Hop Sticke
KC Bier Co.
- From:
- KC Bier Co.
- Missouri, United States
- Style:
- Altbier
- ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- +5 ratings needed
- Avg:
- 4.29 | pDev: 3.96%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 3
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 05, 2026
- Added:
- Mar 09, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 1
NO SCORE
-
-
Düsseldorf-Style Altbier
Hop Sticke (Hop-Shticky) is like the German version of a Pale Ale. A full-bodied, dry-hopped Altbier with a distinctive reddish-amber hue, Hop Sticke boasts citrus hop aromas from dry-hopping with imported German Mandarina Bavaria hops, toasted and caramel malt flavors, and an assertively hoppy finish.
“Altbier” means “old beer” in German, and it is most associated with the city of Düsseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of years ago, when lagers began taking over the brewing scene in Germany, “altbier” was used to distinguish these older-style, top-fermented biers from the new, pale lagers. Like their neighbors to the south in Cologne (Köln), brewers in Düsseldorf brewed low fermentation temperatures and long, cold conditioning times, but did not adopt the trendy pale malts found in Kölsch.
“Sticke” is generally used to refer to an Altbier that is special, usually with higher alcohol content, bolder flavor, or one-time availability. Our Hop Sticke is thusly named for its high alcohol content, dry-hopping, and limited availability.
Hop Sticke (Hop-Shticky) is like the German version of a Pale Ale. A full-bodied, dry-hopped Altbier with a distinctive reddish-amber hue, Hop Sticke boasts citrus hop aromas from dry-hopping with imported German Mandarina Bavaria hops, toasted and caramel malt flavors, and an assertively hoppy finish.
“Altbier” means “old beer” in German, and it is most associated with the city of Düsseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of years ago, when lagers began taking over the brewing scene in Germany, “altbier” was used to distinguish these older-style, top-fermented biers from the new, pale lagers. Like their neighbors to the south in Cologne (Köln), brewers in Düsseldorf brewed low fermentation temperatures and long, cold conditioning times, but did not adopt the trendy pale malts found in Kölsch.
“Sticke” is generally used to refer to an Altbier that is special, usually with higher alcohol content, bolder flavor, or one-time availability. Our Hop Sticke is thusly named for its high alcohol content, dry-hopping, and limited availability.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by muchloveforhops3 from Montana
4.3/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle sent my way by @russpowell; first experience with KC Bier
Poured into a Level Belgian-style tulip
P nice copper/chestnut w/ just about 1f of off-white head; some suspended sediment
N bold nose of bright floral notes, honey, and bready malt; notable
T follows nose w/ bready malt that carries floral hops and honey; tasty and satisfying; a mineral note in the finish
Mf med-full to full bodied w/ med to med-high carb; slightly sticky
O one outstanding Altbier, imo- really digging it! exceeded expectations for sure; thanks again, Russ!
Review date: 02.15.26
Bottle date: not captured
May 05, 2026Poured into a Level Belgian-style tulip
P nice copper/chestnut w/ just about 1f of off-white head; some suspended sediment
N bold nose of bright floral notes, honey, and bready malt; notable
T follows nose w/ bready malt that carries floral hops and honey; tasty and satisfying; a mineral note in the finish
Mf med-full to full bodied w/ med to med-high carb; slightly sticky
O one outstanding Altbier, imo- really digging it! exceeded expectations for sure; thanks again, Russ!
Review date: 02.15.26
Bottle date: not captured
Reviewed by 2beerdogs from California
4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Thanks to russpowell for this gorgeous beer.
Pours a deep copper to amber in hue. A solid, sandy fluff rises three fingers in elevation before slowly settling down to a solid finger. The retention is crazy good and leaves layered clouds of lacing.
Nose shows off the malts first. Clean and refined brown bread, toffee and caramel chime in without going too sweet. Then a light pop of orange rind.
Dang, this is smooth. Starts off as a malt show as expected for style. But then a mild fruitiness comes in and then a firm, smooth citrus note that still shows "I'm here" but plays really well with the malt. Some herbal hops as well. The initial sweetness is definitely kept in check while still shining.
Mouthfeel is on the fuller side for style and I'm loving it. Carbonation is consistent and keeps things moving. Finishes with a mildly dry, bitter, orange rind meets herbal hops, bitterness.
Overall, this would be a go-to if it was local.
Jun 12, 2025Pours a deep copper to amber in hue. A solid, sandy fluff rises three fingers in elevation before slowly settling down to a solid finger. The retention is crazy good and leaves layered clouds of lacing.
Nose shows off the malts first. Clean and refined brown bread, toffee and caramel chime in without going too sweet. Then a light pop of orange rind.
Dang, this is smooth. Starts off as a malt show as expected for style. But then a mild fruitiness comes in and then a firm, smooth citrus note that still shows "I'm here" but plays really well with the malt. Some herbal hops as well. The initial sweetness is definitely kept in check while still shining.
Mouthfeel is on the fuller side for style and I'm loving it. Carbonation is consistent and keeps things moving. Finishes with a mildly dry, bitter, orange rind meets herbal hops, bitterness.
Overall, this would be a go-to if it was local.
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas
4.32/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
KC Bier Co. Hop Sticke Dusseldorf Style Alt beer, 7.0% ABV
My bottle is 7.0% ABV
Pours a somewhat effervescent caramel/copper color with a thumb+ of tan head. Great head retention & insane lacing, drops bright
S: Bready, toffee notes, some jammy notes once the beer warms up
T: Follows the nose. a little dry, some leafy & woody hops, some fruittyness as well up front. More woody hops mixing with some caramel, toastyness & dryness, a little bit of leafy hops & dryness once this beer warms up, along with a little bit of pears & figs. Finishes dry, fruity with woody hops
MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, good balance
Nails the style for the most part, a little drier than I remember these being over in Germany
Mar 16, 2025My bottle is 7.0% ABV
Pours a somewhat effervescent caramel/copper color with a thumb+ of tan head. Great head retention & insane lacing, drops bright
S: Bready, toffee notes, some jammy notes once the beer warms up
T: Follows the nose. a little dry, some leafy & woody hops, some fruittyness as well up front. More woody hops mixing with some caramel, toastyness & dryness, a little bit of leafy hops & dryness once this beer warms up, along with a little bit of pears & figs. Finishes dry, fruity with woody hops
MF: Medium body, fairly firm carbonation, good balance
Nails the style for the most part, a little drier than I remember these being over in Germany
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