Stowe Style - Kölsch
von Trapp Brewing

 

 

this is really exceptional, my brother is onto something calling this one of his favorite daily drinkers in recent memory, two really great operations teaming up on it, lucky to have been able to share a can with him. this is a nice old world new world fusion, as the base kolsch is highly authentic in the von trapp style, while the heavy handed dry hop brings it into modernity, neat. i tend to expect kolsch to be more clear than this, definitely an unfiltered look to the can, over an inch of airy white head and a lot of life though, looks refined enough for what it is. the nose has familiar german pils type malt at its core, noticeably fresher than the imports most of the time, some lightly spicy noble-esque hops, but also some pine and citrus character that goes beyond what the style normally delivers, some doughy yeast element here too, and a lager-like crispness is apparent, light without being boring in the least. the flavor is as good as the nose, and to my surprise and delight the hops kick in earlier than anticipated. grapefruit and sweet orange, a little weedy dankness, bold for the style but not intense enough to take this out of kolsch territory, and i love the fermentation character running all through it. dry and bitter to close, with just crackery grain support and a little european earthiness in it. fast finishing, robust, fresh, and effervescent in texture. incredibly drinkable, this scratches like three itches at once, and i think its a neat approach to the style, decidedly not a pils which i like, and not hopped into the india pale lager range. very good overall, i could make this a daily drinker pretty easily if i had access!

 

Clean taste. I enjoy their Kolsch, and this is a nice variation for a change of pace.

 

 

Can picked up at the Von Trapp Brewery
Best by 1.24.23

Brewers Notes: A Collaboration By Von Trapp Brewing and Upper Pass

Dry-Hopped Kölsch Style Ale

The Stowe Style Collaboration is a marriage of new world and old world brewing. Upper Pass Brewing has brought their hop creativity to von Trapp Brewing’s Kölsch Style. With late addition hopping during the brew and a dry hop using the freshest 2020 hops. This hop forward ale is unfiltered with notes of clementine zest and tropical fruit. Please enjoy this summer classic while it lasts.

40 IBU

Poured into a stang, is a translucent soft golden straw colored liquid crowned by a fluffy , puffy white foam cap, sticky lacings

Aroma is a peppery lemon

Taste is grassy, lemony, peppery spice

Clean, crisp, semi dry finish

Good beer

 

 

 

Oh VT, I buy anything you make that I can get my hands on, but this was a bridge too far. Cloudy yellow with a big white head and plenty of lacing as we venture down the glass, best aspect of the beer. Aromas give away the dry hopped twist, big lemon, pineapple rind, and grassy hops to go with kolsch bready yeast, but worried it is too hoppy. Fears are confirmed in the taste, sharp lemon and grassy hop bitter cut into the kolsch, chopping off the yeast and malt depth at the knees, very zesty and unbalanced toward the hop. Feel is thin, bright, and soft. Swing and a miss

 

Pours a crisp golden yellow with a nice medium bodied white colored head that laces a bit on the way down. Smells of sweet lightly toasted malts and a hint of hops at the end. Tastes of lightly toasted malts and a nice earthy hop finish. Super clean, super crisp, refreshing, light feeling, perfect amount of carbonation. Excellent take on the style!