Difference between Maibock and Marzen

Märzenbier originated long before the Oktoberfest, it was a process for all beers at one time -- brewed in March to last the summer while brewing capabilities were lessened.

Attaching the term specifically to Oktoberfest beers came when Sedlmayr brewed his Amber beer in March and offered it for sale during the fest. It had truly lagered the whole summer -- unlike most Märzenbier that was consumed through the season and polished off in autumn.

Always a favorite piece of reference at this time of year: The Birth of Lager, by Jackson. Sedlmayr's Märzen discussed toward the end.

Ain't that the truth.

 

Interesting. Not had that one, myself. I love Klosterbäu's Maibock, which is pretty pale. Spent a couple of Maibock Festivals in Amsterdam drinking little else.

 

I said "more than 100 years". I was being deliberately vague, mind. Not having enough arsing in me to look the dates up properly. Full-time job + beer shit.

 

I wonder if Hofbräu would agree with the 1-year freshness dates that other German breweries put on their bottles that are imported here?

 

I think most all European breweries give their beers one year shelf life.

FWIW, I know a couple retailers around here who still have HB Maibock on shelves -- in coolers too.

 

A Märzen is my favorite session beer!

Ya, what @steveh said. I also know of one store around me that I think I recently saw HB's Maibock sitting in their cooler. I almost grabbed it...almost.

I think you're shit out of luck trying to do a side by side with their Maibock and Oktoberfestbier. One is probably brewed for export in January/February, and hits stores around March/April. The other is brewed in May/June (if you're lucky) and hits stores in August.

If you tried it in the Spring, you're looking at potentially a nearly year old Oktoberfestbier. If you try it in the late summer, you're looking at a nearly 6 - 7 month old Maibock. Given the strength of the latter, I would try it now if you can find any HB Maibock kicking around anywhere.

Thinking about your question more though, considering Hofbrau's is amber, it wouldn't necessarily align with Hofbrau's Oktoberfestbier, given that's pale. And US brewers, the few that actually brew a Helles Bock, wouldn't be brewing it until the Spring as well.

 

Feel pretty damn lucky to have a HB here in Pittsburgh. May is certainly one of my favorite months to make the trip over.

 

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29402/242639/

 

Wow, there's not one thing correct with that name.

It's not Marzen or session strength. And you can't technically even call it an Oktoberfest, obviously not being one of the Munich breweries brewing the beer for the festival.

 

Einbecker Maibock in cans rocks though.

 

Like to see cans over here instead of the green bottles -- even though they're "wrapped," the 2 bottles on each end of the six-pack are always susceptible to the light.

 

I am drinking a sixer of warsteiner and it has the slogan das einjzig wahre. I assumed meaning the original oktoberfestbier? Is that on their original too?

 

Not the original. Warsteiner is over 500 kilometers from Munich. I don't remember them making an Oktoberfest until a few years back. Th translation I get is "the real thing", so marketing speak.

 

Style-wise, a Maibock and Märzen are very different beers in Germany!

Alcohol: Maibock is generally a much stronger Bavarian Helles (6-7%). A Märzen is generally in the 5+% range

Malts: a Märzen usually has a very large dose of Munich malt, usually between 40 - 50% of the grist, sometimes even more in smaller breweries in Bavaria. A Maibock has only around 10 to 20% more specialty malts thrown in, like Amber, Vienna or Munich malt. The rest is Pilsner malt.

Color-wise, a Maibock is deep, dark yellow to a light orange, whereas a Märzen is deep orange to amber color.

Flavor-wise, they're also very different. A Maibock is hopped more in the Helles direction, and again the Märzen is lightly hopped to not interfere with the strong caramel flavors of the high Munich malt component.

I reiterate, completely different beers!

 

"Das einzig Wahre" is Warsteiner's marketing slogan

 

I have never drank a maibock that tasted like a marzen. The American marzen, at least.