said, there aren't enough of the pale Oktoberfest style to truly warrant its own category here. That being said, the BJCP has separated the two for competition, but that's for competition, not for a beer rating web site. And they have FAR more styles than this site has (or should have in my opinion).

And I believe Märzen is simply a strength designation in Germany now, and Festbier is simply a beer brewed for any festival, not necessarily just Oktoberfest. I could be wrong here, @steveh could clear things up if I'm off-base.

I just choose to call them "amber Oktoberfest" and "pale Oktoberfest".

 

Probably more in line with Ron's expertise. @patto1ro

 

Märzen has always just been a strength designation. Festbier is usually just a Märzen brewed for some sort of festival, as said.

 

They still serve Märzen at the festival. Just a pale Märzen rather than an amber one.

 

I definately agree here, they're called the same but not really all that similar and it goes well beyond color. . And I also call them the same, Fest Amber, and pale.

 

I agree with OP. I just finished drinking Shiner Oktoberfest, it's copper in color, sweet, and has a heavier spice presence.
Right after, I drank Hofbrau Oktoberfestbier, pale in color with light spice, honey, and biscuit notes. These two beers did not seem like they are in the same category. Very different beers.

 

The opposite is true: it's Americans that insist Märzen has to be amber in colour.

 

The Rauchbier I usually get at Schlenkerla is their Märzen. As Ron says, it is the right strength.