HOPIQ FACEOFF
90%
Overall similarity
hopIQ take
Gutmann Festbier if you want a richer, more substantial malt presence,
Protokoll Märzenbier if you want something more restrained and sessionable.
Both are proper Märzens with identical IBUs, so the 0.4% ABV difference matters less than the brewhouse philosophy—Gutmann leans into the bread-and-toast sweetness of the style, while Protokoll keeps things tighter and more balanced. Neither is trying to be trendy; they're just two different interpretations of the same tradition.
At a glance
Generated from the four anchored axes — never hand-written.
Structurally near-identical
Structurally these two are the same beer. The difference is in the aromatics. Body, sweetness, bitterness and texture match within Δ 1. Protokoll Märzenbier brings a distinct sweet note that Gutmann Festbier doesn't.
Beer DNA
Body
Δ 1
Sweetness
Δ 0
Bitterness
Situations
In words
Gutmann Festbier
Gutmann hits with real presence—you get toasted bread crust, a touch of honey, and enough body to feel substantial without being heavy. There's a soft spice note in the finish that comes from the yeast, not hops. It's the kind of beer that makes you sit down and actually taste it, not just drink through it. Pairs beautifully with roasted meats or just standing room at a Oktoberfest tent.
Protokoll Märzenbier
Protokoll is cleaner, more direct. The malt is there but it doesn't muscle around—think more delicate toast, less caramel. The finish is crisper, drier; it doesn't linger on your palate the way Gutmann does. It's easier to drink multiple of these and not feel bloated, which is kind of the point of a 5.4% Märzen. Feels built for drinking rather than contemplating.
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Beers like Gutmann Festbier
View alternatives →Beers like Protokoll Märzenbier
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Texture
Δ 0
Only Gutmann Festbier
Shared character
Only Protokoll Märzenbier