Round 2, Bout 2 of Master of Marzen 2020 sees Motorworks Brewing (FL) take on Freetail Brewing (TX).
I am familiar with both of these breweries, and look forward to an awesome bout! Let’s get things going.
Check out the 2020 Master of Marzen Round 2 draw.
Packaging Design
Motorworks opted for a new twist on the traditional Oktoberfest diagonal check. The use of the typical blue and white, mixed with gold and silver is a nice touch. I also like the washed out/faded effect. Nice work.
Freetail’s Oktoberfiesta has embraced the cultural significance of October to both the German and Mexican heritage that is so prevalent around San Antonio and south Texas. The use of the Dia de los Muertos style, matched with the traditional German garb, is a great idea.
While I do enjoy both cans, I have to give an edge to Freetail here. Both breweries took traditional elements of the Oktoberfest experience and made it their own, but Freetail’s is impressively unique. Running total: Motorworks 1:0 Freetail.
Aroma
Motorworks’ Oktoberfest is the darker of the two brews, and offers a well-hopped aroma with malts definitely present. It’s a strong aroma and has a little heat about it. I’m very excited to see how this turns out.
Despite Freetail’s Oktoberfiesta being the much lighter colored brew, it offers a powerful and welcoming aroma. It gives off tons of maltiness in what is a clean, crisp and slightly sweet mix of smells.
I give a slight edge to Motorworks on this one. Running total: Motorworks 1:1 Freetail.
Flavor
Motorworks’ take on the style leads with a strong malty flavor, transitions to a hoppier profile, and closes out with a mix of the two. The bite of the malts and a slight piney twist from the hops really work well together. It’s not the most typical take on the Marzen, but the flavors work well together.
Oktoberfiesta leverages it’s maltiness tremendously. It offers a much deeper flavor than one might expect, given how comparably light in color it is. Clean and sharp, it develops a tremendous malty bite on the backend which retains in the aftertaste and builds after each consecutive mouthful.
Two very tasty brews, but only one can be awarded this point. In my opinion, Freetail is the slightly tastier brew here. Running total: Motorworks 1-2 Freetail.
Body
I’m going to flip the typical order on its head here and jump straight to head retention and lacing. See the image below.
In what is probably a first for this year’s tournament, both beers built and retained some head, and they consequently both laced. It’s hard to separate the two there, so it’s all going to come down to mouthfeel.
Motorworks is a somewhat dry, very clean, and fairly light considering it’s coloring brew. Freetail is also quite light, but a smoother brew overall.
Given the relative parity otherwise, I think Freetail takes a slight edge on the mouthfeel side. Running total: Motorworks 1-3 Freetail.
People’s Choice
As in last year’s tournament, my Instagram followers have the opportunity to shape the decisions of each bout. In the 24 hours directly preceding each bout, a poll is placed on my Instagram story. Whoever has the most votes when the poll closes, takes this fifth criteria. So how did it shape up?
As you can see, Freetail were quite convincing winners of the people’s choice this time! Running total: Motorworks 1-4 Freetail.
Results
Well, the result is not a great indicator of how close this bout was. Two great brews entered, but ultimately Freetail progresses to round three where they will meet 4 By 4 Brewing.
Be sure to check back regularly and to follow me on Instagram for your latest updates and opportunity to vote on each bout throughout the tournament. Until next time, cheers y’all!
Sgt. Suds 
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