Märzen

{{Short description|Beer of Bavarian origin associated with Oktoberfest}} {{use dmy dates |date=December 2022}} {{italic title}} [[File:Masskruege.jpg|thumb|right|Festbier served at Oktoberfest in the traditional 1-litre ''Maß'']] '''''Märzen''''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmɛʁt͡sn̩|lang|De-Märzen.ogg}}) or '''''Märzenbier''''' ({{langx|de|March beer}}) is a lager that originated in Bavaria, Germany. It has a medium to full body and may vary in colour from pale through amber to dark brown.<ref name="BA">{{cite web |url=https://www.brewersassociation.org/edu/brewers-association-beer-style-guidelines/ |title=2022 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines |work=Brewers Association |access-date=April 14, 2022 }}</ref> It was the beer traditionally served at the Munich Oktoberfest.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/magazine/eat-and-drink/the-six-munich-breweries-at-oktoberfest|title=The six Munich breweries at Oktoberfest |work=Oktoberfest.de }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.foodandwine.com/beer/what-heck-oktoberfest-beer |title=What the Heck is an Oktoberfest Beer? |first=Mike |last=Pomranz |date=September 11, 2017 |work=Food & Wine |access-date=7 December 2022 }}</ref> The geographical indication '''Oktoberfestbier''' is protected in the EU and can only be used for ''Märzen'' that is brewed in Munich.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/oktoberfest-beer-awarded-eu-seal-approval-2022-10-28/ |title=Oktoberfest beer awarded EU seal of approval |newspaper=Reuters |date=28 October 2022 |access-date=7 December 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Jelisa |last=Castrodale |date=October 28, 2022 |url=https://www.foodandwine.com/oktoberfest-beer-munich-geographical-protection-european-commission-6823131 | title=Germany's Official Oktoberfest Beer Must Now be Brewed in Munich Under New Protection |work=Food & Wine |access-date=7 December 2022 }}</ref>

In Germany, Oktoberfestbier may also be called Festbier or Wiesnbier.

== History == ''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), as the high summertime temperatures were more likely to cause off-flavoured beer due to elevated ambient fermentation temperatures.<ref>{{Cite web|last=WDR|date=2020-08-26|title=München: Biergärten|url=https://www.planet-wissen.de/kultur/metropolen/muenchen_zwischen_renaissance_und_wolkenkratzern/pwiemuenchnerbiergaerten100.html|access-date=2021-08-25|website=www.planet-wissen.de|language=de}}</ref>

Märzen was brewed in March, with moderate and balanced hopping levels, malt and slightly higher alcohol content that would allow the beer to last while brewing new beer was forbidden from 24 April to 28 September. The beer was then allowed to lager in ice and straw filled beer cellars until autumn.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2017-02-02|title=Ein Bier nicht nur für einen Monat. Märzenbier – Mixology|url=http://mixology.eu/bier/ein-bier-nicht-nur-fur-einen-monat-marzenbier/|access-date=2021-08-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202025726/http://mixology.eu/bier/ein-bier-nicht-nur-fur-einen-monat-marzenbier/|archive-date=2017-02-02}}</ref>

The original ''Märzen'' was described as "dark brown, full-bodied, and bitter".<ref>"Oekonomische Encyklopädie" by Johann Georg Krünitz, 1773, vol. 5 p. 156.</ref> The beer was often kept in the cellar until late in the summer, and then served at the Oktoberfest.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Common names for ''Märzen'' in Germany and Austria include ''Märzenbier'', ''Wiener Märzen'', ''Festbier'' and ''Oktoberfestbier''.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

=== ''Märzen'' in Germany and Austria === ''Märzen'' is now a rarity in Germany and is mainly found in the South,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Bierentdecker |url=https://www.bierentdecker.com/bierwissen/maerzen |access-date=2021-08-26 |website=bierentdecker.com |language=de}}</ref> often in varieties that explicitly refer to its association with Oktoberfest, such as the "Oktoberfest Bier" from the Paulaner brewery.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oktoberfest Bier |url=https://www.paulaner.de/produkte/bierspezialitaeten/oktoberfest-bier/ |access-date=2021-08-26|website=Paulaner Brauerei München |language=de}}</ref> In Austria, however, ''Märzen'' is the name given to the most popular type of beer, but the Austrian ''Märzen'' is lighter in color and taste and corresponds, more or less, to a Bavarian Helles or Export beer. The reason for this has to do with Austrian post-war regulations which limited the prices of essential food and drink products. ''Märzenbier'' was a preferred variety due to its reputation as a festive drink and its high pre-war price, but brewers reduced its malt and alcohol content in order to maintain its profitability at its newly limited price.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

==Description== In comparison to a Bavarian pale lager, the traditional ''Märzen'' style is characterised by a fuller body, and a sweeter and often less hoppy flavour.<ref name=":0" /> It typically contains 5.1–6.0% alcohol by volume.<ref name="BA"/>

The Austrian style is light in colour, body and flavour balance, and is the most popular beer style among the beers in Austria.<ref>The New World Guide to Beer, Michael Jackson page 193, {{ISBN|0-7475-0227-7}}</ref> Austrian ''Märzenbiers'' often use caramel malts that impart a sweeter flavour than their German counterparts; other Austrian ''Märzen'' overlap stylistically with Munich-style ''Helles''.<ref name="BA"/>

Brewers in the Czech Republic have been producing ''Märzen'' style beer, called ''březňák'' or ''marcovní'' (March beer), since the 15th century. Today's equivalents are legally defined as 14° lagers called ''světlé speciální pivo'' (light special beer), ''polotmavé speciální pivo'' (half-dark special beer), and ''tmavé speciální pivo'' (dark special beer).{{cn|date=October 2024}}

In Lithuania, Švyturys produces a Märzen style beer called ''Baltijos''.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Żywiec, a Polish brewery, produces a ''Märzen'' style lager called ''piwo lager typu marcowe'' (March type lager beer), or simply "Marcowe".{{cn|date=October 2024}}

<gallery> Ayinger Maerzen 2013.JPG|Märzen from Ayinger Brewery, Bavaria Egger Märzenbier.jpg|Egger Märzen, Austria Svyturys Baltijos (9617429302).jpg|Švyturys Baltijos, Lithuania </gallery>

==See also== *Helles *Pale lager

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Marzen}} Category:German beer styles