Marzen
Anacortes Brewery & Rockfish Grill

Poured into bubble pint glass. Poured a hazy dark gold-orange color with 3/4 inch of slightly off-white head that left a touch more than medium lacing.

A lightly sweet aroma with just a hint of hop.

A wonderfully balanced flavor is predominately a great mix of malts with a well chosen amount of hopping to give it a little kick. There seems to be a small amount of spice that I can't put my finger on.

Great body that flows over the tongue leaving just a slight aftertaste that fades soon enough. An extremely drinkable beer, good for a session at the pub, a refreshing lawnmower beer and would go good with a variety of foods.

Another wonderful beer from a small brewery that does a great job of producing a variety of styles. If you come to the PNW you would be doing a disservice to yourself if you don't visit this off-the-beaten-track gem.

I was served a pint from the tap at the brew pub in Anacortes, Washington. The sheet listing and describing the beers indicated that among the seasonal beers offered was the "Marzen" which is a 6.4% ABV and 30 IBU beer. The descriptions stated that it is "A smooth, amber lager comparable to Oktoberfest, malty with a delicate hop aroma and balance bitterness from Perle, Hallertau and Tettnang varieties. Match with sausage, flavorful cheese or spicy food."

A: It poured a clear and bright amber body with a thin off white head. The head receded fast to a ring around the collar and there was spotty lacing that did not stick well to the glass.

S: It emitted aromas of sweet toasted and nutty malts with tangy and spicy ripe fruits.

T: It began sweet, wet and malty with tangy, not-quite ripe fruit flavors (red plums, Ranier cherries, and Johnathan apples). As the beer rolled across the tongue floral and spicy hops gave the beer a burst of energy matched by the moderate levels of carbonation. It finished wet and clean with very little aftertaste.

M: It was light to medium bodied with a balanced flavor, moderate carbonation and clean finish and aftertaste.

D: This is a great session brew. Good balance, light body, and modest ABV. No flavor is off-putting or so dominant as to drive you away after a few rounds.