Church Street Itascafest 4Pk

Church Street Itascafest 4Pk is a Märzen-style lager brewed by Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois, at approximately 5.1–5.3% ABV and packaged as a four-pack. What sets this Oktoberfest-season release apart is the brewery's commitment to a traditional double-decoction mash process—a labor-intensive technique rarely used by American craft breweries—paired with Weyermann's German-sourced malt for an authentic Old World character. The beer holds an 84 score on BeerAdvocate and a 3.6 out of 5 rating on Untappd across thousands of reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.1–5.3%  |  Origin: Itasca, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Märzen / Oktoberfest Lager  |  Brewery: Church Street Brewing Company  |  IBU: 24

Production & Heritage

Church Street Brewing Company operates out of Itasca, a western suburb of Chicago in DuPage County. Their approach to Itascafest centers on double-decoction mashing, a process that requires specialized equipment and significantly more time than standard single-infusion methods. By physically removing a portion of the mash, boiling it, and returning it to the main vessel—twice—the brewers extract sugars and develop malt complexity that yields a clearer, crisper, and more layered beer. The grain bill leans entirely on Weyermann's German malts, a deliberate choice to honor the Bavarian roots of the Märzen style and deliver an Oktoberfest lager with genuine depth rather than surface-level sweetness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Toasty malt leads the nose, followed by a subtle wave of caramel sweetness and a bready, yeast-forward undercurrent. A faint hint of smoke rounds out the bouquet without dominating.

Taste: The entry is smooth and malt-driven, with a biscuity sweetness that builds through the mid-palate. Caramel tones arrive next—sweet but never cloying—anchored by a lightly smoky, almost toasted-bread quality. The low bitterness at 24 IBUs keeps the focus squarely on malt complexity rather than hop presence.

Finish: Medium in length with a clean, dry close that shakes off any residual sweetness. A lingering toasted-grain note and a whisper of caramel keep things interesting through the last sip.

How to Drink Itascafest

Pour Itascafest into a traditional dimpled Maßkrug or a tulip glass at around 45–50°F to let the malt aromatics open up fully. This is a beer best enjoyed on its own or alongside hearty food. For a Radler, blend it with fresh lemonade—the caramel malt adds body that lighter lagers lack. It also works well in a Shandy variation with grapefruit juice, where the toasty backbone balances citrus tartness. Finally, try it in a classic Michelada—the bready sweetness plays surprisingly well against lime and hot sauce.

Best For

• Oktoberfest-themed dinners and seasonal backyard gatherings
• Gifting to craft beer drinkers who appreciate traditional German lager styles
• Pairing alongside a bratwurst-and-pretzel spread
• Introducing friends to decoction-mashed lagers versus standard American Oktoberfest offerings

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Itascafest taste like? Itascafest delivers a rich, toasty malt character with caramel sweetness, biscuity depth, and a subtle smokiness, finishing clean and dry at a modest bitterness of 24 IBUs.

How does Itascafest compare to Paulaner Märzen? Both are traditional Märzen lagers built on German malt, but Itascafest leans into a slightly more pronounced toasty and bready quality owing to Church Street's double-decoction process, whereas Paulaner tends toward a lighter, more uniformly caramel-sweet profile. Paulaner also carries the weight of centuries-old Munich brewing lineage, while Itascafest represents a faithful American craft interpretation of the same style.

Is Itascafest good for sipping on its own? Yes—its smooth malt complexity and moderate ABV make it an excellent standalone pour, especially when served at cellar temperature in proper glassware.

Where is Itascafest made? Itascafest is brewed at Church Street Brewing Company in Itasca, Illinois, a suburb located roughly 30 miles west of downtown Chicago in DuPage County.

What foods pair well with Itascafest? Grilled bratwurst complements the toasty malt; soft pretzels with beer cheese mirror the bready, caramel notes; roasted pork shoulder stands up to the beer's richness; sharp aged cheddar provides a savory contrast to the malt sweetness; and smoked sausages echo the subtle smokiness in the finish.

What sizes does Itascafest come in? Itascafest is available as a four-pack, which is the standard retail format from Church Street Brewing Company for this seasonal release.

Is Itascafest worth the price? Itascafest positions as a mid-range craft beer, but the double-decoction brewing process and imported Weyermann malt represent a meaningful step up in production effort and ingredient quality compared to most similarly priced domestic Oktoberfest beers, making it strong value within the category.

Why Itascafest?

The defining feature here is the double-decoction mash—a process so time- and equipment-intensive that the vast majority of American craft breweries skip it entirely. Church Street doesn't. The result is a Märzen with a clarity, crispness, and malt precision that single-infusion beers in the same style rarely achieve. Paired with Weyermann's German malt and held to just 24 IBUs, Itascafest delivers an Oktoberfest lager that honors Bavarian tradition without mimicking a specific German import. For drinkers who want an authentically brewed Märzen from a small Illinois brewery, this four-pack earns its place at the table.