Round 2, Bout 4 of Master of Marzen 2020 sees The Brewing Projekt (WI) takes on Key Brewing (MD).
I’m familiar with The Brewing Projekt, having tried some of their sours. I also thoroughly enjoyed Key’s Lord Maltimore in Round 1. This one will be epic! Let’s see how it goes.
Packaging Design
Two epic can designs in this one.
The Brewing Project have dressed up their skeleton in lederhosen and given him a stein. Their traditional Oktoberfest check pulls it all together.
On the flip side, Key’s Lord Maltimore has leaned into the traditional check, and used an epic pun for their name.
From a subjective standpoint, I love both but give a slight edge to The Brewing Projekt on this one. Running total: The Brewing Projekt 1-0 Key.
Aroma
Wisktoberfest offers a rich, warm, and malty aroma. A mild sweetness is present and it almost has a heat about it which tickles the nose. It sets the scene for an amazing experience.
Key also offers a rich and malty aroma, though it’s more powerful and less sweet. The toasted malt aroma has a slightly earthy quality about it. Also expecting a great experience based on the aroma.
I’m going to give a very slight edge to Lord Maltimore. The deep, toasted malt aroma is tremendous. Running total: The Brewing Projekt 1-1 Key.
Flavor
Wisktoberfest behaves how you might expect based on its appearance and aroma. It opens slightly sweet and closes with a bitter malty flavor and a touch of bitterness. The bitter malt flavor retains in the aftertaste, and builds throughout the beer. It’s a wonderfully balanced and very smooth brew.
Lord Maltimore is also a very flavorful brew. It opens with a rush of malty flavors and closes with a somewhat herbal and sweet flavor. A mix of the biting malts and sweet herbal notes pepper the aftertaste. It also builds a tempered bitterness from mouthful to mouthful. A very tasty brew.
This one also goes to Key’s Lord Maltimore. The toasted malt bite is what I’m looking for in a Marzen, and they did it well. Both beers are tasty in their own right, but I think Key just offers a bit more in strength and depth of flavor. Running total: The Brewing Project 1-2 Key.
Body
When comparing mouthfeel, there is a reasonable difference between the brews. Both are very smooth and on the lighter side, but the Wisktoberfest is clearly a lighter brew. That lack of weight sees it hold a weaker all-around flavor, though it is very tasty.
Neither beer retained much of a head or laced. With that in mind, it all comes down to the mouthfeel.
I think Key takes this point. It’s a heavier brew, speaking relatively, but it stays light and easy to drink. In having that additional depth, it offers more flavor. Running total: The Brewing Projekt 1-3 Key.
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?
The Brewing Projekt won this criterion handily. Running total: The Brewing Projekt 2-3 Key.
Results
Two amazing brews entered, only one will progress. Key moves on to Round 3, where they will meet Night Shift 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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