Stowe Style - Kellerbier
von Trapp Brewing

(16 oz can, best 01/19/25; purchased 4-pack off shelf at Total Wine two days ago... poured cellar temp into Tubinger mug)

L: rather clear, orange amber liquid with just a small dose of sediment slipping out with the last 1-2 oz off the pour; big, rocky crag of foam on the pour, almost spilling over, receding into a chunky island... lacing messy but plenty, cap keeps

S: fleshy fresh grapefruit zest, fermenting bread dough, hint of almost cinnamon (gum drop) spice, earthy almost musky (whole-flower) hop undertone... bright and pungent till the end

T: grapefruity dimensions carry over from the aromas, as do the whole-flower hop musks... fruity aftertaste, as a good kellerbier should have... could arguably use more malt clarity or character, as its nuances are relatively buried beneath the hopping; yeast flavors subdued as well... I thought I was getting it on the nose a bit, but a burp just reguritated a peachy flavor with some floral flourishes

F: nearly medium-bodied with long finish that quietly fades... getting some spritzy carbonation every sip too, hmm... had to look at the label again, the 7% abv falls under the radar; was wondering why my face feels a bit flush... goes down too sedately for its strength; hops lend a subtle stun/sting, somehow hovering mid-to-back palate

O: third can tried from the pack and only now do I notice it's 4 months past best by date, and now I can sort of detect it... it's nonetheless distinct for a kellerbier, to me in a good way... somehow maintained vibrancy despite decay... there's more left at TW and I'll help them clear that portion of the shelf (2426)

 

 

 

 

 

Stowe Style Kellerbier from von Trapp Brewing. 16 fl oz can. $ 3.00 (Including tax), $ 0.188/fl oz. Picked up at Franklin Beer, Franklin, PA, 08/01/25. Reviewed 10/01/25 (Review 3443). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom rim of can stamped “BEST BY 01/19/25.” Stored in reefer at the distributor, at 39 degrees F at home. Served at 42.4 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 50.1 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.
First pour – Straw (SRM 3), clear.
Body – Light Gold (SRM 4), hazy. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, hazily transparent.
Head: Average (Maximum 3.5 cm, aggressive center pour), white, high density. Quickly drops to a 0.6 – 1.1cm jagged crown fed by spotty carbonation, and a rocky partial cap.
Lacing – Good. Band of tiny to near-microscopic bubbles, forming micro-stalactites and connecting to the crown with a few columns of varying width.
Aroma – 4 – Begins with strong fruity hops, but this rapidly weakens. No malt, no yeast, no ethanol (7 % ABV, as marked on label). No disulfide or diacetyl.
Flavor – 4 – Slightly bitter and weakly fruity. No yeast, no ethanol. No disulfides, no diacetyl. Ghostly gastric warming.
Palate – 4 – Medium; watery; lively but soft carbonation.
Style: Sort of follows the style guidelines as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4 Decent lager but tends away from the kellerbier category in that there is minimal to no yeast presence, either in flavor or appearance. The kellerbier I’ve consumed in Germany couldn’t be penetrated by a gigawatt laser and had lumps of yeast the size of peas.

A fluffy, one and a half inch, white head sits atop the unfiltered, foggy, pale orange beer (SRM 3-4). While the head settles gradually, it never completely fades, holding at a thick blanket of fine foam for the duration. There is no active carbonation, and patchy clouds of lace form on a Laura pilsner glass.

The aroma is crisp and clean, with malt and spicy orange up front. This is very pleasant, although not quite to my understanding of the style. There is no bread or bread dough aroma from the yeast, rather it is a bit herbal.

The hops are more centric than the malt, yet both are nicely expressed. Bitter orange and sweet malt almost balance out. I am detecting an unidentified tropical fruit, perhaps a combination of several. The finish is long and modest, allowing some passion fruit and bitterness as it warms.

This has a medium body and a creamy smooth texture. It is crisp with soft carbonation. The alcohol is below expectations.

I found this to be a very pleasant and easy drinking beer despite 7% ABV. The Autumnal qualities work well on this specific day, as it is a cold, wet and dreary afternoon.

 

Orangey bronze body with two fingers of off-white foam. This is a Vermont ipa in hiding! Juicy and fruity hops star, especially in nose. Even in taste the yeast is overwhelmed, not very pale instead bright and wet in a juicy way.

 

 

Sampling out of a can.
Pours a clear bronze - orange color with a moderate head.
Some hint of oranges in the smell.
Fair mouth feel.
Bright clear taste, some tropical fruit.

 

 

16oz can into a plastic hotel cup. Best by 1/15/25.

Nice looking beer. Hazy orange body, good foamy white head, layers of lacing in the cup. Aroma of fresh hop and pilsner malt. On tasting, initially hoppy, somewhat fruity, a touch sweet, earthy malt. Finish is a late hitting, but lasting bitterness.

Overall, sad I only bought one can up from the car. Nice drink after a long drive.

From the pint can, it pours a slightly hazy golden amber color with a modest white head that slowly reducues and leaves lacing. The nose gets citrusy hops, tangerine to a friend, and some bready malt. The mouth follows with an initial bitterness, some citrus and a nice malty finish. Aftertaste is a mild bitterness.

From a 16oz can dated "best by" 1/15/25 into a 20oz "pint" glass.

Pours a hazy orange with about one finger of white head. Decent retention, ok lacing.

Smells of sweet fruits, berries, citrus with some grape, peach and apple thrown in.

Pretty bitter tasting. Sweet fruits fade quickly into crisp piney bitterness.

Full-bodied mouthfeel. High carbonation. Dry finish.

Interesting twist on the style. Very hoppy and fruity.

 

16oz can poured into a SA pefect pint

A- pours a slightly hazy golden amber color with a one-finger creamy white head that has great retention

S- aroma has a citrusy hop note that gives orange marmalade as well as some floral undertones. Fruity and mineral yeast notes mix with some bready malt undertones

T- light citrusy hop notes follow the nose with tangerine and a hint of lychee. Mid-palate gives some earthy yeast along with some doughy malt undertones. The finish gives more citrus with a toasted malt linger

M- medium body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a silky finish, high drinkability

O- all of the crisp drinkability of a lager but full flavored and well balanced, outstanding