Duck-Rabbit Märzen - The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

marvin213

North Carolina

2.25/5  rDev -40.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

It's a normal brown lager except for the carbon dioxide that laces even the bottom sides of my Duck Rabbit glass. Despite the obvious presence of gaseous bubbles, there is essentially no head. For a brown beverage, it's clear and just translucent enough to appear clean and pure.

It smells much like the look: basic festive lager. The maltiness in these brews adds a sweetness to the nose, and it's "oktoberfest" enough to conjure senses of pumpkin. Lagers typically lack the appeal of ales, but its simplicity again offers an edge.

The taste, unfortunately, is lacking. What I perceived as simple purity has played out as diluted disappointment. Where I might usually shy away from the flavorful marzen, this one leaves me wondering how substance escaped it. If it weren't for the beer bubbles, I'd wonder if it were flat. An unabashed homer, I'm still quick to call this the least enjoyable and, in fact, the most disposable of the Duck Rabbit fleet.

Without the festive flavor of traditional oktoberfests, this feels like an ordinary brown lager...and who wants an ordinary brown lager? With mouthfeel and drinkability, there's just nothing to it--not awful, but blah. While I'm supportive of DR expanding its repertoire, the dark beer specialists need to revamp the marzen.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2009 21:23:07 | More by marvin213

crossovert

Wisconsin

2.5/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle.

It pours a bit darker and redder than the average Maerzen. The head is foamy and slightly off-white and it recedes pretty quickly, but with some decent lacing.

The smell is pretty standard, there is a hint more caramel in teh smell of this one in comparison to other maerzens.

The flavor is odd, it has an astringent bitterness ot it and some hints of chocolate. It has an odd sweetness too, It isn't very good unfortunately.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2010 23:23:11 | More by crossovert

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.1/5  rDev -17.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330ml bottle served into an Oversized glass.Enjoyed on may´11.
Pours reddish amber in color.Cloudy.Brief large bubble white in color head.No lacing. Intense caramel malt aroma & flavor. Slightly toasted malt on palate & sweetness mouthfeel.Medium body, soft carbonation.Peach & rough quince finish.Astringent fruit aftertaste.Quite cloying sensation.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 10:35:22 | More by GONZALOYANNA

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.18/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

$2.00 single bottle from Abe's.

A darkish orange/light brown body, topped by three fingers of fuzzy off-white foam.

Toasty caramel aroma. Ok, but not highly enticing.

Caramel malt in the middle of the tongue. Toast. Needs more depth. An abundance of noble hops. Leans to the hoppy side far more than classic marzens.

Good mouthfeel. Certainly drinkable.

More malt depth and less hops please. Not bad, but not a classic interpretation. Worth a try but keep expectations low.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 04:31:22 | More by RonfromJersey

Jwale73

Rhode Island

3.2/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Bucketboy for the generous extra. Served in my DFH Goblet. Pours a sem-hazy mahogany (a bit dark for a Marzen), with a quarter inch, loose, off-white head that dissipates into a swirl and a dollop with a thin, bubbly band around the edges. Head refreshes with a swirl and spots of lacing are revealed during tasting. Nose is malty, with a hint of citrus, some caramel malt and a light Marzen funk. Taste is a bit off-putting and is somewhat strange and tastes a bit watery. There's also a malty, prune-like, skunky quality that is somewhat difficult to describe. Mouthfeel is light-bodied, perhaps a little thin for the style, as well as a carbonation that is a bit too lively. All and all, I found the beer a bit off and somewhat lacking for the style. Unfortunately, this is probably the worst I've had from this brewer.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2010 22:24:57 | More by Jwale73

Shumania

Virginia

3.23/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass

a: dark amber, a lot darker than most oktoberfests.

s: caramel, sweet malts, and some spiciness in the background.

t: Very similar to the smell and the caramel and sweet malts come out. There is some soapy taste which I have had in other beers in the style which I cannot figure out where it comes from.

m: This is a full bodied oktoberfest. Not as crisp and clean as it could be.

o: Not a bad beer, but there are better in the style.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 20:36:48 | More by Shumania

stoutfiend27

North Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

bottle poured into pint glass

a-deep amber/red color....quick fading head...little collar..no lacing..beer looks tired

s-malty and bready...sweet...no hops to balance out the sweetness in the nose...sort of one dimensional

t-a little caramel up front...malty and sweet in the middle..a touch of hops to hold it semi together..then falls apart..musty aftertaste...

m-semi slick...carbonation is decent...taste doesnt linger long...

d-abv wise i could drink this all night..but i wouldnt i dont believe..

overall not the usual duck rabbit..or maybe this is a prime example of why im not a huge o'fest fan...they all appear the same and one dimensional from the word go..i give duck rabbit credit for it but ill move along to their better offerings..a little baltic porter later in the evening..

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2009 00:11:28 | More by stoutfiend27

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Acquired from JackTheBear so a big THANK YOU goes out to him!
Poured in to a pint glass, consumed 11/12

A: This beer pours a deep murky caramel color with a 1/2 inch of khaki colored head. Head recedes immediately and leaves no lacing.

S: Nose is sweet caramel and toffee, a lot of grain comes through.

T: Taste is extremely sweet but not cloying. Caramel, toffee and hints of brown sugar. And then it just dips off - grain and breadines fill out and finish the beer.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation, a bit thin at the forefront and a rather oily finish.

D: Goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick,not a bad take on the style though I would reach for others if given the choice.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2010 21:26:25 | More by Jayli

fo5s

District of Columbia

3.28/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle split into a sam adams perfect pint glass. Bottle dating not clear, but it looks like a best-by of 11/11.

A- pours a deep amber, healthy 1-finger head. A bit dark for the style.

S- toasty malts, spicy, sweet caramel. A hint of soap/chemicals, but may be the yeast?

T- caramel takes the show over the malts. Sweet. Strays a bit for the style. Not clean.

M- crisp but sticky.

O- just an OK beer, and a bad Marzen. Sadly Duck Rabbit missed the mark on this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2011 20:46:19 | More by fo5s

ShogoKawada

Rhode Island

3.35/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz into .5l boot, thanks, bucketboy!

A- Orangey brown with copper notes. Darker than I expected, nice sandy off-white head that's 2 fingers high and has some pretty good staying power.

S- Nice toasty, bready, and fruity malt, I was taken aback by the powerful aromas here.

T- Taste is toasty caramel with a pretty good hop bite. Sweet fruit is in the background, and a bit of earthiness comes through too. Sweetness emerges 1/2 way through and gets to be a little much.

M- Lower carbonation than expected, with a heavier body. Flavors linger, which is nice.. almost a bit of 'nouth-coating' action here.

D- Eh... I was really diggin' it at first but the sweetness crept in on the tongue and would not go away. I think I'd pass for something a bit lighter, this is a big beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2010 16:52:38 | More by ShogoKawada

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark ruby/copper color with golden orange edges and a half finger off-white head that immediately fades into a thin ring. Minimal lacing.

Slightly earthy aroma with lots of sweet malt and subtle autumnal spices. Piny, spicy hops along with hints of caramel, rye and biscuit. I'm also picking up some cinnamon and brown sugar in the nose.

Medium bodied with a decent balance of dry hops, zesty spice and sweet malt notes. Earthy hops up front provide slight dry bitterness that compliments the spices. Hints of cinnamon, brown sugar, pepper and nutmeg. The back half of the palate consists of a lot of sweet malt. A good amount of sweetness with caramel, nut and toffee. Well balanced and easy to drink but not overly complex or flavorful.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 04:02:23 | More by corby112

yourefragile

District of Columbia

3.43/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a nonic.

Pours a ruby auburn color with a thick chestnut head that quickly fades to nothing without any significant lacing.

Aroma is a rich and pleasantly balanced malty blend of toffee and caramel; nutty and sweet with slight hop bitterness.

The flavor follows the body with a predominant caramel malt body with a lingering dry, light hoppy finish but there is also a persistent buttery taste from start to finish that greatly detracts from the drinkability and flavor. Mouthfeel is full bodied with medium, assertive carbonation. Not bad, I enjoyed this more than the Bell's Oktoberfest this year, but not as much as Great Lakes.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2011 03:37:14 | More by yourefragile

oberon

North Carolina

3.48/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I didnt think I would see anymore of the DR Marzen,I got lucky today.Poured with good clarity a cpper/bronze color with a one finger white head that was pretty fast.Aromas were pretty muted with some light caramel and toasted grain notes coming through,not much really.Typical flavors for the syle although a tad sweeter than most in my mind,caramel flavors with a hint of vanilla,melding into a toasty, sweetish dough-like finish.Not bad, but not up to the par of most DR offerings in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2009 21:00:51 | More by oberon

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wow fall release in winter early spring!

A - Little to no sediment is surprising. More so is the actual carbonation that quickly dies down to a nice lace ring. Color is of a nice ruby red brown and nice sticky lacing.

S - Does smell too hoppy or malty mostly biscuit like malts, mild hops, and caramel.

T - Grains and hops flow throughout every sip revealing mostly bready malts and caramel. Tasty but grainy and no where offensive.

M - Light to medium with faded hops.

Overall most Oktoberfest beers take a turn for the worse or are completely gone by the end of winter. This one is still drinking pretty awesome.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2012 01:37:34 | More by DrDemento456

GJ40

North Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled from a 12oz bottle in a standard pint glass. Purchased at Brawley's in Charlotte. Best by date is January 2010.

A - Copper with good clarity and a moderate beige head of large bubbles that dissipates quickly. I think this is the lightest DR I've seen.

S - A light earthy and bready aroma with a touch of caramel.

T - Dry with a biscuity and nutty flavor. The flavors are pretty subtle. I liked it more as I went on.

M - A very light and airy feel as if it evaporates in your mouth.

D - Smooth and easy to drink but not especially interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 22:22:07 | More by GJ40

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a single at Abe's Cold Beer. The best-by date is notched between November and December. This beer has a touch of acidity and other has a smooth bready character. There's a bit of toffee in the finish along with the slightest note of spicy hops. Maybe this needs to be fresh, but its within the best by, so I have to assume that this beer is more just easy drinking with subtle flavors. It's certainly not bad. This is a dry and drinkable amber lager, that's still fairly tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2010 22:40:47 | More by tempest

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Dark red-amber. Just a ring to show after an overpour. Looks a little stagnant. 3.0

Richly toasty, German hops, and some cherry and apple esters. 3.5

Very toasted flavor. Caramelized grain sugars, earthy hops, and oxidized apple. Moderate-to-light bitterness. Very malty with a savory finish. 3.5

Medium body. Medium carbonation. A little slick and sticky. 3.0

Decent little beer. Held up in the keg better than I'd have expected. 4.0

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2012 02:35:35 | More by thecheapies

oline73

Maryland

3.58/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a sam adams perfect pint.

Appearance: Pours a slightly cloudy reddish amber with a half finger of off white head that fades to a ring around the edge of the glass.

Smell: Sweet, bready caramel malt with some fruit notes, I'm picking up some cherry.

Taste: Not nearly as sweet as the smell. Bready malt with very mild fruity notes. The finish is bitter with some malt notes as well.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with tingly carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

Overall: I would have liked this to be either a little more delicate or a little more aggressive. Either way would have been fine, but I'm not a huge fan with where it is.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:21:25 | More by oline73

billab914

Virginia

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Was surprised and happy to find a 6 pack of this recently in a store in NOVA. Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Sam Adams pint glass.

Pours a clear red-copper color with a small head that disappears quickly. Not much lacing on the glass.

Aroma has a lighter bready, malty sweetness to it. Taste is crisp with some caramel sweetness and light on the roasted malts.

Mouthfeel is light with above average carbonation. Drinkability is very good, this is a light bodied beer without any overpowering flavors that I could easily drink a few of.

Overall this was a decent beer but I wasn't as impressed with this one as I am the rest of DR's lineup. Still very drinkable though, would be a good choice if I was choosing a beer to have multiples of in the same night, or at a fest.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2009 21:32:40 | More by billab914

Beerenauslese

California

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had at Kaya in Pittsburgh

Pours clear amber with small head that quickly dissipates to a very fine ring.

Aroma mainly of sweet malt.

Sweet biscuity malt up front with a little bitterness in the finish.

Body is light with a little prickly finish.

Pretty drinkable. Nice version of a Marzen.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2010 22:44:12 | More by Beerenauslese

JohnQVegas

Tennessee

3.6/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle into Sam Adams sensory glass.

Pours a deep red-brown, coppery 'round the edges, and quite hazy, bordering on murky. Nice two-finger light-khaki head settles into a dense, creamy cap of about 1/2 an inch within several minutes, exhibiting pretty decent retention. Lacing isn't bad either.

Nose carries a big dose of red-berry fruitiness, mild zing of acidity, and a heavy toastiness. Very light breadcrust, and a bit of caramel as well

Taste carries more of the big toastiness, certainly larger than I'm used to for the style. More red fruit, bit of previously mentioned breadcrust, fairly bready, bit nutty as well. If tasting this blind, I surely would have guessed this was an English Brown Ale, not a marzen. But, given the propensities of the brewery, I can understand why this beer is the way it is, and it certainly isn't a bad on at that. So, for those of you out there grading to style, knock a point or so off, but otherwise, not a bad try at all.

Mouthfeel is about average - medium bodied, light but sharp carbonation, bit on the sticky side for me. Little bit of sugary residue around the lips.

Drinkability is ok, but for me, doesn't approach the benchmarks of the style. Feels bigger, denser, stickier; none of which are bad, but just doesn't have the beautifully delicate balance I always look forward to.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2010 19:42:02 | More by JohnQVegas

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour - amber with brilliant red highlights and tints especially when held to the light. Super clean and clear with a decent sized tightly-knit stark white head. Looks pretty damn good.

Aroma - like a lot of other lagers out there this one is not very aromatic. There is some bready/biscuity notes along with some roasty/toasty malts and some burnt cereal grains. Not a lot else in the nose.

Taste - honey and malt syrupy sweetness up front. The bready/biscuity flavors come in along with a lot of the roasted malt flavor. A lot of standard malt flavors are present without a lot of surprises but what really shines with this beer is it's crisp finish and clean taste. Definitely a solid effort for the style from the folks at Duck-Rabbit.

Overall - really enjoyed it, despite being a season late. Great toasty flavors with a nice crisp lager finish. Solid stuff.

Would I buy more of it? - I might, but I'd probably go to one of their other beers first, especially if their (gold medal winning) Baltic Porter was within reach.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2010 03:03:49 | More by indiapaleale

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a pint glass, glad to try this one.

Marzen pours your standard bronzish/copper color as per style with a off white, bordering on cream cap up top that dies, some squiggly lines on the glass that sink, no lace basically. Scents include grass, earthy hops, some grain and a touch of caramel. Tasting this I get a nice sence of earthy hops without being bitter or tropical at all, which is not a bad thing in this case. Grain, light biscuit, that about does it. Oh yeah, caramel, who could forget good ol caramel. Feel is light, crisp, refreshing, easy. I drank this quick and you should too. I did feel a bit of the alcohol afterwards so perhaps this marzen has a bit more booze than most (speculation here)

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2010 03:57:29 | More by onix1agr

gabe23

North Carolina

3.65/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Clear mahogany color with a small, cream colored head. Tiny flecks of lacing.

S - Roasted malt with caramel sweetness. Some raisin and earthy hops are in the background.

T - Burt toast flavor with some toffee sweetness and some bitter dark chocolate notes. The finish has just a touch of hops.

M - Medium body with a fair amount of carbonation. Crisp.

D - Not my favorite Marzen, but a pretty good one. I find the D-R beers all have a similar flavor that I'm growing tired of. But if you're a fan of the brand, you'll probably like this effort.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2009 01:56:19 | More by gabe23

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.65/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle - $2.49 at Total Wine & More in Alpharetta, Georgia. For best flavor, please refrigerate and enjoy by date indicated: it looks like there're small indents on 11 and 12. I'm just gonna assume I'm good to go here.

Appearance: Pours a clear, inviting-looking, amber-hued body with a finger of short-lived, off-white froth.

Smell: Lightly sweet-scented malty nose hinting of toasted bread and scant caramel. Modestly fruity. Small traces of herbal, earthy hops.

Taste: Sweetish, bready malts, moderately toasty, faintly nutty. Fairly estery with berryesque flavors as well as a touch of sweet cherry, too. Low hop character and bitterness. Somewhat drying on the relatively clean finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium-light carbonation.

Overall: It's a decent, drinkable Märzen, though a bit on the estery side.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2011 20:44:11 | More by ChainGangGuy