Märzen

''Märzen'' () or ''Märzenbier'' () is a lager that originated in Bavaria, Germany. It has a medium to full body and may vary in colour from pale through amber to dark brown. It was the beer traditionally served at the Munich Oktoberfest. The geographical indication Oktoberfestbier is protected in the EU and can only be used for ''Märzen'' that is brewed in Munich.

In Germany, Oktoberfestbier may also be called Festbier or Wiesn.

History

''Märzen'' has its origins in Bavaria, probably before the 16th century. A Bavarian brewing ordinance decreed in 1553 that beer may be brewed only between 29 September (St. Michael's Day or Michaelmas) and 23 April (St. George's Day or Georgi), as the high summertime temperatures were more likely to cause off-flavoured beer due to elevated ambient fermentation temperatures.

Märzen was brewed in March, with moderate and balanced hopping levels, malt and slightly higher alcohol content that would allow the beer to last while brewing new beer was forbidden from 24 April to 28 September. The beer was then allowed to lager in ice and straw filled beer cellars until autumn.

The original ''Märzen'' was described as "dark brown, full-bodied, and bitter". The beer was often kept in the cellar until late in the summer, and then served at the Oktoberfest.

Common names for ''Märzen'' in Germany and Austria include ''Märzenbier'', ''Wiener Märzen'', ''Festbier'' and ''Oktoberfestbier''.

''Märzen'' in Germany and Austria

''Märzen'' is now a rarity in Germany and is mainly found in the South, often in varieties that explicitly refer to its association with Oktoberfest, such as the "Oktoberfest Bier" from the Paulaner brewery. In Austria, however, ''Märzen'' is the name given to the most popular type of beer, but the Austrian ''Märzen'' is lighter in color and taste and corresponds, more or less, to a Bavarian Helles or Export beer. The reason for this has to do with Austrian post-war regulations which limited the prices of essential food and drink products. ''Märzenbier'' was a preferred variety due to its reputation as a festive drink and its high pre-war price, but brewers reduced its malt and alcohol content in order to maintain its profitability at its newly limited price.

Description

In comparison to a Bavarian pale lager, the traditional ''Märzen'' style is characterised by a fuller body, and a sweeter and often less hoppy flavour. It typically contains 5.1–6.0% alcohol by volume.

The Austrian style is light in colour, body and flavour balance, and is the most popular beer style among the beers in Austria.The New World Guide to Beer, Michael Jackson page 193, Austrian ''Märzenbiers'' often use caramel malts that impart a sweeter flavour than their German counterparts; other Austrian ''Märzen'' overlap stylistically with Munich-style ''Helles''.

Brewers in the Czech Republic have been producing ''Märzen'' style beer, called ''březňák'' or ''marcovní'' (March beer), since the 15th century. Today's equivalents are legally defined as 14 ° lagers called ''světlé speciální pivo'' (light special beer), ''polotmavé speciální pivo'' (half-dark special beer), and ''tmavé speciální pivo'' (dark special beer).

In Lithuania, Švyturys produces a Märzen stlye beer called ''Baltijos''.

Żywiec, a Polish brewery, produces a ''Märzen'' style lager called ''piwo lager typu marcowe'' (March type lager beer), or simply "Marcowe".

Ayinger Maerzen 2013.JPG, Märzen from Ayinger Brewery, Bavaria
Egger Märzenbier.jpg, Egger Märzen, Austria
Svyturys Baltijos (9617429302).jpg, Å vyturys Baltijos, Lithuania

See also

*Helles
*Pale lager

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marzen
German beer styles