Rhinegeist 'Franz' Oktoberfest Beer, Ohio

Toasty bread, caramelized malt, light nuttiness, and restrained herbal bitterness give this amber seasonal a composed autumnal character. Rhinegeist 'Franz' Oktoberfest Beer, Ohio combines Pale Ale, Munich, Vienna, and CaraMunich malts with Magnum and Hallertau hops, creating a 5.4% Oktoberfest beer with depth but little heaviness. Its limited 2026 arrival in Denver ahead of the Great American Beer Festival offers a rare local taste of a seasonal normally sold within Rhinegeist’s regional distribution footprint, linking Cincinnati’s German brewing heritage with the producer’s independent, quality-first philosophy.

Product Details:

• Producer: Rhinegeist Brewery
• Owners: Bob Bonder, Bryant Goulding, and Rhinegeist employee-owners
• Producer Team: Rhinegeist Brewing Team
• Chief Science Officer: Jim Matt
• Style: Oktoberfest lager
• Release: 2026 seasonal release
• ABV: 5.4%
• IBU: 20
• Malt: Pale Ale, Munich, Vienna, and CaraMunich
• Hops: Magnum and Hallertau
• Packaging: Cans and draft
• Availability: Seasonal

Sensory Description:

Clear light amber beneath a fluffy off-white head, Franz opens with toasted malt, bread dough, caramel, and a lightly nutty grain character. The medium-bodied palate carries measured sweetness through flavors of bread crust and toffee, while mild herbal hop bitterness keeps the malt from becoming heavy. Moderate carbonation adds lift, leading to a smooth, clean finish with a gentle lingering sweetness.

Producer’s Background:

Bob Bonder and Bryant Goulding founded Rhinegeist in 2013 inside a former pre-Prohibition bottling plant in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine Brewery District. The name translates to “Spirit of the Rhine,” connecting the brewery to the neighborhood’s German immigrant history and longstanding beer culture. Rhinegeist later established an employee stock ownership program and remains independently owned without a parent company or outside investors.

Jim Matt joined the original team as its first head brewer and now leads laboratory and quality work as Chief Science Officer. Rhinegeist’s sensory and laboratory teams evaluate its beverages before release, supporting a portfolio that balances modern experimentation with technically focused interpretations of established styles. Franz brings that approach to the brewery’s German-American roots through an accessible, malt-forward Oktoberfest seasonal.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 42 to 46°F in a dimpled stein, Maß, or tall lager glass to emphasize its malt aroma and balanced carbonation. Pair with soft pretzels and grain mustard, bratwurst, mettwurst, schnitzel, roast pork, caramelized onion tart, or firm alpine-style cheeses.