Spectra Trifecta
Founders Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- Kölsch
Ranked #235 - ABV:
- 5.9%
- Score:
- 83
Ranked #40,991 - Avg:
- 3.67 | pDev: 13.08%
- Reviews:
- 67
- Ratings:
- From:
- Founders Brewing Company
- Michigan, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 7
- Gots
- 55
SCORE
83
Good
83
Good
Notes:
Kolsch-style ale brewed with chamomile, ginger and lemongrass.
20 IBUs
20 IBUs
Reviews: 67
| Ratings: 283
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Reviews by ONUMello:
ONUMello from Ohio
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle dated 8/31/15 poured into a stange
A: Golden color with a 1/2-finger head that quickly settles
S: Lots of chamomile/lemongrass as described along with solid light malts
T: Matches the nose though the chamomile is a bit overwhelming
M: Light and crisp, would be good on a warm summer day
O: Can't say I love this as it's one-dimensional but still nice to try & still fresh given the age
Mar 24, 2016
3.77/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle dated 8/31/15 poured into a stange
A: Golden color with a 1/2-finger head that quickly settles
S: Lots of chamomile/lemongrass as described along with solid light malts
T: Matches the nose though the chamomile is a bit overwhelming
M: Light and crisp, would be good on a warm summer day
O: Can't say I love this as it's one-dimensional but still nice to try & still fresh given the age
Mar 24, 2016
More User Reviews:
yemenmocha from Arizona
2.25/5 rDev -38.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Carbonated, alcoholic herbal tea is what this stuff tastes like. Horrible, and probably a waste of a perfectly decent Kolsch underneath.
Good color, but perfumey herbal nose with the expected chamomile, ginger, lemongrass. On the palate it was like drinking a straw colored potpourri basket, nearly inducing my gag reflex on a couple of occasions. What a horrible concoction of additive flavors to make this instead of a lovely kolsch, like they quite possibly could have done.
Pass on this one, or serve it as a white elephant drink to unsuspecting Christmas party guests.
Dec 12, 2015
2.25/5 rDev -38.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Carbonated, alcoholic herbal tea is what this stuff tastes like. Horrible, and probably a waste of a perfectly decent Kolsch underneath.
Good color, but perfumey herbal nose with the expected chamomile, ginger, lemongrass. On the palate it was like drinking a straw colored potpourri basket, nearly inducing my gag reflex on a couple of occasions. What a horrible concoction of additive flavors to make this instead of a lovely kolsch, like they quite possibly could have done.
Pass on this one, or serve it as a white elephant drink to unsuspecting Christmas party guests.
Dec 12, 2015
GreesyFizeek from New York
2.75/5 rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
On tap at The Tap and Mallet in Rochester, NY.
This one pours a a golden dark-ish yellow, with a half inch head, and a small amount of lacing.
Smells pretty typically Kolschey, with some spicing and grassiness. The aroma here doesn't tell the whole story of this disaster of a beer.
Does anybody remember that scene in a Christmas Story, where Ralphie drops the F-Bomb (Fuuuuuuuudgeeeee), and his mom makes him put the bar of Lifeboy soap in his mouth? That scene is akin to the flavor profile Founders constructed here. The chamomile flavor just does not sit well with the Kolsch base, to my tastes, it just makes everything taste so soapy and gross. I can tell there's a decent Kolsch underneath here- but the added flavors, the ginger, the lemongrass, and ESPECIALLY the dreaded chamomile, are just unnecessary and detract from everything.
It was all over - I was dead. What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me.
On to the mouthfeel, it's fairly crisp and Kolschy, but not all that drinkable due to the horrid flavor. I couldn't finish the pint, and I can usually finish anything.
This was a disgrace. It...it...twas...soap...poisoning!
Oct 09, 2015
2.75/5 rDev -25.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
On tap at The Tap and Mallet in Rochester, NY.
This one pours a a golden dark-ish yellow, with a half inch head, and a small amount of lacing.
Smells pretty typically Kolschey, with some spicing and grassiness. The aroma here doesn't tell the whole story of this disaster of a beer.
Does anybody remember that scene in a Christmas Story, where Ralphie drops the F-Bomb (Fuuuuuuuudgeeeee), and his mom makes him put the bar of Lifeboy soap in his mouth? That scene is akin to the flavor profile Founders constructed here. The chamomile flavor just does not sit well with the Kolsch base, to my tastes, it just makes everything taste so soapy and gross. I can tell there's a decent Kolsch underneath here- but the added flavors, the ginger, the lemongrass, and ESPECIALLY the dreaded chamomile, are just unnecessary and detract from everything.
It was all over - I was dead. What would it be? The guillotine? Hanging? The chair? The rack? The Chinese water torture? Hmmph. Mere child's play compared to what surely awaited me.
On to the mouthfeel, it's fairly crisp and Kolschy, but not all that drinkable due to the horrid flavor. I couldn't finish the pint, and I can usually finish anything.
This was a disgrace. It...it...twas...soap...poisoning!
Oct 09, 2015
robear from Wisconsin
2.8/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
Very appropriate color for Kolsch but with little to no head, reminiscent of a soda. Cereal and grains in the aroma with apparent chamomile. The flavors blend together but leave me with the impression that I'm a very strange herbal soda and not a beer. Finish reminds me of sweet bran.
I love ginger in my beer but I'm glad I got a taster bottle before springing for a 6 pack. I just can't imagine a situation where I would crave a glass of this beer. No apparent off flavors but I think straight ginger or even ginger/lemongrass would have served this beer better.
Sep 18, 2015
2.8/5 rDev -23.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
Very appropriate color for Kolsch but with little to no head, reminiscent of a soda. Cereal and grains in the aroma with apparent chamomile. The flavors blend together but leave me with the impression that I'm a very strange herbal soda and not a beer. Finish reminds me of sweet bran.
I love ginger in my beer but I'm glad I got a taster bottle before springing for a 6 pack. I just can't imagine a situation where I would crave a glass of this beer. No apparent off flavors but I think straight ginger or even ginger/lemongrass would have served this beer better.
Sep 18, 2015
Raime from Greenland
4.23/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Another quicky from the box. No huge review. Perfect tea beer.
EDIT : Again no true review so delete as you may..but a horrible beer based on top comments? Did you guys even read the description? No shit it isn't a typical kölsch. Your eyes were the only thing taking a guillotine while drinking this one on seeing that you couldn't read.
Dec 31, 2015
4.23/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Another quicky from the box. No huge review. Perfect tea beer.
EDIT : Again no true review so delete as you may..but a horrible beer based on top comments? Did you guys even read the description? No shit it isn't a typical kölsch. Your eyes were the only thing taking a guillotine while drinking this one on seeing that you couldn't read.
Dec 31, 2015
Dustin_A_Stoutdrinker from Michigan
3.84/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 07, 2016
3.84/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Feb 07, 2016
doc_logic from Ohio
3.54/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 13, 2015
3.54/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 13, 2015
QuadriderMX from Michigan
2.51/5 rDev -31.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Jan 30, 2016
2.51/5 rDev -31.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Jan 30, 2016
Domvan from Texas
3.53/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Sep 15, 2015
3.53/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Sep 15, 2015
italianstallion from Wisconsin
3.73/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Nov 26, 2015
3.73/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Nov 26, 2015
Hohnbaum from Kansas
3.68/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Sep 30, 2015
3.68/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Sep 30, 2015
Jpinoniemi from Ohio
3.5/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 25, 2015
3.5/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Nov 25, 2015
TangoJuliet from New York
3.92/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 24, 2015
3.92/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Sep 24, 2015
AlpacaAlpaca from New York
3.91/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Oct 02, 2015
3.91/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Oct 02, 2015
clager from Michigan
4.09/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 27, 2015
4.09/5 rDev +11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Oct 27, 2015
zachpaschal from Indiana
3.33/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Oct 22, 2015
3.33/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3
Oct 22, 2015
snowmageddon from Massachusetts
3.85/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Oct 23, 2015
3.85/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Oct 23, 2015
PBRmeasap1980 from Indiana
3.35/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Smells like soap and tastes like an IPA with ginger.
Nov 16, 2015
3.35/5 rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Smells like soap and tastes like an IPA with ginger.
Nov 16, 2015
Jordanmtate from Illinois
3.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Apr 18, 2016
3.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Apr 18, 2016
Sparty1224 from Michigan
4.12/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Serving: 12 oz. bottle poured into a Founder's taproom pint glass. Bottled on 8/21/15, making this just over a month old.
A: Pours a slightly hazy golden yellow color. Faint bubbly white head that fades quickly.
S: Awesome aroma on this. Lots of chamomile tea, ginger, nutmeg, pumpkin. Very nice for a fall ArtPrize beer.
T: Strong ginger up front, followed by tea leaf, chamomile, pumpkin, nutmeg, lemon zest. The dryness and bitterness of the Kolsch-style is masked by all the ginger and lemongrass sweetness.
M: Full body. Medium carbonation. Very, very light, almost sessionable at 5.9%.
O: I've come to like the ArtPrize beer series. Having lived in GR for 4 years, it's always fun to see how they'll interpret the competition in their beer. Their first two have been home runs, the decadent Inspired Artist Black IPA and then last years wonderfully hoppy Mosaic Promise. This one again caters to the general public and the season: it's light, fresh, crisp, and zesty with some hints of pumpkin and nutmeg. For the style, I'm not too crazy about it. The traditional Kolsch gets buried in the sweetness. And I just don't like chamomile or ginger. But as a representative of an amazing art competition, this beer gets it done yet again.
Recommendation: The limited distribution is probably best for this beer, as I'd only recommend it for the locals or those visiting this month.
Sep 28, 2015
4.12/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Serving: 12 oz. bottle poured into a Founder's taproom pint glass. Bottled on 8/21/15, making this just over a month old.
A: Pours a slightly hazy golden yellow color. Faint bubbly white head that fades quickly.
S: Awesome aroma on this. Lots of chamomile tea, ginger, nutmeg, pumpkin. Very nice for a fall ArtPrize beer.
T: Strong ginger up front, followed by tea leaf, chamomile, pumpkin, nutmeg, lemon zest. The dryness and bitterness of the Kolsch-style is masked by all the ginger and lemongrass sweetness.
M: Full body. Medium carbonation. Very, very light, almost sessionable at 5.9%.
O: I've come to like the ArtPrize beer series. Having lived in GR for 4 years, it's always fun to see how they'll interpret the competition in their beer. Their first two have been home runs, the decadent Inspired Artist Black IPA and then last years wonderfully hoppy Mosaic Promise. This one again caters to the general public and the season: it's light, fresh, crisp, and zesty with some hints of pumpkin and nutmeg. For the style, I'm not too crazy about it. The traditional Kolsch gets buried in the sweetness. And I just don't like chamomile or ginger. But as a representative of an amazing art competition, this beer gets it done yet again.
Recommendation: The limited distribution is probably best for this beer, as I'd only recommend it for the locals or those visiting this month.
Sep 28, 2015
Loudog1411 from Michigan
3.61/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 12, 2016
3.61/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Feb 12, 2016
Tripel_Threat from Michigan
4.04/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had this gem at a Founder's event at Ashley's in Westland. Pour came in a shaker pint, with a ring of white foam capping clear, golden straw colored liquid. The aroma was something: floral, lemongrass was prominent, with white bread/cracker underneath. The chamomile made itself present in the flavor, sweetness right upfront, balancing the lemon. Ginger came on the finish, but the spiciness was kept in check. It was ginger flavor, but without the burn. Perfect as a refresher. This one deserves more than a limited run.
Sep 14, 2015
4.04/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Had this gem at a Founder's event at Ashley's in Westland. Pour came in a shaker pint, with a ring of white foam capping clear, golden straw colored liquid. The aroma was something: floral, lemongrass was prominent, with white bread/cracker underneath. The chamomile made itself present in the flavor, sweetness right upfront, balancing the lemon. Ginger came on the finish, but the spiciness was kept in check. It was ginger flavor, but without the burn. Perfect as a refresher. This one deserves more than a limited run.
Sep 14, 2015
elm_tree from Arizona
4.26/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 2 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sep 25, 2015
4.26/5 rDev +16.1%
look: 2 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sep 25, 2015
kuishinbo_tantei from New York
3.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
May 13, 2016
3.56/5 rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
May 13, 2016
Nucleosynthesis from Massachusetts
3.71/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 30, 2016
3.71/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 30, 2016
Spectra Trifecta from Founders Brewing Company
Beer rating:
83 out of
100 with
283 ratings
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