Marzen
Vantage Point Brewing Company

a touch sweet but pretty good, not necessarily the kind of beer i flock to in spring time, but i appreciate the offering anytime really, and this is clean on the ferment, if lacking some crispness, but light enough in body that it still hits in sporing weather. medium rust to amber colored beer, average white head from the tap, decent clarity, lots of big bubbles almost feels like a soda, plenty spirited. nose of munich malt, a bready thing and a baked character, some honey and caramelized character to it, but not over the top and somehow that doesnt make this heavy. nice minerality and overall water chemistry here, very light on the hops, and with the yeast rather subtle in the aroma, more prominent in the flavor and as it warms a little. nutty but somewhat generic on the grain side, german yes, but mellow and just with some sweetness that doesnt have a ton of character, fresh though, and bright. there is a light floral element, an earthiness, and an ease of drinkability overall. its missing that true german soul, even if the ingredients are right, and thats not an easy thing to articulate, but it keeps this, an otherwise technically sound beer, from being elevated to a higher level of quality and authenticity. good, but still a full step away from great.