German / Imported Märzens

That Knob Creek is gonna really overpower that subtle lager!

 

Bottled May 12, 2020.

 

May 12, 2020.

 

Probably so a blander AAL is a better match I think. This KC isn’t as volatile as an Islay, but still robust with a Fest.

 

Thank you! Taste pretty dam good I tell you what

 

Ayinger gets the gold medal from me for the German imports I've had this year. Now if I was in a drinking contest I would switch over to one of the festbiers.

 

Dale, it has the similar breadiness of German Pilsner Malt but lacks the hops (in all three phases: bitterness, flavor and aroma) of a Pilsner.

As my buddy John would say: "It's the same but completely different".

Cheers!

 

Seriously? I just brought home a six-pack of the same date code. I am smitten. My feeling was "Sweet mother of god, why do other breweries even try?" If I did not need to have a bit of work done I'd be on the third bottle right now.

 

Yeah, my first reaction was "wow, it doesn't taste how it looks."

Sometimes beers tend to grow on you too, especially in light of too high expectations; I'm not one to put too much stock in first impressions. Plus, it seems like Dale actually did enjoy it, so all one can hope is that he enjoys it more each time.

 

I had the first one with a barrel proof bourbon, the 2nd one was much different, I thought that pretty nice beer. As much as I love my beer and bourbon, that was a bad mix trying to evaluate a new beer, but it was still a great experience. But wrong beer, Budweiser with the KC would have been a better choice.

 

I drank the first one nipping at 120 proof bourbon, that was my mistake. The second one was great though, I would sill love to have it fresh from the tap, even being a seasonal that beer is very likely 3-4 months old. I’ll get a better feel this afternoon.

 

The date code suggests last week of June, so exactly 2 months.

 

My liquor store had a ton of variety last night, probably all the commonly mentioned brands except Spaten. Also - quite a few local domestic versions, although many of those are a hard, hard pass for me.

 

That’s as fresh as any imported beer can get, good to know. I’ll start with a clean palate this afternoon.

 

It’s usually the first seasonal to show up here, funny the Pumpkin beer selection was very minimal, I’m supposing retailers are tired of getting burned holding inventory after the season.

 

Personally, since I've never really got into a situation where I'd feel that the beer is well past its prime I can't help but wonder - is my palate that bad? Or is freshness just a marketing move pushed by the domestic craft industry to steer people towards taprooms? Of course, since I am absolutely not an IPA/stout/etc. drinker it could be that I just have never had a beer where freshness really matters.

 

That's just a convenience for the distributor. You shouldn't be reading it... nothing to see here, move along.

 

It does with most IPAs, depends on the Hops depends on the brewer. Low oxygen level in the bottle or can extends the life of the beer. Alchemist and Sierra Nevada as an example of brewers who are fanatical on low oxygen levels. Most Lagers are pretty forgiving as a style though, but still brewers make their products to be had fresh. Stouts well battled easily 5 years is fine, sours age well, the hoppier the beer usually the more time sensitive. I have a shitty palate, but there are guys who are super tasters, but that’s not me.