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KSA
Fort Point Beer Company


Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Fort Point Beer Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Kölsch
Ranked #102 - ABV:
- 4.6%
- Score:
- 85
Ranked #22,717 - Avg:
- 3.75 | pDev: 12.8%
- Reviews:
- 30
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 20, 2022
- Added:
- Apr 25, 2014
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 19
SCORE
85
Very Good
85
Very Good


Notes:
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by kotocar from California
4.27/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +13.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I’m in a rush and can’t rate this properly. Had in a can. It’s only 4.8% alcohol is much less than what I normally drink…. BUT, it’s a great lager, kolsch. I’d definitely drink this again. Great and actually full bodied.
Dec 20, 2022Reviewed by TheWaySheGoes from Illinois
4.29/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Biscuity, floral, and sweet. Almost has a golden nitro stout aspect goin on too.This is a well above average kolsch. too many American brewed version just don't pack the up front floral notes you're looking for in a kolsch, thankfully this one exists!
Nov 11, 2022Reviewed by MaltsOfGlory from Oregon
3.74/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.74/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz can
Pours two big fingers of semi-soapy white head into my Kolsch glass. Retention is sub-par. Lacing is decent. Body is golden. Looks ok.
Nose is primarily biscuity; malty, definitely get that Vienna malt. Some underlying fruity esters. Not very Kolsch-like, smells nice though.
Flavor is similar - malty, biscuity, slightly burnt. Not much in the way of esters. Tastes good, not like a Kolsch, but it's a nice change of pace.
Carbonation is high. Body is pretty light, a little too light for the malt profile but at least it's sessionable. A small sweetness. Bitterness is low but not void. Pretty decent mouthfeel.
Drinkability is good.
Overall a solid beer. Slightly off style, but I don't mind the malty twist.
Sep 13, 2022Pours two big fingers of semi-soapy white head into my Kolsch glass. Retention is sub-par. Lacing is decent. Body is golden. Looks ok.
Nose is primarily biscuity; malty, definitely get that Vienna malt. Some underlying fruity esters. Not very Kolsch-like, smells nice though.
Flavor is similar - malty, biscuity, slightly burnt. Not much in the way of esters. Tastes good, not like a Kolsch, but it's a nice change of pace.
Carbonation is high. Body is pretty light, a little too light for the malt profile but at least it's sessionable. A small sweetness. Bitterness is low but not void. Pretty decent mouthfeel.
Drinkability is good.
Overall a solid beer. Slightly off style, but I don't mind the malty twist.
Reviewed by BalancingBrooms from California
3.65/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Crystal clear yellow with one finger white head. Nose is soft pale malt with some pale blossom notes. Taste opens with some sharp carbonation, followed by a nutty white bread malt followed by a slight blossom note. Body is light with medium carbonation. Ends crisp with a lingering nut and maybe some floral notes? Overall good for a hot day but not to style IMO but enjoyable.
Sep 05, 2022Reviewed by BillAfromSoCal from California
3.63/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -3.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
I'm not an expert on Kolsch so I referenced the BA style description. I like this beer as a hot weather, yard work refresher, but I don't think it measures up as an outstanding example of the described style style. Smooth drinking and refreshing but not particularly hoppy or "dryish finishing or "spicy herbal Noble hop bitterness". . I fairly loose and relatively short lived 3 finger head. Little lacing. Nice beer experience but nbot a steallr example of the BA description of a classic Kolsch
Jun 01, 2022Rated by Gatch from Massachusetts
4.25/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really solid example of the style. Could drink this regularly. Was happy to see it wherever I was during my SF trip.
Apr 06, 2022Rated by kleinahoe from California
4.75/5 rDev +26.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +26.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Nice intro to Kolsch.
Mar 16, 2022Reviewed by Christianriveraaa
4.68/5 rDev +24.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
4.68/5 rDev +24.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
The look reminded me of any other beer, the smell wasn't to strong at all. But once you take that first sip, it's like I was hit with a curveball and drew immediately to the sensations of a somewhat taste of a stout in this beer. Surprisingly this beer tastes as a stout with a little citrus on the initial taste. Definitely would recommend this beer to those that are stout drinkers looking to branch into other areas of beer.
Jan 10, 2022Reviewed by hoppity from California
4/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tastes like what I remember Kölsch tasting like in Köln, Germany many years ago. It's pleasantly light but with a good and satisfying amount of malt body. Alcohol level is refreshingly moderate as well which allows the flavor profile to come forward.
Aug 28, 2021Reviewed by BerkeleyBeerSleuth from California
4/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Constantly available fresh Kolsch. Packaged on 03/08/2021. Beautiful amber color with an off white bubbly head. Distinct aroma of herbal, spicy, fruity hop esters. Cinnamon and spice. Caramel malts. Taste is malty, clean and refreshing. Doughy bread, not grainy or adjunct tasting. I haven't had many kolsch's to compare this too so I will probably rate this a little higher. Very good as a palate cleanser yet has enough complexity to it to sip and appreciate.
May 03, 2021Reviewed by MattBeer from California
4.02/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This is such a classically good kolsch. Take a friend who doesn't give a crap about craft beer and pour him one of these. He'll be on his fourth before he realizes he's on his third.
OR SHE.
Mar 03, 2021OR SHE.
Reviewed by thesherrybomber from California
4.45/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.45/5 rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - Golden body with creamy white head
Nose - Slightly floral, bready, a touch of stone? fruit, something dusty/musty
Taste - Dry on the front end, followed by sweet malt
Mouthfeel - Crisp, light
Overall - Delicious! Wish I had tried sooner. At three months old, I'm curious to see how it is fresh. If you seek traditional styles, look no further
Jun 11, 2020Nose - Slightly floral, bready, a touch of stone? fruit, something dusty/musty
Taste - Dry on the front end, followed by sweet malt
Mouthfeel - Crisp, light
Overall - Delicious! Wish I had tried sooner. At three months old, I'm curious to see how it is fresh. If you seek traditional styles, look no further
Reviewed by BayAreaJoe from California
3.82/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
This is one of my go-to meal beers. For when you want less bitterness than a pilsner and a little more flavor/substance than a regular lager. Good balance of grain bread with a touch of hops and just a little sweetness. Glad to have this widely available in my area.
Dec 23, 2019Reviewed by Sup_Sippin from California
3.83/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.83/5 rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Hammers and nails floating at the bottom of my bathtub (tinsel? little brass bells?) and early-era Game Of Thrones is being re-enacted by cats, the tabby kind. The shoes I’m wearing make metallic clicks across dark stretches of asphalt.
Nov 27, 2019Reviewed by MaltyMagic from California
4.3/5 rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.3/5 rDev +14.7%
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.
Jul 13, 2019Rated by edc20 from Oregon
3.5/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Very mild carbonation for a later or pilsener like beer. Light, crisp flavor, kind of like a less skunky Heineken.
Apr 07, 2019Reviewed by BigGold from Mississippi
3.58/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev -4.5%
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.
Mar 11, 2019A little darker and maltier than expected, covering the style’s delicate fruitiness, but not a bad effort.
Reviewed by penguinsgoboom from California
4.36/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.36/5 rDev +16.3%
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.
Jul 11, 2018S: 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.
KSA from Fort Point Beer Company
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
104 ratings
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