Aries Märzen Oktoberfest - Empyrean Brewing Company

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle purchased from Brix in Omaha, NE.
Poured into a standard US pint glass.

Pours a 1.5cm head made up of medim-sized bubbles, fairly dense. Collapses in a few minutes to a 0.5cm film atop the body. Good lacing along sides of glass. Body is a light brown-copper color with orange-yellow highlights. Semi-transparent, lazy carbonation visible.

Aroma of iron or metal alongside a slightly smoky sweetness. Tangy, almost hags a sweet tea aspect to it. Also present is a biscuity, deep maltiness. Hop presence lacking.

Taste has a strange malt character to it, tangy and biscuity at the same time. Not unpleasant, but not pleasant, either. Malt character and whatever hops used are overwhelmed by this flavor. Not a taste I'd seek out again.

Medium to medium-heavy bodied with very good carbonation levels that make this a pleasure to drink. Finish is dry.

Overall, a unique Marzen, but the taste doesn't seem to work that well. One I won't revisit; just too many solid German options out there.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 19:55:16 | More by falloutsnow

j-rod18

North Dakota

4/5  rDev +10.2%

01-23-2013 21:08:20 | More by j-rod18

zeff80

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a clear, copper color with golden highlights. It had a small, short-lived head that left minimal lacing.

S - It smelled of caramel, some maltiness and floral notes.

T - It tasted sweet with strong caramel and toffee flavors. A slight floral hop bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and very smooth. A light to medium bodied ale with a dry clean finish.

O - This is a nice oktoberfest. It definitely leans toward the sweeter side of the spectrum.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2012 03:37:02 | More by zeff80

OregonGrown7

Nebraska

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

11-09-2012 23:27:23 | More by OregonGrown7

beerdhabelly

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

10-25-2012 14:42:25 | More by beerdhabelly

Chucker17

South Dakota

4/5  rDev +10.2%

10-23-2012 06:05:52 | More by Chucker17

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.05/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a conical pint glass.

The beer is a hazy dark honey amber, I'll call it. A light cream colored head recedes to a bubbly film. Rings of wet lacing stick to the glass.

The beer smells slightly sweet but it's muted. There's a good butter note in here, along with caramel and malts.

The taste is what I usually look for in a marzen: lots of sweet caramel, buttery toffee, and faint roasted malts. There's a very subtle hop bitterness in the finish, adding balance.

Mouthfeel is slightly carbonated, a little creamy, goes down good.

Overall, it's hard not to like this marzen. It's very sessionable, and goes down with ease. Good toffee and caramel notes, and balanced all the same.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 00:49:26 | More by JuicesFlowing

Herky21

Iowa

2.75/5  rDev -24.2%

09-26-2012 16:12:06 | More by Herky21

Hellpop65

Kansas

3/5  rDev -17.4%

09-23-2012 17:59:24 | More by Hellpop65

sgttibbs

Kansas

3/5  rDev -17.4%

09-17-2012 12:25:16 | More by sgttibbs

dbstuart88

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

09-13-2012 19:18:04 | More by dbstuart88

JackieTH

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Todd for sharing a six pack of this Marzen straight from Lincoln, NE.

Light coppery pour with a bubbly light head that leaves some lacing. Smell is roast/smoky malt and nuts, somewhat sweet, and tanins. Taste in tangy in a sweet orange zest sort of way that's hard to describe, along with earthy, crackers and biscuits malt presence that is fairly overwhelming. Medium-heavy body, well carbonated. Starts sweet and tangy, but finishes dry. Overall, this Marzen's tangy/earthy flavor combination isn't one I can say I'd want to seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2012 15:23:30 | More by JackieTH

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.93/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a nice caramel color with 2 fingers of tan head. Good head retention & great lacing

S: Breadyness, fruittyness & some grassyness once warm.

T: Breadyness, apple peel flavor, some caramel & grainyness up front. Dryness & grainy bread, some pear & apples as well as this warms. Finishes fruitty, grassy, & bready

MF: Medium bodied, fairly firm carbonation, nicely balanced

A nice marzen easily one of the best beers I've had from these guys, easy to drink

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 01:39:55 | More by russpowell

shade13

4/5  rDev +10.2%

07-27-2012 00:00:47 | More by shade13

beerbrains

Nebraska

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

07-21-2012 16:17:08 | More by beerbrains

ssjkyle

Nebraska

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

07-14-2012 04:32:33 | More by ssjkyle

RDW

Nebraska

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

03-04-2012 03:51:32 | More by RDW

Beer4yallNewchs

Missouri

1/5  rDev -72.5%

02-18-2012 05:31:34 | More by Beer4yallNewchs

Cramerican

North Dakota

4/5  rDev +10.2%

02-16-2012 03:05:52 | More by Cramerican

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

Thanks to JayQue (I believe...) for this bottle!

Throwing down an unexpected O-Fest with some decent cold flowing outside. It pours a dark sunset amber topped by a finger of cream-white foam. The nose comprises caramel, buttery biscuit, light orange peel, very light grass, and a vague sense of mild nuts. The taste follows pretty closely, though there's a tiny bit of mild cocoa deep in the bowels. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta dry finish. Overall, a nice little O-Fest, but one that's pretty easy to forget.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 05:21:32 | More by TMoney2591

BigRedN

Nebraska

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. The beer is a amber/orange color. My pour produced a nice whitish head, about 1 inch in height. Head fades as the beer is consumed, leaving a little patch and laces down the glass.

Smell: Malty aromas come from this beer. Hint of slightly sweet caramel and toffee with a tinge of slightly roasted nuts.

Taste: In line with a good Oktoberfest/Marzen style. Nice lightly sweet malt body (taste in line with the scent) with a slight bitterness on the finish. Beer is unfiltered and unpastuerized. Consume by Dec. notched on side. Mine appears to still be good; just as tasty as the first one I had in October.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied combined with a nice unforced natural, light, carbonation. The beer is not watery, or fizzy, yet is lively going down.

Overall: My final O-fest that I had been saving (best for last). A great representation of the style imo. Empyrean just started bottling their seasonal beers this year and I beleive this is the second one released. If they are all as good as this their seasonals will be not to miss selections when they come out.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 01:40:10 | More by BigRedN

budgood1

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours out a hazed sunset copper colour with an eggshell white foamy head. nice clingy lace. caramel malt aroma...bits and pieces of cocoa and toffee in the nose as well. taste is pleasant surprise of layered maltiness...not one dimensional like so many in it's class. the candy bar like nose follows through in the flavour department with some nougat and cocoa...i swear there is even some roasted peanut notes...very chewy and malty sweet. there is definitely some complexity to this marzen, and it makes for a delightful experience. this one has a well rounded body and a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. it doesn't drink like lager either...it seems to be bottle conditioned (unfiltered) and has a very yeasty feel to it. it is really tasty and therefore has a high degree of drinkability.

overall this is a real treat even though it certainly bends the blurs the lines of the traditional o-fest. definitely recommended and worth seeking out. yummy stuff here!

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2011 23:13:14 | More by budgood1

DesMoinesMike

Iowa

3.4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Random bottle pick at Beercrazy to celebrate marzen season.

It is a more brownish color, slightly hazy. The aroma has a touch of toffee and maybe some pumpkin spice. The taste seemed a tad earthy with caramel, toffee, and some...dirt. It also had a slight chalkiness that was rather distracting. The body seemed ok. I wasn't overly impressed with this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 03:07:23 | More by DesMoinesMike

ZAP

Minnesota

4.55/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Top notch ofest....brilliant burnt orange color...nice toasty aroma...flavor follows suit....love the toasted notes on the malt...vienna I am guessing..."just" 5.3% according to the stats I see here but seems more substantial....good solid medium bodied...clean and crisp texture...not overly sweet just a nice easy drinking malt forward lager with strong toasted malt notes....

This is a fine Ofest. Right up there with the best made in the US..

Would I buy this in a sixer? Absolutely!

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2011 23:07:10 | More by ZAP

dbossman

Nebraska

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear bronze hue with lots of bubbles and a thick consistent, foamy head; lacing is good

S: Sweet caramel malts on top of a somewhat musty and grassy graininess--also some faint citrus and herbal hops; quite bready

T: A nice balance of sweet caramel malts and herbal/citrus hop bitterness; sweet and bitter; grainy and citrus and bready; quite nice

F: Medium bodied and much creamier than would be expected from an Oktoberfest

O: A solid, balanced marzen; I'm quite impressed with this lager, Empyrean

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 16:33:07 | More by dbossman