märzen
/ˈmɑɹt.sən/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "For all of the Oktoberfests to be found around the land, there is still precious little märzen being brewed in North America’s microbreweries. This paucity of märzen is a shame, too, because it is the ideal beer style for the season and is especially appropriate for Oktoberfest celebrations."
- "Hazy on the eye and full of fruity esters, much of kellerbier’s colour (similar to a märzen) and body comes from caramelised malt, while a healthy hopping gives the beer its quenching crisp dryness and sprightly aromatics."
- "Märzens have become lighter in recent years, looking more like pilsners than the autumnal-hued beauties they once were. For a rich, traditional märzen, consider a base of pilsner malt with up to 50 percent Munich or a blend of Munich, Vienna, and pilsner."
Etymology
From German Märzen(bier) (literally “March beer”). A decree issued in 1553 by Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, forbid all brewing between 23 April and 29 September, preventing brewing during the warm season, when, unbeknown to medievals, ambient bacteria would often infect the Bavarians’ beers and quickly spoil them. Brewers, therefore, worked overtime in March to make enough beer, which was usually brewed slightly stronger than regular beer and stored cool, i.e., lagered, so it would keep better, to last until fall.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmɑɹt.sən/