Strictly Hand-Held Honey Kolsch
SingleCut Beersmiths

 

Pours a clear pale straw color. A large frothy head retains well.

The nose is dominated by the adjunct flavors. This includes sweet notes of honey, zesty lemon and ginger. Yet there are also clean bready malt aromas along with some grassy hops.

Clean and crisp dry cracker malt taste, while the honey flavored malts are supplemented by sweet honey adjuncts. More sweetness comes from the milk sugar, while the ginger and lemon add spice and a light tartness respectively. There is some developing bitterness from the grassy and earthy hops spices. The finish is dry.

Medium body with a semi crisp yet also smooth mouthfeel. The carbonation is moderate.

Behind all those interesting and tasty adjunct flavors, there is a solid Kolsch style beer. Refreshing and fun to drink.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i ordered this on draft somewhat blindly, because there was no beer description other than the kolsch style, i thought after one sniff that for sure they had served me the wrong beer, i even had them check the keg! i thought no way could this be a basic kolsch, because it smells like spicy ginger, but sure enough it was the right beer, and when i settled into the idea of this being anything but conventional in the style, i fell in love with it! its a not all the way clear kolsch base, but its identity is made by the inclusion of ginger, honey, lemon, and lactose. such strange inclusions in this style, but they all add something indelible. the lemon is needed i think to balance the ginger and to cut some of the lactose body and sweetness, although in the end this still drinks kind of dry. it has a neat funk too, not wild or anything, but maybe tangy from the citrus. honey seems largely fermented out, but its floral and delicate influence remains. the cool thing is, is that even though this is so flavorful and weird and all, it is still very much a kolsch underneath it all, i get the right grain mix, the classic kolsch yeast and mineral profile in the end, and even the right crispness of texture and high carbonation. they nailed this, weird as it sounds, as drinkable as any more traditional take on the style. i have the utmost admiration for these guys, and its cool to try something that isnt a dry hopped bomb or a colossal dark beer! i could drink this all day, as the name suggests, itd be a great crusher right from the can...

 

 

Hazy, light gold color. Moderate dense head which lasts throughout the tasting. Thick blanketing lace. Impressive.

Unexpected sour smell. I also get some sage and lavender to the nose.

The taste is like a soft and subtle Saison. More lavender to the tongue as well. Blindfolded, I would not guess this to be a Kölsch--it's too bitter and spicy. Good body with an elevated carbonation level. The finish is dry and hoppy bitter.

In the end, I'm not sure if it's miscategorized or attempting to be edgy. It's a good beer, just not a Kölsch.