DeGroen's Marzen
Review Date 6/8/2001
Try?
Re-buy?
I have often been told that I
am a very difficult person to travel with. Whenever I set out with a
companion on a road trip to some part of these great United States, I will
always be informed by said companion that it takes much longer to get to our
destination than it would were I not in the vehicle. I suppose my companions
are onto something, since I do make it a habit to stop at every liquor
store, brewery, and brewpub along my path in search of good brew.
Though I can see their point, I would argue that what’s the sense of travel without exploration, of journey without examining the wonders along the way, of an expedition without adventure? To me, searching out new beers is all of the above, and its something I always do when I hit the roads. Almost always, I’ll end up bringing home some new beers as well as old favorites not available in my home market. Such was the case recently when I drove through Maryland and brought home a six-pack of DeGroen’s Marzen among other treasures.
Though Marzen beer was introduced as a style in Germany that was brewed in the spring and lagered in cool caves over the summer to be rolled out in September, DeGroen’s of Baltimore produces this brew year round. It is Reinheitsgebot compliant, meaning it conforms to the German beer purity law and is made with only malt, hops, yeast, and water.
DeGroen’s Marzen beer pours to a reddish gold color with a thick head formation and a candyish, buttery malt nose. The palate is packed with caramel malt character and a touch of nuttiness from genuine Munich malt. It’s very rich indeed; full of flavorful dextrin sugars that slide across the tongue and provide a full bodied drinking experience. There’s a touch of buttery diacetyl that is out of place in the style, and the beer has a little more candyish Caramel malt character than I’d like, but it’s still a very delicious brew indeed, even it does resemble an ale more than a lager in some respects. Nicely balanced with a kiss of Tettnangs and Hallertau Hersbrucker hops in the finish, one can easily drink lots of this brew. At 5.4 percent alcohol by volume, that shouldn’t pose a problem the next morning either.
I enjoyed this beer this evening with a frosted hot fresh-baked cinnamon roll. The sweetness of the beer upfront made it a nice pairing indeed.
Though I can see their point, I would argue that what’s the sense of travel without exploration, of journey without examining the wonders along the way, of an expedition without adventure? To me, searching out new beers is all of the above, and its something I always do when I hit the roads. Almost always, I’ll end up bringing home some new beers as well as old favorites not available in my home market. Such was the case recently when I drove through Maryland and brought home a six-pack of DeGroen’s Marzen among other treasures.
Though Marzen beer was introduced as a style in Germany that was brewed in the spring and lagered in cool caves over the summer to be rolled out in September, DeGroen’s of Baltimore produces this brew year round. It is Reinheitsgebot compliant, meaning it conforms to the German beer purity law and is made with only malt, hops, yeast, and water.
DeGroen’s Marzen beer pours to a reddish gold color with a thick head formation and a candyish, buttery malt nose. The palate is packed with caramel malt character and a touch of nuttiness from genuine Munich malt. It’s very rich indeed; full of flavorful dextrin sugars that slide across the tongue and provide a full bodied drinking experience. There’s a touch of buttery diacetyl that is out of place in the style, and the beer has a little more candyish Caramel malt character than I’d like, but it’s still a very delicious brew indeed, even it does resemble an ale more than a lager in some respects. Nicely balanced with a kiss of Tettnangs and Hallertau Hersbrucker hops in the finish, one can easily drink lots of this brew. At 5.4 percent alcohol by volume, that shouldn’t pose a problem the next morning either.
I enjoyed this beer this evening with a frosted hot fresh-baked cinnamon roll. The sweetness of the beer upfront made it a nice pairing indeed.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
