8.1

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5

12 ounce bottle into dimpled mug; no bottle dating, but is a recent release. Pours hazy dark ruby red/copper color with a 1 finger dense off white head with good retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with some light streaming carbonation. Aromas of big caramel, toffee, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, molasses, light nuttiness, light roast, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Very nice aromas with good balance and complexity of dark/bready malt and slight earthy hop notes; with good strength. Taste of big caramel, toffee, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, molasses, light nuttiness, light roast, and herbal/toasted earthiness. Minimal herbal bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of caramel, toffee, toast, brown sugar, brown bread, molasses, light nuttiness/roast, and toasted earthiness on the finish for a while. Damn nice complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop flavors; with zero cloying sweetness after the finish. Very clean on lager flavors with minimal yeast ester notes present. Medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very smooth, creamy, and slightly slick/bready mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is well hidden with a light warming present after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Marzen style. All around great robustness, balance, and complexity of dark/bready malt and light earthy hop flavors; and very smooth to drink for the ABV. Seems like a cross between a Bock and a Marzen, but is still a very enjoyable offering.