Penn Märzen

Brewed by Pennsylvania Brewing Company
Style: Oktoberfest/Märzen
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA

Pours a beautiful bronze body and a tall light khaki head. The aroma comes across with a lovely earthiness. Flavor brings some toasted and buttered all-grain breads, some toffee, a nice rounded nuttiness with a gist of smoke; all followed by suggestions of lemongrass and a mildly bitter doughyness. The body is medium and leaves the lips lightly sticky… Overall, not a beer that has infinite character, yet it’s one of the most authentic Marzens I’ve ever had!

This is one of the biggest surprises I have had from this type of style. This is so well balanced, the aroma has some great caramel and toffee flavors and that follows right through into the flavor profile.

(12 oz bottle: Belmont Station in Portland, OR) This actually reminds me of Spaten Oktoberfest, which for me is a good thing because it’s one of my favorite Oktoberfest beers. This beer’s aroma of worty and caramely maltiness easily captures my attention and makes me eager to see if the flavor can match up. Perhaps less boldly flavorful than I hoped, it is still a fairly tasty offering, the caramely maltiness being the dominant flavor, though I’m still reminded of the worty maltiness typical in German Oktoberfests. Bitterness is very light, but the sweetness is moderate, and that’s the one component of the flavor I consider a negative. Body is medium with a solid carbonation. The color is a lovely deep ruddy amber and with good clarity, the carbonation bubbles are easily visible. The off-white head only pours to maybe half an inch and soon fades to a small ring. Overall, this isn’t an outstanding Oktoberfest beer, but I certainly found it quite enjoyable. Except for the hideous label, wow, the neon colors are downright garish.

No nonsense straight forward Marzen. Light bitterness, caramel malts and sweetness are all in this brew. Label was a bit cheesy, but for two bucks a bottle at Old Chicago in Trevose how could I complain.

"One of Michael Jackson’s 24 favorite American beers." Thats quite reaasuring. But seriously this beer is quality. Being a Pittsburgher i hold Penn Brewery to a high standard and they meet it with this caramel toned concoction. Good malts and a fine finish. MMM Happy St. Mardiricks.

Bottle: Hazy amber, some sediment, small foamy off-white head, spotty lacing, lively carbonation.   Malty nose, slightly bready and biscuity.   Malty, slightly nutty, soft, smooth on the tongue.   Seems a tad thin on the palate tho.   Well balanced, minor hop presense.   Enjoyable, but perhaps a bit too light.   Thanks Bill!

Cool Mardi Gras/St. Patricks day label. A light copper color with a tan head. A mildly sweet pleasant aroma. An excellent beer. A slight caramel, sweet taste with a slightly sour finish. Really well done and very good.

Pour a copper, very clear, with a tall off-white head. Aroma is slightly minerally, with a light caramel sweetness and grassy hopping. Taste has more of a bitter grassy hoppiness up front followed by a warming caramel center and finishing mostly balanced, just a touch on the bitter side. Very nice smooth oktoberfest.