I was curious if a brewery within NJ distribution did marzen all year round wether its import or craft? I really enjoy the style and would like to drink it year round if possible but do not want to buy the beers still on the shelf sitting there for 6 months i doubt they would hold up. Any help? Thanks.
I don't know of any brewery that brews a year-round Märzen. Some of the German versions have a best before date of one year and hold up pretty well over time, but I avoid them if they have been sitting around for several months, as it sounds like you do too. Vienna lagers probably come closest to matching the style and I usually enjoy them throughout the year to hold me over until fresh Märzenbier is available. Some good ones in our area are Neshaminy Creek Churchville Lager and Great Lakes Eliot Ness.
No prob. They're not the perfect substitutes for a good Märzen, but they do the job when I'm looking for something crisp with that bready malt flavor. Churchville Lager is great, highly recommend it.
If you also like Rauchbier, this beer is sort of a cross between Marzen and Rauchbier, and is year round from Saucony Creek, which makes it over into NJ: http://sauconybeer.com/beers/kutztown-lager?age-verified=febbc0c1df
