Märzen
1623 Brewing Company

On draught at the brewery, a light amber pour with poor head retention and little lacing.
Toasted malt flavor dominates, well balanced bitterness for the style. A slight carbonation bite and semi-bitter finish makes it quite enjoyable.

12 oz can from State Line. Copper colored body, small foamy head fades to flat. Dusty, malty aroma, apples. Taste is sweet malts with a crisp hoppy edge.

 

 

This is the time of year when the Märzen/Oktoberfest styles hit the shelves. I've always gravitated toward the imports, primarily for authentic taste, but also because I've grown to appreciate the less-sweet, lighter-bodied Germans over their American craft competitors. Even so, I was eager to try this one from my favorite local brewery. I'm glad I did. Beautiful, amber color in the glass with visible carbonation that forms a head that quickly dissipates. Attractive bitter hops with a touch of honey in the nose, and a well balanced taste with both a roasted caramel, biscuity backbone and the aforementioned hops. The best news about this excellent beer is that it's refreshingly lighter bodied than I expected, making it extremely drinkable. And given that it's local, it's also very fresh tasting. I'll be drinking this as long as it's available through the fall.