Kölsch
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.


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- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Kölsch
- ABV:
- 5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.85 | pDev: 9.09%
- Reviews:
- 95
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jun 13, 2020
- Added:
- Nov 09, 2006
- Wants:
- 38
- Gots:
- 91
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good


Notes:
Our Left Coast take on a crisp, classic German-style ale is hopped up with zesty American and European hops for a twist on a traditional light-bodied beer.
From Cologne to California, Kölsch-style beers are a favorite around the world, prized for their incredible drinkability while maintaining a depth of flavor. As our stamp on this style, this Kölsch style has a punch of bright, citrusy American whole-cone hops to add West Coast character to this well-traveled ale.
From Cologne to California, Kölsch-style beers are a favorite around the world, prized for their incredible drinkability while maintaining a depth of flavor. As our stamp on this style, this Kölsch style has a punch of bright, citrusy American whole-cone hops to add West Coast character to this well-traveled ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Rated by Mugman8 from New York
3.78/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Smooth, crisp with ample carbonation....
Oct 11, 2018Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota
3.99/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Kolsch pours a lighter straw color, but with a huge lacing and long lasting head. Creamy and malty aroma. Flavor is big and full, nice and creamy, crisp malt notes, with just a hint of hops. Good body and feel. Overall, its a bigger kolsch, and a top notch example.
Sep 14, 2018Reviewed by EMV from Pennsylvania
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Dogfish Head tulip
L: Pale golden pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Nice thin rim of lacing.
S: Lemon citrus and cracked grains.
T/F: Pale malts and light grains. Strong lemon citrus flavor.. grassy. White grape skins and mild spice. Light bodied... crisp and clean.
O: A really nice clean/crisp Kolsch... and it tastes like something you'd get in Germany. Not much higher praise I can give it.
Aug 13, 2018L: Pale golden pour with 2 fingers of fluffy white head. Nice thin rim of lacing.
S: Lemon citrus and cracked grains.
T/F: Pale malts and light grains. Strong lemon citrus flavor.. grassy. White grape skins and mild spice. Light bodied... crisp and clean.
O: A really nice clean/crisp Kolsch... and it tastes like something you'd get in Germany. Not much higher praise I can give it.
Reviewed by Gmann from New York
3.23/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 1 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
3.23/5 rDev -16.1%
look: 1 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
This has to be the lightest looking beer I have seen. There is barely any color to it. The head is soapy and dissipated quickly.
The aroma has a light cracker aroma with a touch of grass. A bit of a limey hop.
The taste is of a crackery malt with some general fruitiness from the yeast. The hops are light with grassy and limey hops.
The feel is light with tingly carbonation. Sweet on the palate with a light grassy bitterness. Drinks easy.
A very light beer. Needs some more Pils malt and hops.
Aug 12, 2018The aroma has a light cracker aroma with a touch of grass. A bit of a limey hop.
The taste is of a crackery malt with some general fruitiness from the yeast. The hops are light with grassy and limey hops.
The feel is light with tingly carbonation. Sweet on the palate with a light grassy bitterness. Drinks easy.
A very light beer. Needs some more Pils malt and hops.
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
As expected clear straw body, with fizzy white head, and not much lace.
s) Grassy, clean with biscuity malt body.
t) Follows smell but as good, clean and grassy a Kolsch as found in Koln. Bravo.
f) light to medium, clean, and chewy texture, with a dry finish. Refreshing.
o) Cannot go wrong with SN Kolsch.
Jul 21, 2018s) Grassy, clean with biscuity malt body.
t) Follows smell but as good, clean and grassy a Kolsch as found in Koln. Bravo.
f) light to medium, clean, and chewy texture, with a dry finish. Refreshing.
o) Cannot go wrong with SN Kolsch.
Reviewed by babaracas from Florida
4.09/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a clear straw yellow with thin soapy white head, splotchy lace trailing. Smell: sweetly grainy and mildly spicy, white grape, nectarine, notes of grass, pine, lemon. Taste: lots of white grape, white nectarine, notes of pine and earth, lemon candy, punchy grain, mildly bready and grassy closer. Light-plus bodied, crisp. Delicious.
Jul 16, 2018Reviewed by metter98 from New York
3.65/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is clear light yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a short bright white head that died down, leaving a small patch of bubbles on the surface and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of biscuit malts and green grapes are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, except that the flavors of green grapes are a little stronger, which stand out in front of the biscuit malts.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink, but seems like the aromas and flavors are a bit weaker compared to other beers in the style.
Serving type: bottle
Jul 12, 2018S: Light aromas of biscuit malts and green grapes are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, except that the flavors of green grapes are a little stronger, which stand out in front of the biscuit malts.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink, but seems like the aromas and flavors are a bit weaker compared to other beers in the style.
Serving type: bottle
Reviewed by Amendm from Florida
3.93/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12-oz bottled PKD 05/09/18 takes an easy pour into a 16-oz. mug. 1 full finger of creamy white long lasting head eventually shrinks to a cap with moderate lacing.
Very pale slightly yellow color.
Pale wheat malt and citrus up front with bitter and spicy hops to the smell.
Taste is similar with a more pronounced malt, citrus plus apple at first. Slightly bitter/floral finish from the hops.
Light body with medium+ carbonation and then a dry finish.
Light yet flavor full, plenty of hops but not too bitter. Another summer easy drink.
Jul 09, 2018Very pale slightly yellow color.
Pale wheat malt and citrus up front with bitter and spicy hops to the smell.
Taste is similar with a more pronounced malt, citrus plus apple at first. Slightly bitter/floral finish from the hops.
Light body with medium+ carbonation and then a dry finish.
Light yet flavor full, plenty of hops but not too bitter. Another summer easy drink.
Reviewed by jadpsu from Georgia
3.92/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.92/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Kolsch style appearance of an extremely faint, pale straw color. About as light pale as a beer color could be. Copious sticky white head shows good retention and side glass lace.
AROMA: Fairly sharp grass, husk and some tart aroma as well.
TASTE: Easy drinking, crisp, dry tart.
This is a simple beer that nevertheless a great Kolsch style experience.
Jul 07, 2018AROMA: Fairly sharp grass, husk and some tart aroma as well.
TASTE: Easy drinking, crisp, dry tart.
This is a simple beer that nevertheless a great Kolsch style experience.
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.8/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle, bottled last month.
Pale light golden body with a decent white head.
Flavorful for style with very good balance between bready malts and spicy-herbal hops. Hints of lemon.
Jun 22, 2018Pale light golden body with a decent white head.
Flavorful for style with very good balance between bready malts and spicy-herbal hops. Hints of lemon.
Kölsch from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
386 ratings
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