Gordon Biersch Märzen

Bottled in San Jose, CA on: 08/12/09 at 09:52. My, how precise! Appearance: Pours out a clear, golden-amber body with a modestly-sized, somewhat fizzy, white head. Smell: Toasty, lightly sweet-smelling nose with slighter notes of light caramel, fruit, and spicy hops. Taste: Sweetish Pils malts and toasty-tasting Munich malts graciously supplemented with a few extra oven-toasted bread crusts. Very small hint of light caramel sweetness. There’s a vague hint of fruit in the distant background. Proper Noble hops provide a zesty spiciness and a light, complimentary bitterness. Finishes dry, lightly bitter, and fairly crisp. Mouthfeel: Medium-light body. Medium-plus carbonation. Drinkability: A decent, acceptable lil’ O-fest with just the right amount of maltiness, hoppiness, and overall drinkability.

Clear amber color with a fleeting head. Malty spicy cinnamon sweetbread aromas. Medium body. Mild malty sweetbread yeasty flavors with some fall spices.

Serving: Draft. Appearance: Golden orange color with a small, foamy, white head. Aroma: Mild nose with toasted malt and floral notes. Flavor: Sweet maltiness with toasted notes and a decent, crisp hop bite. Palate: Medium carbonation with a medium mouthfeel and a medium-short finish. Overall: Based on the ratings, I am guessing this one is much better on draft. While it wasn’t anything spectacular, it was a solid Marzen in my mind.

Bottle. Clear amber, thin head. Not much for an aroma, overly malty taste, mild hops. Cheap at the supermarkets and it’s better than bud.

12oz bottle. clear amber under a medium sized head. toasty caramel aroma. high carbonation with a medium body. flavors are mild. lacks the creamy palate and toasty flavors of better marzens.

Light brown pour. Sweet malty aroma. Very sweet syrupy flavor. Smooth finish.

ON tap at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa. A nice light brown pour. Notes of malt on the nose with the sweetness of malts that give into a very dry and easy finish.

On tap at the Bollingbrook, IL. location. GB logo pint served, a clear, amber/brown with an off white, foaming head that gradually diminished to a film and thin ring, and left some curtains of lacing. The aroma was toasty and smooth malt. The flavor added just a hint of sweetness and a nice, subtle dryness to the palate. A clean, refreshing Marzen and one of the better examples I’ve sampled this season.