Lightning Kolsch
Lightning Brewery

A pint, on tap, at the brewery.

Appearance - A bright yellow color. Slightly hazy. A nice head that hangs around for a while. Moderate lacing.

Smell - Fruit juice. A bit sweet. A faint whiff of hops.

Taste - A fruity, crisp lager flavor up front. Slightly sour. Mild hop spiciness. Nice.

Mouth - Crisp yet slightly buttery (I know that seems like a contradiction but it's true).

Overall - If I'm not mistaken, a true Kolsch is an ale that has been lagered. This beer definately tastes like a hybrid. I would call it a lager with ale like characteristics. Very tasty. Big chugability! Very enjoyable.

Had this several times now on tap at The Brigantine in Poway, CA. Best fish tacos anywhere, BTW.

Frothy white head. Mostly transparent. Banana aroma (!). Verrry drinkable. Definitely a summer beer. Some grain and hop taste, too, obviously given the style.

I absolutely love this, it's creamy with a definite banana presence. I've also seen it on tap at the Carmel Mountain Ranch Oggi's Pizza for seekers of this beer.

Picked up a growler of this on location. As usual "Dr. Beer" was there, always chatting it up with anyone that strikes up a conversation. He is a very nice guy, and brews up some fine brews, which he actually markets as not being like other San Diego brews. Kind of ballsy since SD beers are well known and well liked by most. Most would have just jumped on the wagon.

A- A very light brown-tan translucent liquid. I can see objects through it, but definetly unable to read through the haze. Looks unfiltered. Nice conservative bubbly and noisey head without any lacing.

S- Subtle malty sweet yeasty. A hint of banana bread. No bitterness appreciated in the nose.

T- Crisp & light. Nice subtle sweetness of malts, biscuits, slight brightness of citrus, some alcohol warmth, and that banana bread again.

M- Thin, watery, crisp, light, bubbleas are nice.

D- Great summer/hot weather refreshing sessionable beer for me. Lightning was able to make something not like other brews in SD, well done. Not all SD beers are all about the hops.

Appearance: I hate to say it, but it looked worse than a standard macro lager... the head was non-existent, as was the carbonation, and the color was pale yellow.

Smell: Some underlying fruits (maybe light grape), and a nice malty sweetness, but nothing clear.

Taste: A little sweeter in a syrupy way than most kolsches, but adds a little with more fruit in the taste. Again I noticed a light grape or maybe currant taste, but it was very faint. The malt base was heavy but still tasted nice.

Mouthfeel: Not as crisp as the best kolsches, but smooth and thirstquenching anyway.

Drinkability: I could definitely session this, and will later because it's pretty available near by. I would call this a great standbye beer for a night of casual beer drinking.