Märzen

Ayinger Märzen

Märzen has its origins in Bavaria, probably before the 16th century. A Bavarian brewing ordinance decreed in 1553 that beer may be brewed only between 29 September (St. Michael's Day or Michaelmas) and 23 April (St. George's Day or Georgi).

Märzen was brewed in March, with more hops and slightly higher alcohol content that would allow the beer to last while the brewing of new beer was forbidden from 24 April to 28 September.

The original Märzen was described as "dark brown, full-bodied, and bitter".[2] The beer was often kept in the cellar until late in the summer, and remaining bottles were served at the Oktoberfest.

The style is characterized by a medium to full body, a malty flavour and a clean dry finish. In Germany, the term covers beers which vary in colour from pale (Helles Märzen), through amber to dark brown (Dunkles Märzen).[3] Common names for Märzen include Märzenbier, Wiener Märzen, Festbier and Oktoberfestbier.

The Austrian style is light in colour, body and flavour balance, and is the most popular beer style among the beers in Austria.[4] Austrian Märzenbiers often use caramel malts that impart a sweeter flavour than their German counterparts.

Brewers in the Czech Republic also produce pale, amber and dark beers in the Märzen style, called respectively 14° Světlé Speciální Pivo (light special beer), Polotmavé Speciální Pivo (half-dark special beer), and Tmavé Speciální Pivo (dark special beer).

Żywiec, a Polish brewery, produces a Märzen style lager called piwo lager typu marcowe (March type lager beer), or simply "Marcowe".

• Helles
• Pale lager