Summary
Your guide to beer and pretzel pairings this Oktoberfest.
City Brew Tours Austin × Austin Pretzel Co.
Oktoberfest season has landed in Austin, and City Brew Tours Austin is teaming up with Austin Pretzel Co. and our favorite local breweries to raise a stein with a Texas twist. Every fall, craft breweries across the city roll out Märzens and Festbiers – malty, toasty lagers rich in bread-and-biscuit character.
To celebrate, we mapped Austin Pretzel Co.’s small-batch toffee-coated pretzels to beers from Austin’s best breweries, guided by Randy Mosher’s Tasting Beer principles of balancing intensity and harmonizing flavors. Each pairing blends local flavor with classic beer wisdom — and might just change the way you snack this fall.
Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Austin
Märzen, the classic Oktoberfest lager, brings caramelized malt sweetness and crisp hop balance. Local Austin breweries craft their own seasonal takes, making them the perfect match for Austin Pretzel Co.’s Lone Star Original pretzel — its buttery toffee accentuates malt depth, while the lager’s carbonation scrubs the palate clean.
Want to sip them in style? Explore Austin’s Oktoberfest event guide for dates and locations, including the legendary AustOberfest at Scholz Garten on October 25th. Or book a public or private brewery tour with City Brew Tours Austin for:
- Climate-controlled transportation
- An expert beer guide
- Guided tastings at 3+ local breweries
- A VIP behind-the-scenes brewhouse tour
- A bag of Austin Pretzel Co.’s handcrafted toffee pretzels
The Ultimate Austin Beer & Pretzel Pairing Guide
Independence Brewing – Salted Crème Brûlée × Austin Amber (Amber Ale)
Austin Amber melds caramel and toasted malts with an assertive hop bite. Those malts echo brûléed sugar while the hops slice through the salted edge, keeping this rich pairing balanced.
Blue Owl Brewing – Kickin’ Korean BBQ × ¡Limetastico! (Sour Mexican Lager)
¡Limetastico! is brewed with maize, sea salt, and lime zest. Bright citrus acidity and a saline snap cut through the sticky BBQ glaze and refresh the palate between bites.
Zilker Brewing – Sweet Vanilla Bean × Southern Charms (Fruited Kettle Sour)
Ripe strawberry, pomegranate, and plum bring juicy brightness to Southern Charms. Its tartness pops the creamy vanilla while cleansing lingering sweetness.
Lazarus Brewing – Maple Bourbon × Achilles Heel (Irish Dry Stout)
Achilles Heel layers dark chocolate, coffee, roast malt, and biscuit. That roasty bitterness reins in maple sweetness and accentuates the bourbon warmth.
Hi Sign Brewing – Southern Roasted Pecan × Shamus Red Ale (Red Ale)
Shamus offers rich caramel and toffee malts that mirror the pecan praline while its subtle bitterness balances the nutty depth.
Nomadic Beerworks – Peppermint Toffee Pretzel × Sunrise Getdown (Kölsch-Style Ale)
Sunrise Getdown’s crisp, floral Kölsch base lifts the dense toffee while its spritzy carbonation resets your palate. Light pear esters brighten the cooling mint, turning this unlikely combo into a refreshing surprise.
Celis Brewery – Pumpkin Spice × Celis White (Belgian-Style Witbier)
Celis White’s coriander and orange peel accentuate pumpkin spice, while its creamy wheat body smooths the toffee sweetness. A sip resets the palate for another autumnal bite.
The Brewtorium – Gingerbread × Desert Dreaming (Dry-Hopped Saison)
Desert Dreaming’s white pepper, papaya, and peach notes slice through rich molasses while its dry finish and lively carbonation keep the pairing feather-light.
Slackers Brewing – Jalapeño Queso × Wicked Tickle (Ghost Pepper Porter)
Wicked Tickle layers creamy chocolate malt with ghost pepper heat. Its slow-building burn syncs perfectly with the jalapeño queso’s spice, while the porter’s sweetness reins it all back in.
Prost to Fall
This Oktoberfest season, support Austin’s local makers while treating your palate. Book a City Brew Tour, explore the Austin Oktoberfest lineup, pick up Austin Pretzel Co. snacks, and grab a six-pack from these iconic breweries.