Contreras Mars Especial

Am I truly the first one to rate this? Oh ye cruel gods! Foxy-brown, hazy, yeast in suspension. Very thick head, nearly gushing. Nose of apples, lactic acid, ironoxide, horsey. Taste is yeasty, ironoxide, lactic acid, lemony & barnyard aroma’s. Sample a bit aged (2 yrs.), hence some oxidized, ’biscuit’ tones. Extremely refreshing, medium bodied. "Martzen" is a stronger, bottle-conditioned version ot the year-round ’Tonneke’. Brewed with the March water, which, according to the brewer, is ’in bloom’.One of Belgium most complex, most underrated, and least-known classics. One of my absolute all-time favourites. One of Belgium’s big losses to come in the near future. DRINK THIS! Incidentally this brewery has also one of Belgiums’ best artisanal pilseners. <P> Re rating Above was for the predecessor; known as "Maartse" or "Märzen". More than just the name and the ABV changed. The following is for the Mars Especial, which is no longer a Flemish brown, but another Belgian ale. </P> <P>Colour: Golden -amber beer; thick, dissipating head. 4/5 Nose: with ambrée and crystal malts, cookies. 7/10 Taste is very young, like concentrated vegetable matter, as from insect secretion. Rather moderate acidity with faint lactic touch. 7/10 Medium bodied at best. Slight burning sensation 3/5 regrettably much less distinctive than the original. But no doubt produced following more "learned" and "Eu-approved" methods. O tempora, o mores. 14/20 </P>

Slightly aged. Amber coloured with huge head. Extremely complex aroma. Notes of mango, coriander leaves, lemon grass, acid and other stuff. Very refreshing flavour with notes of iron and acid. A truly great brew. Thanks Joris.

33 cl bottle, bbe Jan 07. Deep amber, abundance of large bubbles; hefty and stable, rocky head with a good lace. Aroma: caramel, lightly fermented plums, old bread, some light woody notes and very gentle hops. Taste: malty with light caramel and a good, slightly acidic fruity (apples? oranges?) background. The long, dry aftertaste mixes sharp hop bitterness with nut oils. A very good balance. Almost greasy on the palate, slightly astringent and well carbonated.

Bottle, oct. ’05. Amber brown, quite decent white head. Aroma from dark fruits and malts. Medium body. Sweet-ish flavour with a little spicyness. Malts here too. Good.

Bottled. Clear dark amber. Buttery malt aroma. Sweet with soft, rich, delicate malt character but also a wealth of carbonization. Grassy and lightly roasty. Overcarbonated, but what a fantastic malt flavour!