Alpenkönig Gold Märzen
Privatbrauerei H. Egerer

November 29th, 2016 - I think the end of the Costco German Beer Advent calendar is coming up, but so far the calibre of these beers have been good, and a nice change of pace from all the IPAs. This is a darker brew, taking on the color of wet oak wood, and props up a sizable head that corks my IPA glass. Still the aroma is evident, though faint, with some malt and a bright note of lime. The flavor is lightly characterized by some nutty notes, but also a deeper, sludgier set of tasting notes that play with toffee and darker roasted almonds. It's also notably sweet, cuminating in some cranberry and cherry notes in the aftertaste after the beer warms a bit.

 

 

 

$ 2.50 (Including tax)/500 mL can ($0.148/oz) from Costco, Schertz, TX. Part of the Costco 2019 Advent Calendar. Reviewed 11/02/19.
Can dated “EXP 05/2021”. Stored on the shelf at the store, stored at home at 42 degrees and served at 42 degrees in a hand washed and dried 0.5L stein.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Gold, clear.
Body – Gold, clear.
Head – Large (Maximum 9 cm, aggressive center pour), off-white, high density, average retention, diminishing to a fifteen mm crown and a dense complete cap.
Lacing – Good. Wide three-dimensional bands of extremely tiny bubbles with short stalactites.
Aroma – 3.5 – Toasted malt.
Flavor – 3.5 – Begins slightly sweet with very light malt flavor. Very weak hops. Ends with a slight metallic taste, only noticeable on the first swallow; otherwise it ends a bit malty. No alcohol (5.3 % ABV as marked on the can) flavor or aroma, no diacetyl.
Palate – 3.5 – Medium, almost creamy, lively carbonation.
Final impression and summation: 3.5. A decent marzen, good looking and not bad in the taste or aroma departments either. I’ve had worse at a higher price point.

CAN:

Metallic, bready, thick. Pale malts. Finishes oversweet.

A lousy attempt at a Märzen. Attenuation is way off the mark.

Drinkable but unlikable. A rather bad German attempt at the style.

D+ / NOT RECOMMENDED

 

part of costco box. smooth and easy on the palet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance: Moderate light golden orange body, crowned by a small, dense, and persistent snow-white head. Thick, Belgian-style lacing adorns the glass walls. There are numerous streams of minute, fast-rising bubbles.

Aroma: Pronounced aroma of white bread, light caramel, and a slight spiciness. Modest floral hops present, as well.

Taste: Opens with moderately sweet notes of light caramel, and a mild herbal bitterness. As the taste progresses, the white bread and light caramel notes ascend, with a backdrop of mild bitterness. Finishes with a very mild, lingering herbal bitterness. There is a faint metallic note in the undercurrent of the taste, which lingers on, past its end.

Mouth feel: Full, and pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A decent and drinkable example, worth a try.

Presentation: Packaged in a 500 ml, 16.9 ounce steel can, served in a standard Pilsener glass. Expiration date on the bottom of the can is 03/2019. Beer number seven (December 7th) from the 2017 Costco Advent Beer Calendar.