Honey Kölsch
450 North Brewing Company

 

This will be my first entry for New Odds & Sods Beer Sunday (Week 651). I acquired this CAN while attending a CANvention, but when I got it home, there was no approved pic, so while I did my part, it fell out of my rotation during the approval process. I was interested to learn that Columbus, IN is about 50 miles south of IND, IN along I-65, FWIW.

From the CAN: "Brewed Locally in Columbus, IN"; "A Taste of Real Honey in Every CAN"; "450 North is a small craft brewery attached to Simons Winery near beautiful Columbus, Indiana. Join us for a pint and brick oven pizza!"; "Please recycle after enjoying".

I listened as the Crack! gave off a sharp sound to signal that we were off & running. A slow, gentle Glug into the awaiting glass produced three-plus fingers of rocky, foamy, tawny head with decent retention. Color was Amber to Deep Amber/Light Copper (SRM = > 9, < 13) with NE-quality clarity. Nose was quite sweet & I really did not need to lean in for a sniff as I could smell the honey even as I was pouring it. Mouthfeel was medium. The taste was a bit sweet for the style, giving me a lot of honey flavor, but edging out the cleanliness that I generally associate with the style. Also, the malt seemed more bready than biscuity, adding to the sweetness. Finish was semi-sweet & while there was nothing intrinsically wrong with it, I just was not digging it the way that I should for higher scores. Sorry.

My wife and I visited her parents recently and after years of visiting Zwanzigz almost exclusively for beer whenever we came down, we decided to switch things up a bit and give 450 North a shot.

This beer pours a cloudy, golden hue that is topped with a white, frothy head that dissipates very quickly to a thin lacing that is retained. Carbonation is low. 3.5/5 The aroma is lightly sweet with a light grainy maltiness and honey, along with a lemony spritzness. A bit of sweet cantaloupe comes through which is a nice touch. 3.5/5 The flavor profile is exactly like the aroma with cantaloupe, honey, lemon, and grain all coming through nicely. There is a definite honey sweetness that is very noticeable. Bitterness is next to non-existent with no lingering bitterness. 3.5/5 This is a lightly carbonation, light bodied Kolsch that is wetting and coating and leaves the tongue feeling nice and wet after swallowing. 3.5/5 This is a decent Kolsch but is a bit sweet for my taste in Kolsch beers. There is nothing truly off about the beer, it's just not to my taste. 3.5/5

 

 

 

 

Hazed, Yeast, Unfinished, Malty

A Kolsch with a twist is the brewers intention, mild haze and thin lacing is a little discouraging from the get go. That is great and all that they threw a Kolsch yeast at this brew though this brew has no crisp snap at all and runs a little muddled with yeast, slickness, and faint sweetness from the addition of honey. Perhaps is this one was simply called a Kellerbier there would be a lot more forgiveness, clean this one up and we’d have something more to talk about.

STYLE: Kolsch | ABV: 4.6% | AVAILABILITY: Year-round

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine issue #97 (FEB 2015)

It's got a raw honey start, with a malty Kolsch finish. Not much sweetness it has a nice earthy tone. It starts a bit rough but it begins to settle into an easy drinking beer.

Definite honey character in aroma. Touch of kolsch yeast fruitiness.

Flavor is more fruity, ala kolsch, with a modestly toasted malt backbone and a hint of bitterness.

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a modest head; squiggles of lacing hang around

Smell: Biscuity with honeyed sweetness

Taste: Biscuits slathered with honey, up front; fruity, with just a touch of bitterness building in the middle; the finish is a return to the sweeter flavors

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; lacks crispness

Overall: Too sweet for the style but I can't say it was not enjoyable; just not to style