Kölsch Ale | Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Brewed by:
Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Pennsylvania, United States
victorybeer.com
Style: Kölsch
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.60%
Availability: Summer
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by rotsaruch on 09-07-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 69 | Reviews: 35
4.42/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A crystal-clear straw-gold body is capped by a short lid of bright white foam that drops shortly but continues to leave nice lace. Bright floral hops appear in the nose over a delicately bready malt. It's quite enticing, and it continually begs you to bring the glass back up to your nose where, it just so happens, your mouth is located! The body is light-medium and its very fine, median carbonation leaves it lightly crisp in the mouth. The flavor seamlessly bonds the floral and spicy hops with the malt and a firm bitterness. It finishes dry and refreshing with a swirl of hops and a dollop of residual malt. Clean, refreshing and satisfying!
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A crystal-clear straw-gold body is capped by a short lid of bright white foam that drops shortly but continues to leave nice lace. Bright floral hops appear in the nose over a delicately bready malt. It's quite enticing, and it continually begs you to bring the glass back up to your nose where, it just so happens, your mouth is located! The body is light-medium and its very fine, median carbonation leaves it lightly crisp in the mouth. The flavor seamlessly bonds the floral and spicy hops with the malt and a firm bitterness. It finishes dry and refreshing with a swirl of hops and a dollop of residual malt. Clean, refreshing and satisfying!
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3.58/5 rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Poured with a small head of white foam on s clear, golden body. The head settles quickly but leaves good lace.
S - Clean malt and lightly spicy hops with little else.
T - Light, bready malt up front with a little bit of spicy hop character. Some musty bitterness in the middle with grainy notes in the finish and a lingering bitterness.
M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.
D - Not bad, but a littler too hoppy and lacking in malt character. still vy drinkable.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A - Poured with a small head of white foam on s clear, golden body. The head settles quickly but leaves good lace.
S - Clean malt and lightly spicy hops with little else.
T - Light, bready malt up front with a little bit of spicy hop character. Some musty bitterness in the middle with grainy notes in the finish and a lingering bitterness.
M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a dry finish.
D - Not bad, but a littler too hoppy and lacking in malt character. still vy drinkable.
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4.22/5 rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap @ the VBC on 7/24/10. Served in a Willibecker glass.
Pours a crystal clear gold, with 1 ½ fingers of foamy tight-white head. This retains with a ½ finger of foamy richness that doesn't quit, leaving the walls of the glass coated with thick sticky swathes of lace. The aroma is almost perfume-like in the nose (just as a good Kölsch should be) with a fruity and floral presence that effortlessly breezes up the nostrils. Bright textures of spice, earth, and citrus peel, with a sweet graininess that rises up underneath. I'm also getting that classic smelling egg/bread mix of the flavors here from the yeast as well. Just a nice tightness to the flavors in the nose, which makes this feel spot-on.
The taste is tangy sweet gains intermingled with softer fruity flavors and some lightly earthy and green tones shining through as well. Earthy rind and spice are present, spreading bitterness out into a dry and parching finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a fantastic crispness to that gives the flavors an assertive crackle on the palate, while some smooth slickness on the edges of the profile really keeps things moving easily. This feels great.
This is one of those Victory beers that I seem to always miss each summer but I must say that this more than met my expectations after finally getting to try it. With tight flavors here in the nose and mouth and a crisp and dry body keeping the drinkibility here VERY high, this is definitley in the top tier of American-brewed Kölschs that I've had. Well done indeed.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On tap @ the VBC on 7/24/10. Served in a Willibecker glass.
Pours a crystal clear gold, with 1 ½ fingers of foamy tight-white head. This retains with a ½ finger of foamy richness that doesn't quit, leaving the walls of the glass coated with thick sticky swathes of lace. The aroma is almost perfume-like in the nose (just as a good Kölsch should be) with a fruity and floral presence that effortlessly breezes up the nostrils. Bright textures of spice, earth, and citrus peel, with a sweet graininess that rises up underneath. I'm also getting that classic smelling egg/bread mix of the flavors here from the yeast as well. Just a nice tightness to the flavors in the nose, which makes this feel spot-on.
The taste is tangy sweet gains intermingled with softer fruity flavors and some lightly earthy and green tones shining through as well. Earthy rind and spice are present, spreading bitterness out into a dry and parching finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, with a fantastic crispness to that gives the flavors an assertive crackle on the palate, while some smooth slickness on the edges of the profile really keeps things moving easily. This feels great.
This is one of those Victory beers that I seem to always miss each summer but I must say that this more than met my expectations after finally getting to try it. With tight flavors here in the nose and mouth and a crisp and dry body keeping the drinkibility here VERY high, this is definitley in the top tier of American-brewed Kölschs that I've had. Well done indeed.
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3.78/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured on tap at Pizza Paradiso Dupont, into a shaker pint. Victory tap takeover for DC beer week!
A white hot colored head is presented sittings on a classic fourteen carat gold crystal body. Carbonation rises from the middle, never seen that before .. looks great, but with no lacing while drinking.
Bouquet is crisp sense and light malts but mildly grassy, and mostly closed. Not much of a nose on this.
Taste brings light bread classic taste, even slightly doughy. Mild pronounced hop but noticeable presence. Strange crazy finish with mild sweetness and noticeable white sugar. Interesting mild soda and lime like finish.
Overall, distinct, different easily sessionable, fairly pleasant. A obit odd just wish this was more breadier. The ultimate Kolsch quest continues in earnest...
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured on tap at Pizza Paradiso Dupont, into a shaker pint. Victory tap takeover for DC beer week!
A white hot colored head is presented sittings on a classic fourteen carat gold crystal body. Carbonation rises from the middle, never seen that before .. looks great, but with no lacing while drinking.
Bouquet is crisp sense and light malts but mildly grassy, and mostly closed. Not much of a nose on this.
Taste brings light bread classic taste, even slightly doughy. Mild pronounced hop but noticeable presence. Strange crazy finish with mild sweetness and noticeable white sugar. Interesting mild soda and lime like finish.
Overall, distinct, different easily sessionable, fairly pleasant. A obit odd just wish this was more breadier. The ultimate Kolsch quest continues in earnest...
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4.3/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Clear yellow in color with a white 1/2" head. The head disappeared rather quickly and there was no lacing to be found. The aroma was of sweet malt and grass. The flavor was sweeter than expected, but it worked as there was a nice bitterness to balance it out. Grass tones lingered in the background. Light bodied.
Mouthfeel was clean and refreshingly crisp. No lingering aftertaste. The drinkability is as high as you can get, as this is truely a tasty afternoon session brew.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Clear yellow in color with a white 1/2" head. The head disappeared rather quickly and there was no lacing to be found. The aroma was of sweet malt and grass. The flavor was sweeter than expected, but it worked as there was a nice bitterness to balance it out. Grass tones lingered in the background. Light bodied.
Mouthfeel was clean and refreshingly crisp. No lingering aftertaste. The drinkability is as high as you can get, as this is truely a tasty afternoon session brew.
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4.15/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a tall cylindrical glass at the brewery. It appeared clear, brilliant gold with a tall white head.
This is the best kolsch I've ever had. No question about it. It's a light, dry, and imminently sessionable beer with all the subtle nuances the style has to offer: fresh-baked biscuits, mineral-rich water, golden bread, peppery hops, and a light fruit punch. The malt taste is clean and the hops provide a delicate but delicious finish. I wish I'd found this early in the summer, it's a fantastic beer for any season, but this would be sublime on a sweaty, sunny day.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a tall cylindrical glass at the brewery. It appeared clear, brilliant gold with a tall white head.
This is the best kolsch I've ever had. No question about it. It's a light, dry, and imminently sessionable beer with all the subtle nuances the style has to offer: fresh-baked biscuits, mineral-rich water, golden bread, peppery hops, and a light fruit punch. The malt taste is clean and the hops provide a delicate but delicious finish. I wish I'd found this early in the summer, it's a fantastic beer for any season, but this would be sublime on a sweaty, sunny day.
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4.1/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at the brewery. Pours a very clear, very light golden color with a small, quickly settling white head and patchy lacing. Bready, grainy malt aroma with floral, spicy hops.
Taste has floral and somewhat fruity hop notes that give the beer an appealing, assertive bitterness in combination with crackery malt and a nice spicy note. Low overall sweetness. Lightly lingering bitter aftertaste.
Overall an excellent example of the style. Very crisp, clean and dry. Lively carbonation on a light body. Highly quenching and refreshing, probably the best American-made kolsch I’ve had.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
On-tap at the brewery. Pours a very clear, very light golden color with a small, quickly settling white head and patchy lacing. Bready, grainy malt aroma with floral, spicy hops.
Taste has floral and somewhat fruity hop notes that give the beer an appealing, assertive bitterness in combination with crackery malt and a nice spicy note. Low overall sweetness. Lightly lingering bitter aftertaste.
Overall an excellent example of the style. Very crisp, clean and dry. Lively carbonation on a light body. Highly quenching and refreshing, probably the best American-made kolsch I’ve had.
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3.78/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Kölsch
Victory Brewing Company
Style: Kölsch
ABV: 4.60 %
LOOK: Clear golden color, with a foam cap and leaving plenty of lacing.
SMELL: Distinct lager yeast smell, grass, cooked veggies, stewed hops, fresh bread and a bit buttery as well.
TASTE: Clean bready malt flavor like a typical German Kolsch. Herbal tea like hopping with mild grassy, leafy flavor and bitterness. Bready, well balanced, very lightly bitter lager.
FEEL: Light bodied, stinging carbonation. Light, easy to drink , very mellow.
OVERALL: A pretty nice kolsch, but does not separate itself from many others in the style. Pretty standard, not that there's anything wrong with that.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Kölsch
Victory Brewing Company
Style: Kölsch
ABV: 4.60 %
LOOK: Clear golden color, with a foam cap and leaving plenty of lacing.
SMELL: Distinct lager yeast smell, grass, cooked veggies, stewed hops, fresh bread and a bit buttery as well.
TASTE: Clean bready malt flavor like a typical German Kolsch. Herbal tea like hopping with mild grassy, leafy flavor and bitterness. Bready, well balanced, very lightly bitter lager.
FEEL: Light bodied, stinging carbonation. Light, easy to drink , very mellow.
OVERALL: A pretty nice kolsch, but does not separate itself from many others in the style. Pretty standard, not that there's anything wrong with that.
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4.37/5 rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
32oz growler from Whole Foods.
A- Bright gold almost coors light gold with a nice bubbly white head, dragging lace.
S- A really nice nose full of citrus and earth with light spice. Small oranges with grain and earthy hops, A spicy background. A great nose.
T- Really digging the simplicity of this while being bold. Getting a nice mix of orange, grapefruit drops and grassy hops, all being extremely light. A grainy middle finishing dry and lightly yeasted with a bready quality.
M- Very Very Very light and refreshing and gulpable. Carbed up to the point that it's known this beer is not dead. Not bitter in the least sense.
D- A drinker for sure, a whole growler would not of been enough. This just went down real easy and Im glad I picked it up.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
32oz growler from Whole Foods.
A- Bright gold almost coors light gold with a nice bubbly white head, dragging lace.
S- A really nice nose full of citrus and earth with light spice. Small oranges with grain and earthy hops, A spicy background. A great nose.
T- Really digging the simplicity of this while being bold. Getting a nice mix of orange, grapefruit drops and grassy hops, all being extremely light. A grainy middle finishing dry and lightly yeasted with a bready quality.
M- Very Very Very light and refreshing and gulpable. Carbed up to the point that it's known this beer is not dead. Not bitter in the least sense.
D- A drinker for sure, a whole growler would not of been enough. This just went down real easy and Im glad I picked it up.
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4/5 rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tasted on-tap 9/25/06 at Tria in Philadelphia, PA.
Advertised as "rare" at 5.1% ABV.
Gold colored with a low white head. A nicely balanced malt, fruit, and hop aroma. Similar in flavor with malt dominating, a touch of ale fruitiness, and just enough hops to balance. Light bodied with a fairly clean finish.
A fairly nice Kolsch -- wish I could compare to a true German example.
($5.50 / Pint)
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tasted on-tap 9/25/06 at Tria in Philadelphia, PA.
Advertised as "rare" at 5.1% ABV.
Gold colored with a low white head. A nicely balanced malt, fruit, and hop aroma. Similar in flavor with malt dominating, a touch of ale fruitiness, and just enough hops to balance. Light bodied with a fairly clean finish.
A fairly nice Kolsch -- wish I could compare to a true German example.
($5.50 / Pint)
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3.88/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served at the restaurant.
A: The ale is a pale yellow, crystal clear brew with a slight ring of head.
S: Earthy noble hops are the dominant aroma in the nose.
T: The ale starts with a grainy malt flavor that soon gives way to a crisp, dirty hop flavor that is intriguing. Those hops definitely have the subtlety of noble hops and add a firm, biting finish to the ale.
M: Very clean on the palate, this is a good pounding beer.
D: Very drinkable, too bad it is not bottled.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served at the restaurant.
A: The ale is a pale yellow, crystal clear brew with a slight ring of head.
S: Earthy noble hops are the dominant aroma in the nose.
T: The ale starts with a grainy malt flavor that soon gives way to a crisp, dirty hop flavor that is intriguing. Those hops definitely have the subtlety of noble hops and add a firm, biting finish to the ale.
M: Very clean on the palate, this is a good pounding beer.
D: Very drinkable, too bad it is not bottled.
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4.5/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is Victroys new and excellent Kolsch beer. Davo was nice enough to bring a growler of this for us to enjoy at the BA BBQ this past Saturday, so we all partaked of its wonders. This was a light, golden beer with some nice fruity, hoppy aromas. The taste was hoppy, fruity and mild all at the same time. The mouthfeel is perfectly balanced and carbonated and the drinkability is excellent!
A great Kolsch from the fine folks at Victroy Brewing!
Prost!
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This is Victroys new and excellent Kolsch beer. Davo was nice enough to bring a growler of this for us to enjoy at the BA BBQ this past Saturday, so we all partaked of its wonders. This was a light, golden beer with some nice fruity, hoppy aromas. The taste was hoppy, fruity and mild all at the same time. The mouthfeel is perfectly balanced and carbonated and the drinkability is excellent!
A great Kolsch from the fine folks at Victroy Brewing!
Prost!
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3.85/5 rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draught @ Victory: This one pours a slightly hazy golden color. There was a small white head on mine. It did lace down the glass a bit. The aroma was rather mild. Light notes of wheat and citrus. The taste was a little bit of wheat and citrus. A very refreshing beer. Subtle, yet well done. Very Good!
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draught @ Victory: This one pours a slightly hazy golden color. There was a small white head on mine. It did lace down the glass a bit. The aroma was rather mild. Light notes of wheat and citrus. The taste was a little bit of wheat and citrus. A very refreshing beer. Subtle, yet well done. Very Good!
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3.06/5 rDev -21.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed on 7/10/08. On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours a light golden yellow with a small white head. Aroma of light fruits, light malts, wheat. Flavor is initially lots of spices, followed by bread/wheat malts. Finish of stale wheat. A decent beer that was ok except for the finish.
6/4/6/3/13 (3.2/5)
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Reviewed on 7/10/08. On tap at Blind Tiger. Pours a light golden yellow with a small white head. Aroma of light fruits, light malts, wheat. Flavor is initially lots of spices, followed by bread/wheat malts. Finish of stale wheat. A decent beer that was ok except for the finish.
6/4/6/3/13 (3.2/5)
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4.07/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served as a bright golden colored beer with moderate white puffy head.
Smell shows a light fruitiness combined with a touch of flowery hops.
Taste is light, yet crisp. A fruity sweetness is moderated by a pleasnt hop presence.
Very refreshing and easy to drink.
Went well with my meal. Complimented it well.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served as a bright golden colored beer with moderate white puffy head.
Smell shows a light fruitiness combined with a touch of flowery hops.
Taste is light, yet crisp. A fruity sweetness is moderated by a pleasnt hop presence.
Very refreshing and easy to drink.
Went well with my meal. Complimented it well.
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3.61/5 rDev -7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
3.6/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.3/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served in a kolsch glass. A glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.
Appearance: As served the beer is a clear bright golden yellow color with a ¼" to ½" white finely bubbled white head that lasts for most of the beer as small ring and light layer of foam over the surface of the beer. Throughout most of the beer, sipping leaves lightly speckled scattered lacing.
Smell: The aroma is both hoppy and malty with some light earthy and floral notes and some bready and honey sweetness.
Taste: The clean, refreshing flavor is grassy and herbal with some biscuity sweetness and some light bitterness
Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is light to medium body with some long lasting carbonation. The finish begins with the mix of sweet malt and bitterness from the hops and then fades to a dry finish.
Drinkability: This beer is an easy drinking kolsch and a tasty brew for drinking several with good conversation and friends over dinner. I'd be happy to have another.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Served in a kolsch glass. A glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.
Appearance: As served the beer is a clear bright golden yellow color with a ¼" to ½" white finely bubbled white head that lasts for most of the beer as small ring and light layer of foam over the surface of the beer. Throughout most of the beer, sipping leaves lightly speckled scattered lacing.
Smell: The aroma is both hoppy and malty with some light earthy and floral notes and some bready and honey sweetness.
Taste: The clean, refreshing flavor is grassy and herbal with some biscuity sweetness and some light bitterness
Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is light to medium body with some long lasting carbonation. The finish begins with the mix of sweet malt and bitterness from the hops and then fades to a dry finish.
Drinkability: This beer is an easy drinking kolsch and a tasty brew for drinking several with good conversation and friends over dinner. I'd be happy to have another.
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Kölsch Ale from Victory Brewing Company - Downingtown
Beer rating:
69.6% out of
100 with
69 ratings
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed at the brewpub in Downingtown, PA
A: half finger head on a clear straw colored body. Scattered lacing.
S: grain and pale malts with slight sweet corn. Light aroma overall.
T: very nice grain and pale malt flavor with perfect degree of bitterness. Corn but not sweet notes. Light earthy hop character late in the finish.
M: light body and high carbonation.
Overall: very clean and drinkable. This is a generally dull category but this one is about as flavorful and clean as the style gets.
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