KSA | Fort Point Beer Company
Brewed by:
Fort Point Beer Company
California, United States
fortpointbeer.com
Style: German Kölsch
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.60%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
KSA combines a thoughtful mixture of American bittering hops and traditional German malts to create a complex yet crisp take on the Kölsch style. Munich and Vienna malts construct the beer’s robust, rich grain flavor, while Saphir and Warrior hops bring balance through a clean finish. KSA’s old-school style, blended with bright, updated ingredients, makes this beer a classic on both continents.
Reviews: 18
| Ratings: 74
4.3/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Canned 6/3/2019. Yellow gold pour, white top. Malt/yeast forward smell and taste. Lager yeast, creamy and husky grain, biscuit, dough, light apple/white grape, balanced by lemony hops. Tangy, dry finish. Perfectly executed Kolsch. Well balanced, refreshing, crushable. Great summertime session or lawnmower beer. Highly recommend this one.
339 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Canned 6/3/2019. Yellow gold pour, white top. Malt/yeast forward smell and taste. Lager yeast, creamy and husky grain, biscuit, dough, light apple/white grape, balanced by lemony hops. Tangy, dry finish. Perfectly executed Kolsch. Well balanced, refreshing, crushable. Great summertime session or lawnmower beer. Highly recommend this one.
339 characters
3.58/5 rDev -4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had KSA, my first beer from Fort Point, at Brenda's French Soul Food, San Francisco, CA, poured from 12-oz. can, bottom stamped (apparently) canned “01/31/2019,” into appropriately small juice glass, and had again at Gott’s Roadside, Palo Alto, CA, on draft into pint tumbler.
A little darker and maltier than expected, covering the style’s delicate fruitiness, but not a bad effort.
398 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First had KSA, my first beer from Fort Point, at Brenda's French Soul Food, San Francisco, CA, poured from 12-oz. can, bottom stamped (apparently) canned “01/31/2019,” into appropriately small juice glass, and had again at Gott’s Roadside, Palo Alto, CA, on draft into pint tumbler.
A little darker and maltier than expected, covering the style’s delicate fruitiness, but not a bad effort.
398 characters
4.36/5 rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a soapy 2-3 finger foam that quickly dissipates into a think film of bubbles. Good carbonation and lice lacing. Hazy with the color of young mango.
S: Smells of pears, apples, grass, almost like champagne. Light, very fragrant, floral and pleasant.
T: Sweet apple, pear, and some ripe rich fruit like papaya. Transitions very nicely into a pine nut, wheaty, malty, bready finish.
O: Extraordinarily light and refreshing. Perfect for a summer day. Almost verges on cider. So smooth. Would casually drink a ton.
523 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: Pours a soapy 2-3 finger foam that quickly dissipates into a think film of bubbles. Good carbonation and lice lacing. Hazy with the color of young mango.
S: Smells of pears, apples, grass, almost like champagne. Light, very fragrant, floral and pleasant.
T: Sweet apple, pear, and some ripe rich fruit like papaya. Transitions very nicely into a pine nut, wheaty, malty, bready finish.
O: Extraordinarily light and refreshing. Perfect for a summer day. Almost verges on cider. So smooth. Would casually drink a ton.
523 characters
3.72/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 1/23/18
A beautiful golden yellow clear body and a healthy two fingers of head that's very active upon first pour. The tall but airy white head simmers down to a ring around the glass. Very light bitter hop aroma, bready bright malt, and a light estery yeast aroma. Banana, fresh almonds, nuttiness, black pepper, and bready flavors - banana being the most forward note in the flavor. Everything is very subtle and clean. Really light in bitterness, medium carbonation and a quick, clean, and slightly drying finish. Very easy to drink and enjoyable. I prefer a fruitier kolch with more substantial gravity but this is a great session kolch.
649 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Canned 1/23/18
A beautiful golden yellow clear body and a healthy two fingers of head that's very active upon first pour. The tall but airy white head simmers down to a ring around the glass. Very light bitter hop aroma, bready bright malt, and a light estery yeast aroma. Banana, fresh almonds, nuttiness, black pepper, and bready flavors - banana being the most forward note in the flavor. Everything is very subtle and clean. Really light in bitterness, medium carbonation and a quick, clean, and slightly drying finish. Very easy to drink and enjoyable. I prefer a fruitier kolch with more substantial gravity but this is a great session kolch.
649 characters
3.79/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L - Golden, filtered Kolsch
S - American hops come through upfront, smells like a pilsner
T - Nice kölsch, hints of banana, spice
F - Creamy
O - Well done session beer
168 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
L - Golden, filtered Kolsch
S - American hops come through upfront, smells like a pilsner
T - Nice kölsch, hints of banana, spice
F - Creamy
O - Well done session beer
168 characters
3.93/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely "old school" as the marketing claims. Immediately after popping the can, the Smell of KSA amazingly took me way back to my first beer well over a half a century ago. (Can't remember if it was Old Style or Pabst, maybe Hamms.) The rest of KSA is different. It Looks amber. Its Taste is balanced well with a malt base and only a few hops. And KSA's mouth is smooth and soft compared to the bubbles of 1960s.
OA: I'd have KSA again, maybe side-by-side with the mass marketing relics ... just to remind us of how far we have come.
538 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Definitely "old school" as the marketing claims. Immediately after popping the can, the Smell of KSA amazingly took me way back to my first beer well over a half a century ago. (Can't remember if it was Old Style or Pabst, maybe Hamms.) The rest of KSA is different. It Looks amber. Its Taste is balanced well with a malt base and only a few hops. And KSA's mouth is smooth and soft compared to the bubbles of 1960s.
OA: I'd have KSA again, maybe side-by-side with the mass marketing relics ... just to remind us of how far we have come.
538 characters
4.1/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
https://i.imgur.com/Tklougu.jpg
4.6% ABV
Smooth texture with a nice rush of flavor. Absolutely wonderful lighter beer for drinking casually. Nice head and delicious to drink, perfect session kolsch
199 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
https://i.imgur.com/Tklougu.jpg
4.6% ABV
Smooth texture with a nice rush of flavor. Absolutely wonderful lighter beer for drinking casually. Nice head and delicious to drink, perfect session kolsch
199 characters
2.43/5 rDev -34.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Perhaps I have gone hop crazy, but this beer definitely lacks what I want. It does remind me of Czechoslovakian pilsners but I would much prefer a Pilsner Urquel at the price.
176 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Perhaps I have gone hop crazy, but this beer definitely lacks what I want. It does remind me of Czechoslovakian pilsners but I would much prefer a Pilsner Urquel at the price.
176 characters
3.53/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From a can. Pours a pale gold color with a small amount of head. Bread and grass smell. Light, carbonated feel. Bready taste with a floral hop finish. Not exactly what I was expecting, the German Kölsch beers I've had are more fruit-forward. The flavor is a little too dry and grassy for me.
292 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
From a can. Pours a pale gold color with a small amount of head. Bread and grass smell. Light, carbonated feel. Bready taste with a floral hop finish. Not exactly what I was expecting, the German Kölsch beers I've had are more fruit-forward. The flavor is a little too dry and grassy for me.
292 characters
4.3/5 rDev +15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear gold with very little head
Smells of sweet bread (king's Hawaiian roll?), a little floral,
Tastes of pear, green apple, some grain,
Crisp and dry, lightly carbonated
Really enjoyable, one of the better Kolsch style beers I've had
249 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear gold with very little head
Smells of sweet bread (king's Hawaiian roll?), a little floral,
Tastes of pear, green apple, some grain,
Crisp and dry, lightly carbonated
Really enjoyable, one of the better Kolsch style beers I've had
249 characters
3.98/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tall Pilsener glass. Bright clear yellow with a good head of white bubbles and visible carbonation. Smell and taste of fresh baked bread and lightly toasted grains. Subtle yeast fruitiness and earthy, grassy hop bitterness balance out the malt. Light body and relatively gentle carbonation. Clean, crisp and pleasant to drink.
350 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
12 oz can poured into a tall Pilsener glass. Bright clear yellow with a good head of white bubbles and visible carbonation. Smell and taste of fresh baked bread and lightly toasted grains. Subtle yeast fruitiness and earthy, grassy hop bitterness balance out the malt. Light body and relatively gentle carbonation. Clean, crisp and pleasant to drink.
350 characters
4.09/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A great kolsch is tough to pull off. You're balancing a lot of soft, subtle flavors and need to let them all speak. KSA nails it. There's a wonderful toasted multi-grain bread aroma and flavor followed by mild floral and juicy hops. The finish is dry and a little spicy. And the aroma is doughy and earthy
305 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A great kolsch is tough to pull off. You're balancing a lot of soft, subtle flavors and need to let them all speak. KSA nails it. There's a wonderful toasted multi-grain bread aroma and flavor followed by mild floral and juicy hops. The finish is dry and a little spicy. And the aroma is doughy and earthy
305 characters
4.1/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Wayfare Tavern in SF. Golden brew with a big foam in the pint shaker. It has that sweetish taste of challah bread with the tangy hop finish. Perfectly fragrant and crisp, the best Kölsch I"ve had in a long time.
222 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25
On tap at Wayfare Tavern in SF. Golden brew with a big foam in the pint shaker. It has that sweetish taste of challah bread with the tangy hop finish. Perfectly fragrant and crisp, the best Kölsch I"ve had in a long time.
222 characters
4.11/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Clean and crisp Kolsch. Poured on draft into half liter at Schroeder's in SF. This beer embodies the fresh crisp and light mouth feel expected of a kolsch and is perfectly paired with the freshly baked pretzels and mustard
222 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Clean and crisp Kolsch. Poured on draft into half liter at Schroeder's in SF. This beer embodies the fresh crisp and light mouth feel expected of a kolsch and is perfectly paired with the freshly baked pretzels and mustard
222 characters
4/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy golden-yellow with a foamy white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, grass, and fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, grass, earth, and fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty, light, and easy to drink.
Serving type: can.
514 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy golden-yellow with a foamy white head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grain, grass, and fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with grain, grass, earth, and fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty, light, and easy to drink.
Serving type: can.
514 characters
3.88/5 rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On Tap at Soma Eats – San Francisco, CA
4oz taster - Notes taken on 06/11/2015
Bready, grainy, floral, and grassy
A: The Kolsch arrives a light golden honey color with a faint haze across the body. A thin layer of ivory white foam adorns the top for a few fleeting minutes. A few small streaks of squiggly lace are left around the glass wall.
S: The nose is malt forward and very on point to the style. Bready with a light biscuit influence. Noble hops are present in the background with some light spice and grassy florals.
T: A nice classic Kolsch flavor with good balance all around. Creamy spice malt action with a mix of lightly toasted grain and some bready biscuit like notes. Finish brings forth a touch of hops by way of some grassy herbs and light spice. Nice crisp and refreshing beer flavor. Very clean and lager like.
M: Light and frothy feel on the palate with dryness at the finish. Nicely crisp and very clean.
D: A real nice take on the Kolsch and right on point I would say. Not my favorite style but has that classic beery lager flavor with a clean crisp texture. Easy no nonsense drinking. Well done.
1,151 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On Tap at Soma Eats – San Francisco, CA
4oz taster - Notes taken on 06/11/2015
Bready, grainy, floral, and grassy
A: The Kolsch arrives a light golden honey color with a faint haze across the body. A thin layer of ivory white foam adorns the top for a few fleeting minutes. A few small streaks of squiggly lace are left around the glass wall.
S: The nose is malt forward and very on point to the style. Bready with a light biscuit influence. Noble hops are present in the background with some light spice and grassy florals.
T: A nice classic Kolsch flavor with good balance all around. Creamy spice malt action with a mix of lightly toasted grain and some bready biscuit like notes. Finish brings forth a touch of hops by way of some grassy herbs and light spice. Nice crisp and refreshing beer flavor. Very clean and lager like.
M: Light and frothy feel on the palate with dryness at the finish. Nicely crisp and very clean.
D: A real nice take on the Kolsch and right on point I would say. Not my favorite style but has that classic beery lager flavor with a clean crisp texture. Easy no nonsense drinking. Well done.
1,151 characters
3.96/5 rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
No head to speak of. Pale yellow tending toward orange (with just a hint of cloudiness). Not particularly aromatic. Really nice crisp taste with lightly bitter aftertaste of hops.
179 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
No head to speak of. Pale yellow tending toward orange (with just a hint of cloudiness). Not particularly aromatic. Really nice crisp taste with lightly bitter aftertaste of hops.
179 characters
3.87/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This pours a light golden color with gentle cottony foaming. There’s a light honeyed aroma that has a a touch of green apple.
Pleasingly backing with a hint of toasted biscuit. It’s clean, and lightly fruity, but an easy drinker. I keep thinking if they dialed up the hops it would make an amazing pilsner.
311 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This pours a light golden color with gentle cottony foaming. There’s a light honeyed aroma that has a a touch of green apple.
Pleasingly backing with a hint of toasted biscuit. It’s clean, and lightly fruity, but an easy drinker. I keep thinking if they dialed up the hops it would make an amazing pilsner.
311 characters
KSA from Fort Point Beer Company
Beer rating:
3.73 out of
5 with
74 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.