märzen

The story

1. German · borrowed fromMärzen(bier)
2. English todaymärzen

From German Märzen(bier) (literally “March beer”). A decree issued in 1553 by Albert V, Duke of Bavaria, forbid all brewing between 23 April and 29 September, preventing brewing during the warm season, when, unbeknown to medievals, ambient bacteria would often infect the Bavarians’ beers and quickly spoil them. Brewers, therefore, worked overtime in March to make enough beer, which was usually brewed slightly stronger than regular beer and stored cool, i.e., lagered, so it would keep better, to last until fall.