Schell's Zommerfest
August Schell Brewing Company

Schell's ZommerfestSchell's Zommerfest
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From:
August Schell Brewing Company
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
Kölsch
ABV:
5%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.56 | pDev: 12.92%
Reviews:
123
Ratings:
201
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Sep 01, 2015
Added:
Jun 22, 2002
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  10
Also known as 89.3 The Current

Introduced on Memorial Weekend, 1998, and only available in the summer, Zommerfest is brewed in a 'Kölsch' style, which originates from Cologne, Germany. Its characteristics are fairly light—in color and in flavor. It is a pale gold color, low in hop flavor and aroma, with a light body and a somewhat dry finish. This is a pleasant, light-flavored beverage that goes well with any summer activity.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by terrabyte:
Photo of terrabyte
Reviewed by terrabyte from Wisconsin

2.8/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
This pours a clear, very yellow color with a medium white head.

The smell is a subdued sugar and floral hops. I didn't wait around very long to see if I could pick anything else up.

The flavor is quite lacking. It's thick with malt and tasteless bread. I seemed thicker than a macro beer, but didn't seem to add much else. It's heavily carbonated, but even that failed to make it a crisp or particularly refreshing drink.

Not really what I expected from a Summerfest beer. This could be their main boring beer year long. Slapping the Summerfest label on should mean something a little special, right?
Oct 12, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.13 by iRun2Beer from Minnesota

Sep 01, 2015
 
Rated: 2.5 by jpuetz from South Dakota

Aug 07, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4/5  rDev +12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Brilliant golden crowned by a creamy pillowy white cap. Rich and malty with some herby hops on the back – well done but has a bit more going for it than many traditional Kolsch.
Jul 29, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by DaveMiller from Minnesota

Apr 01, 2015
Photo of Chaz
Reviewed by Chaz from Minnesota

3.3/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a brilliant gold in color, topped with a white head. Carbonation seems light... except for when I cracked the can. BOOM! It was a gusher.

Nose is very mild, and neutral. There's a bit lightly-grainy malt, a little tall grass (hops?), but altogether it's just plain subtle.

Mildly-sweet and a bit tangy, a bit of bitterness at the end. It's a bit on the lower end of the scale in terms of ABV -at least as far as a lot of today's Craft Beers go- and I can appreciate that. Dry is the lingering impression, along with some biscuit-like malt character.

Nice mouthfeel. Lighter than I remember, and it coats the palate very evenly enough without pummeling it, and the carbonation seems to be just about perfect.

Not bad altogether, and I know that the recipe has changed in recent years (no more honey in the grain bill!), so it's always worth a try to revisit a brand after a recipe change. Last time around I remember it as having more punch, and as being a bit sweeter and more full-bodied.

Notes: This is the "89.3 - The Current" can -- see:
http://www.thecurrent.org/feature/2014/02/11/the-current-beer-schells
BBD: 100214

This is apparently *not* the same recipe as Schell's Zommerfest, although it is similar to that beer in many ways.
Jan 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Fargrow from Michigan

Dec 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by mkf629 from Kansas

Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by LeeEvolved from Virginia

Nov 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by themorninglark from Minnesota

Oct 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Donkster46 from Washington

Sep 27, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by Turbo from Minnesota

Sep 26, 2014
Photo of MNAle
Reviewed by MNAle from Minnesota

3.6/5  rDev +1.1%
Sweet, slightly hoppy aroma. Clear golden color with a white head that takes awhile to dissipate. Carbonation is evident. Taste is as expected from the aroma, nicely balanced. Initial bitterness that hangs around for the aftertaste. This is a very nice beer. Not as light as I expected, but probably more true to style.

PS: Some people reviewed this beer under the Schell Zommerfest, although it is apparently a slightly different beer, since this beer has a lower ABV than the Zommerfest.
Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.65 by cbcrunch from Wyoming

Aug 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by SF_Posse from Wisconsin

Aug 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by MykeJ from Minnesota

Aug 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by enelson from Illinois

Aug 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by MN_Beerticker from Minnesota

Aug 14, 2014
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.72/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Freshness date of 09/21/14 on neck:

The smell is mild - some grain, a hint of dry yeast.

The taste is of honey-like sweetness - grainy - slightly nutty - with just enough balancing dryness in the soft, refreshing finish.

Crisp, clean, smooth and refreshing. The body is what is expected for the style.

It could use a bit more of a floral hop touch in the finish, but that is just my opinion. I'm far from complaining, however, because it's a solid example of the style and fits wonderfully as a refreshing summer brew!
Aug 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Hopstrutter from Minnesota

Aug 06, 2014
Schell's Zommerfest from August Schell Brewing Company
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 201 ratings