Smoked Märzen

Intense smoke dominates upon fi rst sniff, with a distinctive beechwood-lox character. The smokiness covers any trace of hops, but some toasty, grainy malt aroma does escape. The flavor is initially reminiscent of cured meat (ham or bacon). Some toasty melanoidins complement the pervasive smoke flavor, leaving a nutty, bread crust character at the finish that helps achieve an overall balance, as the hop presence is muted. The flavor is carried by the persistent layers of smoke that range all the way to campfi re and ashy. This beer would be a perfect accompaniment to sausage or hearty cheese.