Hoppy Fields Kolsch
Al's of Hampden / Pizza Boy Brewing

 

 

I had this on tap @Al's of Hampden served chilled in a tulip pint.
The color is deep straw golden with light chill hazed appearance with thick white cream cap. The smell is slightly herbal with a gentle malt element which adds a slight toasted grain tinge. The feel is very good with smooth balance of bitterness and moderate carbonation with a subtle spice in the back and light sweetness overall with some lager-like feel in the semi-dry finish.

The taste is mild yet still has a hop flavor that is noticeable with a more herbal aspect, the malt supports and yeast is clean in general not really adding or taking away from the overall drinkable quality with a minty hop flavor as it finishes clean. This was a good example of the style, but I was told by Mr. Fields it is a shadow of the fresh version, too bad I didn't get to try it then, but it is refreshing and tasty all these months later, anyway.

 

 

 

Served on-tap at Al's of Hampden

A - Pours clear golden yellow with a nice one finger tall white head leaving spotty strings of lace down parts of the glass.

S - Smells of pungent grassy hops, pine resin, pale bready malt and some light fruitiness. This is one hoppy kölsch.

T - Starts off with some chewy malt and light fruitiness quickly giving way to the bright grassy hops, pine resin and some light sweetness. Finish is a little sweet with plenty of hop bitterness and a touch of booze, lingering on the palate long after the finish.

M - Light body with moderate carbonation. Smooth, hoppy feel from start to finish. Even with the above average hoppiness this one is very easy to drink.

O - I could drink a few of these on a hot day no problem, in fact I already have. The extra hops are quite interesting compared to the usual kölsch. Give it a try if you get the chance, it's definitely worth it.

 

Draft offering at the source. The brew appears a pale golden yellow with a quick dissolving white cap that holds around the edge of the glass. A swirl produces some patches across the top that stick with stringy lacing effect on the glassware.

The aroma is mild but tight with a clean noble hop aspect that is sonewhat grassy. A light fruity alcohol note is present mixing with floral esters emerging as it warms. For a kolsch this is a little over-hopped but it works to make it memorable and different from the norm.

The taste is as advertised. It is atypical for the style with quite a hoppy presence for a kolsh. Bitter grassiness character is at the helm, mildly herbal and straw-like with its grain inclusion. A light warmth of alcohol emerges across the back and displays almost a resinous pine-like cling in the mouth towards the finish mixed with a pith-like bitterness of grapefruit rinds.

This is a medium to lighter bodied brew. It displays a modest amount of carbonation that makes this feel crisp, light and refreshing but a bit aggressive with the hops. The over-hopping is understandable considering this brew was done in the infant stages of Pizza boy's existence (as far as im aware) and this was brewed before the hop utilization was dialed-in. This is worth a try for sure.