Maerzen

Heiner Brau’s German owner/brewmaster produces traditional lagers in Covington, La., with his German-style Maerzen being the brewery’s flagship brand. With brilliant clarity, a gorgeous amber/orange hue and a thick layer of off-white foam, this beer’s appearance elicited a unanimous “thumbs-up” from the panel. Chris noted, “The amber color is capped by a frothy, rocky, ivory head.” Moving to the aroma, Owen found “a landscape of mild malt and toast notes with hints of caramelized sugar and floral, noble hops.” The nose seems geared toward malt with nuances of caramel, toffee and toasted bread, accompanied by hints of oxidation as the beer warms. With a creamy, medium body and flavors of soft malt and light, spicy hop notes, this delectable yet restrained version of the style seems a bit shallow in malt-derived, toasty, biscuity melanoidin complexity. Phil described it as “a neutral quality to the flavor and finish.” Hop flavor seems restrained, but some clean hop bitterness provides an appropriate balance that avoids an overly sweet ending. Chris noticed that “the malt is not as bright and fresh as one might expect for this style, and some caramel is evident.” Cristina added, “The malt character lacks complexity initially, but some toasty and bready notes become more pronounced as the beer warms.”