Märzen

Ayinger Märzen

Märzen or Märzenbier (German: March or March beer) is a lager that originated in Bavaria. It has a medium to full body and may vary in color from pale through amber to dark brown.

History

Märzen (or alternatively Maerzen) has its origins in Bavaria, probably before the 16th century. A Bavarian brewing ordinance decreed in 1553^[1] that beer may be brewed only between 29 September and 23 April. The Märzen was brewed in March (März in German is "March") according to a special recipe that would allow the beer to last while the brewing of new beer was forbidden between 24 April and 28 September. The original Märzen was described as "dark brown, full-bodied, and bitter".^[2] The beer was often kept in the cellar until late in the summer, and remaining bottles were served at the Oktoberfest.

Description

Märzen served at Oktoberfest in the traditional 1-litre Maß.

The style is characterized by a medium to full body, a malty flavour, and a clean dry finish. In Germany, the term covers beers which vary in colour from pale (Helles Märzen), through amber to dark brown (Dunkles Märzen).^[3] Common names for Märzen include Märzenbier, Wiener Märzen, Festbier, and Oktoberfestbier.

The Austrian style is light in colour, body, and flavour balance, and is the most popular beer style among the beers in Austria.^[4] Austrian Märzenbiers often use caramel malts that impart a sweeter flavour than their German counterparts.

Brewers in the Czech Republic also produce pale, amber, and dark beers in the Märzen style, called respectively 14° Světlé Speciální Pivo, Polotmavé Speciální Pivo, and Tmavé Speciální Pivo.^[5]

Several American breweries produce their own versions of Oktoberfest-style lager, though few ferment to the same length as traditional Märzen. Interstate-circulated breweries which produce seasonal Oktoberfests include Sam Adams, Great Divide (whose offering is called Hoss), Goose Island, Leinenkugel, Bayern Brewing and Abita. These beers tend to be on the darker amber side of the Oktoberfestbier spectrum.

References

↑ "Märzenbier" by Dorst Hornbusch, page 573, "The Oxford Companion to Beer" edited by Garrett Oliver, 2012
↑ "Oekonomische Encyklopädie" by Johann Georg Krünitz, 1773, vol. 5 page 156.
↑ "Bierspezialitäten". Märzen. Deutscher Brauer Bund. Retrieved 2006-11-02.
↑ The New World Guide to Beer, Michael Jackson page 193, ISBN 0-7475-0227-7
↑ Czech Breweries

Beer styles

Ale Lager

Beer in Belgium	Dubbel Flanders red ale Lambic Framboise Gueuze Kriek Oud bruin Quadrupel Saison Tripel Witbier

Beer in Germany	Altbier Berliner Weisse Bock Dortmunder Export Dunkel Gose Pale lager Kellerbier Kölsch Märzen Roggenbier Schwarzbier Smoked beer Wheat beer Zoigl

Beer in the UK	Barley wine Bitter Brown ale India pale ale Mild ale Old ale Porter Scotch ale Stout

Beer in the US	Amber ale American Pale Ale American wild ale Cream ale Ice lager Kentucky common beer Pumpkin ale Steam beer

Other	Baltic porter Bière de Garde Copper ale Corn beer Grodziskie/Grätzer Hard soda Irish red ale Light beer Malt beer Millet beer Pale ale Pilsner Rye beer Sahti Small beer Sour beer Vienna lager

See also	History of beer Beer and breweries by region Beer sommelier Adjuncts Low-alcohol beer Seasonal beer

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Märzen

History

Description

See also

References