Beer of the Week: Deftoberfest Märzen
Easy-drinking and complex in flavor, Deft Brewing's German lager is worth brewing throughout the year...thankfully their owner agrees
Each September, my wife and I arrive at brewery tasting rooms and grocery-store beverage aisles with an enhanced sense of hope, excited to see which Oktoberfest-inspired lagers will be waiting for us. From paler Weisn-style festbiers to copper-toned Märzens (my personal preference), and even non-celebratory offerings like altbiers, bocks and schwarzbiers, for about a month we can enjoy a far greater variety of German brews. We have long shared an innate taste for these bready, floral, minerally beers, enough to travel to Munich to enjoy them at the source at the 2023 edition of Oktoberfest. It was fantastic and the many steinfuls of lager I consumed served as overwhelming proof of what a great job numerous San Diego County breweries do emulating these styles. I’m extremely appreciative of their prowess, but wish they put it to use more than once a year. Fortunately, there are local brewers who agree, such as Mo Nuspl, the founder of Bay Park’s Deft Brewing. A fan of Old World styles, he jumps at any opportunity to produce and showcase them. In addition to an annual Oktoberfest, Deft holds two other festivals flush with housemade German-style beers: Winterbierfest and Frühlingsfest. The latter will take place from Monday, April 28 to Sunday, May 11, and include this week’s featured beer, Deftoberfest Märzen. A umber-toned, light-bodied lager, it’s just what I look for in the style. The aroma is evocative of fresh-baked bread, dates and clove, while the beer itself tastes of well-browned breadcrust and spicy chicory. It’s rich and complex, yet high on drinkability. Who would dare relegate something so delightful to a once-a-year-treat? Thankfully, not Deft!
Initially brewed here to add to the lineup for our first Oktoberfest-style celebration back in 2018, Deftoberfest Märzen instantly became a favorite and top-seller during all of our seasonal German beer festivals. This German-inspired amber beer expresses bready, biscuity, even caramely malt-derived notes and subtle hop character, providing great balance. As you drink it, you will enjoy the light perceived sweetness from those malts, yet appreciate that is it still light and very easy-drinking with a nice dry finish. Most agree that the name of the style comes from the fact that these festival beers were historically brewed in March (Märzen) to be lagered until Oktoberfest in fall. We brew it here more regularly to be enjoyed during various times of the year, including the upcoming Frühlingsfest season.”
Mo Nuspl, Co-founder & Brew Master, Deft Brewing
Deft Brewing is located inside The Gärten at 5328 Banks Street in the Bay Park / Morena neighborhood