Grizzly Growler

When the box arrived at my office a couple weeks ago, I have to admit that I felt a little flutter in my chest when I saw the label. I hadn’t received beer in the mail to review in several years. I think it has something to do with Montana’s confusing liquor laws. Unwrapping that bubble wrap to reveal two of Great Northern Brewing Co.’s newest beers was a real treat.

As, I might add, was getting to try some of the Glacier Chaser, a Marzen-style beer that comes in around 6 percent alcohol by volume. Traditionally a spring beer, Montana brewers tend to like to brew beers out of the order of things to surprise the palate with those favorite tastes any time of year.

Malty, with a huge caramel ribbon running through several layers of hops and malts, Glacier Chaser really shines from its bottle conditioning, which really makes me want to grab a few more for aging. The beer poured a chocolaty brown with a light, foam head which dissipated quickly, leaving the mustache free to dip in the exciting beer beneath.

The thing I like about Marzen beers is that they are great transitional beers in general. Which makes them perfect for either fall or spring. If Oktoberfest-style beers are too predictable and doppelbocks too heavy, Marzens can offer a nice go between. Kind of like the British-style brown ale, which can really work as a work horse or a palate cleanser.

Not everyone brews a Marzen in fall, and I’m not even 100 percent sure that Great Norther Brewing Co. puts their version out all year long, but I have seen it in stores throughout the summer, so I assume it’s got a little bit more life than a typical seasonal.

At any rate, if you can find some of this beer, it would be a good candidate to buy several and age a few for a cool spring day down the road or even a few falls later.

Prost,

GG

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