- Germany
- Lager
- ABV = 5.6 – 6.3% (Normal to elevated)^
- IBU = 18-24
- SRM = 8-17
A malt-forward German amber lager with rich, toasty and bready malt flavour, restrained bitterness, and a dry finish.
Appearance:
- Colour^ = Gold to dark amber
- Clarity = Brilliant
Key Aromas & Flavours:
Aroma
- Malt = Moderate; malty rich, typically bready, toasty, with light bread crust notes
- Hops = None to very low; floral, herbal, or spicy, if present
- Yeast = Clean fermentation profile
- Other = Very light alcohol may be detected, but should never be sharp/harsh
Flavour
- Malt = Moderate to high; malty rich, typically bready and toasty
- Hops = None to low; floral, herbal, or spicy, if present
- Yeast = Clean fermentation profile
- Perceived Bitterness^ = Moderate
- Balance = Towards the malt, but hops provide sufficient balance that the malty palate and finish do not seem sweet
Aftertaste/Finish
Moderately-dry to dry with a richly malty aftertaste
Mouthfeel:
- Body = Medium; smooth
- Carbonation = Medium
- Alcohol warmth = May be slightly warming, but the strength should be relatively hidden
Characteristic Ingredients/Processes:
- Malt = Munich malt
- Hops = German hop varietals
- Yeast = German lager yeast
- Process = Decoction mashing is traditional
Historical Development:
The name Märzen, or “March beer”, historically applied to stronger beers brewed in March and lagered in cold caves over the summer.
The modern Märzen traces back to the strong amber lager developed by Spaten Brewery in 1841. This style was first served at Germany’s Oktoberfest in 1872 and remained the standard festival beer until 1990, when the golden Festbier was adopted instead.
Commercial Examples:
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfest Märzen, Paulaner Oktoberfest, Weltenburg Kloster Anno 1050
^Sourced from the Cicerone Certification Program’s International Certified Beer Server Syllabus (Version 5.0)
All other information is sourced from the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines
Discovering Beer is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Cicerone® Certification Program.
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