It’s Oktoberfest time.
Where millions of people from all over the world come to Munich to drink beer, listen to music, and celebrate Bavarian culture.
Are you planning on attending Oktoberfest for the first time, but not sure what to do there because you don’t drink beer?
It’s marketed as the worlds biggest beer festival, but that doesn’t mean non-alcoholic beer is completely off the menu.
There are some fantastic choices for those of us who don’t drink alcohol or want to enjoy the festive atmosphere without overindulging.
A non-alcoholic approach is a great way to enjoy all the flavors and fun of Oktoberfest without the headache the next day.
So, if you’re looking to enjoy an Oktoberfest beer without the alcohol, here is the best way to have an alcohol-free Oktoberfest and a few of the best non-alcoholic options available.
Do they have non-alcoholic beer tents at Oktoberfest?
While there aren’t exclusive non-alcoholic beer tents at Oktoberfest(Yet!) They do serve non-alcoholic beer at Oktoberfest!
And non-alcoholic beers also come in a liter stein, so you’re not missing anything.
Not every beer tent offers this, but enough do that you won’t have to stay in one tent for your whole Oktoberfest trip.
Just keep in mind like everywhere else, non-alcoholic beer at Oktoberfest —unfortunately— costs the same as a regular beer.
If you plan to visit one of the Oktoberfest tents during the weekends, you should know that it will be crowded. Very very crowded!
It’s advisable to make a reservation in advance or be prepared to wait in a pretty long queue to enter one of the tents.
Where to find non-alcoholic beer tents at Oktoberfest?
There are 14 large tents and approximately 20 smaller ones on the grounds. The large tents can accommodate up to 10,000 people!
Don’t worry about going to a specific area to find alcohol-free beers.
Since N/A options are becoming more and more popular, many if not most tents will offer some selections, particularly the popular ones such as Spaten and Löwenbräu.
What kind of non-alcoholic drinks are at Oktoberfest?
Keep a look out for the following Oktoberfest beer tents to find non-alcoholic beers:
- Löwenbräu (Löwenbräu Alkoholfrei)
- Spaten (Spaten Alkoholfrei)
- Marstall (Löwenbräu Alkoholfrei)
- Hippodrom (Spaten Alkoholfrei)
- Pschorr-Braurosl (Hacker-Pschorr Alkoholfrei)
- Schottenhamel (Spaten Alkoholfrei)
- Schützen (Löwenbräu Alkoholfre)
Schankbier
This is something to watch for, especially if you don’t speak any German.
Schankbiers have alcohol volume levels generally between 0.5 and 2.6%. So you will often find these as non-alcoholic offerings.
You might just want to check exactly what the alcohol content is if you are picking up a schankbier. As many zero-beer drinkers do try to avoid anything above 0.5%.
Is Oktoberfest enjoyable as a non-alcoholic beer drinker?
Yes, absolutely! Non alcoholic beer is so popular these days that there is an increasing selection each year.
Most of the top German breweries provide their alcohol free versions, and even a few Oktoberfest exclusive non-alcoholic beers too.
On top of that the overall atmosphere of the festival is incredibly fun and lively, and you don’t have to spend a dime to enjoy that.
There are plenty of other activities to partake in, such as people watching, listening to live music, and indulging in delicious food.
Hab eine schöne Reise,
Auf wiedersehen!
Oktoberfest FAQS
When does Oktoberfest take place?
Oktoberfest is a two-week celebration that takes place at the end of September and the beginning of October.
Oktoberfest 2022 began on Saturday, 17 September and ended on Monday, 3 October.
Oktoberfest 2023 begins Saturday September 16th, and ends on Tuesday, October 3rd
Is Oktoberfest Free?
Technically it’s free. It’s free to enter the tents; it’s free to enjoy Oktoberfest all around Munich.
Just some tents and bars require a minimum order or minimum spend due to the crowds and demand.
So it’s best to grab a round of zero-beers and try not to loiter too much.