The European Commission has given the "Oktoberfest beer" a seal of protection under EU law.
In future, Munich breweries will be allowed to sell beer with the “Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)” seal.
A special feature of the beer is “the use of water from deep springs in the city of Munich”, which reaches down to the tertiary layers, the EU representation in Munich announced on Friday.
The reputation of the beer is also due to the "traditional production process".
According to the rules of the Oktoberfest, the beer must have an original gravity of at least 13.6 percent.
Tillman Neuscheler
Editor in Business.
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The Munich Brewery Association, which includes the six breweries that have a bar at the Oktoberfest, has been fighting for the seal for seven years: Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräuhaus, Löwenbräu, Paulaner and Spaten-Franziskaner.
Only those who actually have a bar at the Oktoberfest are allowed to sell "Oktoberfest beer".
The Oktoberfest beer was already protected nationally, now the protection applies throughout the EU.
The seal, which is valid throughout Europe, is "another important step in preserving the character and brand core of the Oktoberfest as a distinctive Munich cultural asset," says Andreas Steinfatt, Chairman of the Munich Breweries Association.
So far, almost 1,600 foods from the EU have been on the list of protected geographical indications, including some Bavarian specialties such as "Obazda", "Nürnberger Rostbratwurst" and "Allgäuer Bergkäse".