Breckenridge Brewery - Oktoberfest Marzen Lager Review
Colorado loves its craft beer as much as we do here in Texas. If you’ve ever spent any time there you’d have certainly run across some very iconic breweries and beers. Breckenridge Brewery is one of those breweries. And they have been serving up beers to cold skiers since 1990.
They’ve expanded out of Breckenridge, Colorado, since then, but we can’t think of a better brewery to offer us an exceptional German seasonal, the Oktoberfest Marzen.
Breckenridge is nestled in the Rocky Mountains, reminding us a little of the Bavarian Alps, and setting the perfect backdrop for their Marzen, which they describe as “an elegant German Amber Lager that’s true to style and exceptionally smooth. Bready, toasty aromas and flavors mingle with light malty sweetness. Soft mouthfeel and a touch of hops combine to offer a clean, dry finish.” This lager comes in at a traditional 6% ABV and 20 IBU.
A little secret—we love our Marzen lagers… a LOT! But that makes our standard for them higher, so let’s see how Breckenridge’s Marzen stands up in our…
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Deep golden/amber color. Very clear, and topped with a beige head that diminished quickly.
On the Nose--Toasty and malty, promising that traditional flavor and ABV. Notes of caramel mix well with the bready aromas. Crisp, refreshing, and ready to drink.
On the Palate--The flavor is a lot more toasty to me than bready, though both are certainly present, with a dark malt character that matches the darker color of this lager. The bitterness is mild, with a touch of noble and floral hop character. The finish is clean and dry, and the beer presents a soft mouthfeel and full body, while still remaining crisp on the tongue, as a lager should. It is malt-forward, as expected, but that little bit of hop bitterness does add balance to this Marzen.
Final Thoughts:
American beer companies have a tendency to take certain liberties with traditions and recipes, and this is truly what makes the American craft beer scene so eclectic and often surprising, but sometimes tradition is king. And this is the case with Oktoberfest beers to us. The tradition of these beers is hundreds of years deep, making it hard to alter honestly and effectively.
I can say that Breckenridge has something special going on with their Oktoberfest Marzen Lager. First, This really is a Marzen lager, not just labeled as one. Some American beer companies opt out of making a lager for the easier and quicker route of an ale with Oktoberfest malt and hops. And they often do it successfully, but I really appreciate the extra effort by Breckenridge. Second, they really grasped the idea of the Marzen lager by not shying away from the deeper, sweeter malts, giving it rich character, full mouthfeel, and a dry finish. And third, Breckenridge did add their own flair by making something rich and toasty and more drinkable for the American palate, while not veering too far from tradition.
If you like the dark, malty, and rich Marzen lagers, get Breckenridge Brewery’s Oktoberfest while you can. And if you really like it, they are selling it in a pretty cool mini-keg. Check it out.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew