Gateway Kolsch
French Broad River Brewing

Gateway KolschGateway Kolsch
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From:
French Broad River Brewing
 
North Carolina, United States
Style:
Kölsch
Ranked #167
ABV:
5.3%
Score:
83
Ranked #24,202
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 11.23%
Reviews:
62
Ratings:
195
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 07, 2023
Added:
Feb 23, 2009
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  23
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RedChrome:
Photo of RedChrome
Reviewed by RedChrome from Connecticut

3.68/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A very light golden color with a faint haze. Huge white head takes minutes to settle down. Tons of carbonation bubbles rising rapidly.

Grain husks and white raisin scents assault the nose on inhalation. A light earthy grass scent in the back of the nostrils. Hints of hops fade in and out.

Very dry crispy malt flavor on the tongue. Taste has a very mixed coating to it, both metallic and plastic. Hops do provide a decent amount of bitterness.

Tastes cling, but the overall feel is watery. Carbonation is a nice burst on the tongue.

An OK brew. Would work well with a nice piece of lemon grilled whitefish. Not the best choice in the style. IF you like kolsch give it a try, otherwise, look for something else.
Aug 18, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.57 by KenC from South Carolina

Nov 07, 2023
Photo of mpruden
Reviewed by mpruden from Ohio

3.19/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
One beer from an assorted six pack gifted me by my next door neighbor after he purchased it on a recent trip to the Carolinas. Undated (or at least I was unable to decipher the code on the can), poured from a 12-oz can into a Stange.

Appearance: Clear dark straw color; large white head that lingered awhile, requiring a couple pourings to fill the glass, leaving moderately heavy lacing that lingered only around the very top of the pour.

Nose: Only slight, sweet malt, a bit of light floral.

Mouthfeel: Medium, plenty of carbonation.

Attack: More bitter than sweet — significantly more heavily hopped than the typical Kölsch.

Finish: The attack’s hop bitterness deteriorated into approaching — and then unfortunately reaching — astringency.

Overall: This brewery’s name has long appealed to me, as I’ve driven on a bridge over the French Broad and have read of it in a Louis L’Amour novel, so have wanted to try beers from this brewery — am hoping I like the taste of the other two brews I have from there a bit better.

After writing the above elements of this review, and then scrolling through the previous ratings and reviews by others, I’m noticing a larger-than-I-would-expect number of rather extreme ratings on both ends of the rating spectrum, and I’m wondering if freshness of sample is a factor. Not knowing French Broad River’s code, I just don’t know. The code on my can is “102038388” in case anyone has insight.
Jul 28, 2023
Photo of Smakawhat
Reviewed by Smakawhat from Maryland

4.46/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from the can into a taster cup.

Pale beautiful lemon color with a touch of faint unfiltered like haze. Fluffy topped nice white and good thick head. Great staying power on the head as well leaving lots of lace and great bowled crown top.

Aroma is excellent. Superb bakery bread notes, rich dough and flakey malt crust you can bite into practically. Light on hop presence but a malt bill that is extremely satisfying.

Formidable palate. Rushing thick bread, with touches of more unexpected herbal biting hop making for an excellent mid palate kit. Rich mouthfeel with a taste and feel of kicking spiced honey particularly on the finish. Herbal light bitterness and honey sweetness finishes nicely.

Doesn't taste like a traditional Kolsch, but the flavor and quality is phenomenal.
Jul 17, 2023
Photo of Mischa_Borgmann
Rated by Mischa_Borgmann from North Carolina

2.97/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Tried it at Silverspot. It had a rather monotonous bitterness.
Jun 04, 2023
 
 
Rated: 3.5 by evostudios12 from Florida

Nov 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.38 by G-houser

Jul 04, 2022
Photo of md3kcn
Reviewed by md3kcn from North Carolina

3.51/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Purchased as a single can from The Fresh Market for $1.78. Poured into a nonic pint glass.

L - Bright yellow and clear, with a two-finger soapy pale white head. Head goes away fast. Decent lacing.
S - Grass. Green tea leaves. Pale wheat.
T - Biscuit. Bright wheat notes. An herbal, hoppy bite on the finish. Well-balanced, but a definite slightly more bitter note on the end. Grassy.
F - Light-medium body, with plenty of carbonation. Super easy-to-drink. Dry finish.
O - Pretty alright take on the style. A bit more hoppy than I'd prefer, but pleasant overall. I won't go out of my way to get this, but I won't turn one down.
Mar 18, 2022
 
 
Rated: 3.79 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee

Aug 21, 2020
Photo of nick_perry
Rated by nick_perry from North Carolina

3.33/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
A bit watery. Lacks the grassy note I look for in a kölsch. Indistinguishable from the ubiquitous craft lager.
Aug 08, 2020
 
Rated: 3.88 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Nov 13, 2019
Photo of Griffin2
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia

3.69/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Had a pint at Mellow Mushroom on 7/22/19.
Poured a clear amber color with a slight white head. This is a nice warm weather easy drinking beer. I enjoyed it.
Jul 27, 2019
 
Rated: 3.54 by socon67 from New York

Dec 23, 2017
Photo of chinchill
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina

2.9/5  rDev -20.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 oz can; purchased very recently but undated and possible over the hill (see below).
Unappealing skunky Euro hop aroma
Much better flavor but there's certainly some similarity to the aroma.
Light but not watery body with medium+ carbonation.
May 20, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by BigBry from Canada (AB)

Apr 09, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by dsshuck from Delaware

Dec 08, 2016
 
Rated: 3.69 by JonSchwartz from North Carolina

Nov 13, 2016
 
Rated: 4.79 by Vylo from New Jersey

Oct 17, 2016
Gateway Kolsch from French Broad River Brewing
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 195 ratings