New Beer – Bellfield Märzen Festival Lager
Bellfield Märzen Festival Lager (5.7% ABV) is our newest beer and our first, darker coloured lager.
It's a classic Märzen, brewed with all German hops. Hallertauer Mittelfruh is the traditional, noble German hop for this beer. In our version, Mittelfruh is combined with Saphir – a newer hop, bred as a disease resistant alternative to Mittelfruh.
They both share the same, grassy and herbal aromatic qualities with the Saphir contributing subtle floral, spice and tangerine aromas.
Traditionally this style of beer would have been brewed in March (hence the name), at the end of the brewing season.
It would have been the last beer brewed before the summer and would have been conditioned and then served at the start of the new brewing season, celebrated at Oktoberfest.
But as a style, Märzen fell out of favour especially in recent years when it was regarded as too high strength for Oktoberfest.
However, we think it's a highly drinkable style that’s well worth celebrating.
It's also technically interesting to brew because as our brewer Keith explains, you need to balance out the sweetness of the malt with a dry, lager finish.
Our version is deep amber in colour and filled with bready/brioche and toasted malt character from the Vienna and Munich malts, with a balanced hop bitterness. We’ve also used a small amount of buckwheat to aid head retention and to contribute a subtle spice and nuttiness to the flavour profile.
Together with our recently launched Three Rivers Pils (also currently available in mini keg), it is available on its own, or as part of a new mixed lagers case along with award-winning Bohemian Pilsner and Craft Lager.
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