Better Bitters Nickel Brook Marzen

Brewed by Better Bitters Brewing Co.
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Burlington, Canada

this one was a real nice seasonal by nickel brook. deep maroon colour with an off white head. the malt profile dominated the aroma and flavour but the was enough hopping to make the finish just slightly bitter. only 2 batches were made in its first year so samples may be hard to come by. one of the better beers from this brewery.

Sampled second batch from the bright tank at the brewery: A turbid copper-amber beer with a smallish off white cap. Aromas of toasty grains, noble woodiness and a pungent earthy tone. Seemed rather 2 dimensional with toasty bread dough tastes balanced with beechwood twiggy noble hop notes and a rich earthy mustiness... dries up in the finish. Sweetness totally in tow with hop balance. I think this sample was not conditioned enough to have a fully developed finished character so I will re-rate when I pick up a few cases of this batch in a couple weeks. According to the grain and hop bill this Marzen holds promise. It seemed right on style profile but a tad undeveloped

Bottle, thanks Mat7215! Dark murky brown, creamy off white head, looks good. Dark fruit aroma, mild to medium. Taste - more dark fruit, earthy malt, dry, hint of smoke and roast in finish. The finish is actually the best part - a really interesting earthy leathery sort of mix. This is a grower - this beer gets far better as you sip it - I was really underwhelmed on first sip and really enjoying it at the end. Even some coffee now in finish as I type this. Complex, good medium body. These guys can really throw some interesting stuff at you now and then, good effort Nickel brook, thanks for making something to think about (cannot be said of many local offerings).

On tap at Volo. Pours a dark copper with a slightly soapy white head. Mild aroma with caramel and grass. Taste is similar but has a decent roastiness to it. Found this one a bit underwhelming.

20oz draught
5.2% ABV
I tried this beer on tap on november 13, 2009 at "Smokeless Joe’s" in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The beer poured a translucent copp[er colour with a thin tan head. The aroma was sweet malt, grass, and some hops...all backed by a mellow fruit tone. The mouthfeel was medium bodied with medium carbonation. The flavour was sweet malt, some grass, some peary tones, and a nice bitter finish.

341 ml bottle, trade with Matt7215. Pours reddy copper in colour, with modest tan head. Aroma is sweet, roasted malt, hints of toffee. Taste again is sweet, caramel malt. Really enjoyable!

Bottle courtesy of matt7215. Pours dark copper with a white head. Smells of caramel, some earthy hints, tea. Tastes of earth, tea, soe sweet citrus, caramel. Good.

On tap at Victory Cafe. Appearance: plum red with a small dirty cream head. Aroma: that awful grass hop that I personally dislike. Wet cardboard, malt and a tiny bit of spice. Flavour: again with those hops, grass, hay, malt, some mild nuttiness, wood and sawdust. Tick.