Thrash Punk Kolsch
Witch's Hat Brewing Co.

 

 

 

i adore coffee in a light beer like this, a little goes a long way, and when done right, bubbly and dry, these can be super refreshing and drinkable and unique in the summer time. here it seems like we have a well done and pretty basic kolsch, not overly flavored by the yeast at all, and very crisp and clean, which i think lends itself well to the coffee addition. the coffee gives it just the lightest bit of color and a very cool aroma of roast, milk chocolate, dark cocoa nibs, light smoke, and oddly enough vanilla bean. its interestingly sweet for a second, but its the coffee not the grain to me, and before long the bitterness and roasted nutty aspects come out more and prevent it from ever being sugary. i like the lagered feel to this, i think it lets the coffee come close to standing along in the back half, especially the finish. subtle almond and hazelnut, a good amount of cocoa, and a cleanness in the finish that exceeds expectations. really good stuff, and while this is a style that is resonating with me lately, this particular example of it is excellent.

32oz groler from LambicPentameter (thanks man!). Filled 5/4/18. Served in an oversized Bruery snifter. Enjoyed 5/22/18.

Pours a bright, clear golden hue with about two fingers of fluffy white head. The froth gradually settles to a good bit of patchy surface retention with a wide collar that imparts several thick trails of lace.

A lot of coffee on the nose with a little cereal creeping in. Straightforward but pleasant.

Coffee is again the star in the flavor with a distinct breadiness right behind. A lion sesweetened caramel and a faint note of dried grass. Very easy to drink and damned enjoyable.

Crisp, fairly soft body with gentle carbonation. Finishes pretty quick with light roast coffee and some mild toast.

A fine brew from Witch’s Hat. I’m sure the coffee veers away from strict interpretations of the style but at the same time it distinguishes itself. Thrash Punk solves the issue I’ve had with finding the typical kölsch easy to drink but ultimately boring. I had no problem finishing a 32oz growler and would likely return to it often if it were available to me.

 

Out of this world. Looks like a kolsch, very good yet tastes like coffee? What? A golden looking coffee flavored beer. Well done!

 

 

Never heard of it. Never heard of the brewery. Knocked my socks off. Coffee flavor is pronounced, but not overwhelming. The beer is a rock solid base for the coffee. Very light carbonation is perfect for the style. This is my second favorite find of the summer

 

 

 

Short Review. This is a nice and true to style Kolsch, it had all the flavors that I would expect from the style and nothing seemed out of place, plus the sweetness was kept in check and it had just enough hops. It's just a nice and easy drinking Kolsch, nothing wrong with it.

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoyed on tap on my first visit to the Witch's Hat brewpub after really enjoying their offerings at the 2015 Michigan Summer Beer Fest a week ago. Served in a standard shaker pint glass.

Appearance (4.00) - Pretty standard fare for a kölsch, albeit a little bit darker than the straw yellow that is typical of the style. Not sure if that's my perception playing tricks on me because I know this beer is brewed with coffee or what. Has an appearance more like dirty straw, with a brownish-orange twinge to the hue. The stark white head is only about a half finger thick (at best), which is a tiny bit disappointing (although it does mean I get a few more drops of beer) and lingers for a short while before settling as a medium-sized ringlet around the edge of the glass encircling a thin film across the liquid. Some sticky lacing on the side of the glass as I drink down.

Smell (4.5) - Yeah, that's coffee all right. While it's not the first "blonde" coffee beer I've had, it's certainly the most assertive smelling. The nose is full of pungent, almost stinky (in a good way) fresh coffee grounds and roasting beans. However, there is more aroma in the way of fresh grounds and espresso present than the more bitter roasted characteristics. It actually makes for a nice balance, completely avoiding that burnt coffee sensation that some coffee beers can impart.

Taste (4.25) - Follows right in line with the aroma, with big, assertive notes of fresh grounds and pungent espresso. Here, I get some subtle hoppiness that I didn't really get on the aroma at first, but notice more now that I've taken a drink or few. It adds a light undertone of fruit and herbs. Maybe basil? Hard to pinpoint exactly.

Mouthfeel (4.5) - Light bodied and moderately carbonated, the main element of the feel that I'm struck by is just how refreshing this beer is for one that is so coffee forward. I'm through the pint in what feels like no time because the lingering aftertaste is just strong enough to really entice subsequent sips, but it's not so strong that drinking it becomes monotonous.

Overall (4.25), this is just an impressive beer, although the addition of the coffee makes it far from a traditional kölsch-style beer. It was incredibly flavorful and easy to drink at the same time. At 4.5%, it's certainly close to "sessionable" range, and as noted above, it doesn't get boring. I could actually drink 4-5 of these over a sitting as compared to the current trend of session-strength IPAs, which become boring after a glass (or less). Next time, I'll have to try the base beer.