Golden Trout Ale
Mammoth Brewing Company
- From:
- Mammoth Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Kölsch
Ranked #339 - ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 78
Ranked #37,659 - Avg:
- 3.37 | pDev: 15.73%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 18
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Jan 13, 2026
- Added:
- Mar 26, 2008
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 13
SCORE
78
Okay
78
Okay
Light and crisp Kölsch style beer named after the elusive California State Fish!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.62/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.62/5 rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
16oz can, painted label. Label has ABV% at 4.8%. Bottom stamp is 'CALIFORNIA STATE FISH / PKGD ON 8/16/25'.
Mostly clear, straw colored body. Two fingers of white head when poured, and this becomes a thin cap and higher ring. Leaves behind torn curtains of lacing on the non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma of toasted grain and a general fruitiness. A little musty.
Taste is overall sweet, with a brief bitter bite at the end of each sip. Flavors of toasted grain, honey, berry, and a little wine grape-y. Gets more earthy late. Aftertaste maintains a general hopped and toasted malt approach.
Medium mouthfeel. Coats the mouth and provides a slight tongue sting with each sip. Dry finish. Excellent carbonation.
Easy drinking and a low ABV%. More coating than crisp.
Jan 13, 2026Mostly clear, straw colored body. Two fingers of white head when poured, and this becomes a thin cap and higher ring. Leaves behind torn curtains of lacing on the non-drinking side of the glass.
Aroma of toasted grain and a general fruitiness. A little musty.
Taste is overall sweet, with a brief bitter bite at the end of each sip. Flavors of toasted grain, honey, berry, and a little wine grape-y. Gets more earthy late. Aftertaste maintains a general hopped and toasted malt approach.
Medium mouthfeel. Coats the mouth and provides a slight tongue sting with each sip. Dry finish. Excellent carbonation.
Easy drinking and a low ABV%. More coating than crisp.
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia
3.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear golden color with a nice head and lacing
Aroma has malt and floral hints
Taste has a malt and floral flavor
A light bodied decently carbonated beer
A decent Kolsch
Jun 15, 2025Aroma has malt and floral hints
Taste has a malt and floral flavor
A light bodied decently carbonated beer
A decent Kolsch
Reviewed by FCBierChugz from California
3.96/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.96/5 rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
It’s not my favorite color on a lager but it comes through on the nose. Smells very reminiscent of standard German Helles lagers. It lacks the hop character that I’d expect from a good kolsch and definitely tastes more like a lager. Overall pretty nice beer, straight out of the can I was disappointed and thought it tasted close to the macros but I think that’s unfair. It’s closer to a good German lager than American adjunct lagers.
Feb 05, 2023Reviewed by JerzDevl2000 from New Jersey
3.38/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.38/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
This was another beer that I picked up at the Gift Shop at Yosemite when I was out that way over the summer. Nice label a as it had been a while since I reviewed a Kolsch on here and after having this, it was easy to see why! Sure, if you were going fishing and needed a few cans to tag along with or wanted to crack something open after a long day in the great outdoors, this would be perfect. For serious beer nerds or snobs, this would not be a first choice when reaching for something strong or hopped up...
No surprise that this poured like straw, smelled like cereal, and tasted like grain and grape as this was typical example of the style. Enough head topped this off as there were two rings of lacing near the top with plenty of spotty suds the rest of the way down. Some floral and grassy notes and sourness from the Saaz Hops and Cologne Malt made this feel German as the taste was slightly slick like honey with some biscuit to round out the body. Plenty carbonated and reminiscent of grape in the aftertaste, this was fine for a change but not my cup of tea - even if there was a hint of spice scattered throughout my time with this.
If I had another here, I might have cracked it open after finishing this given that it was nearly impossible to detect the 5.5% ABV. No date was written on the bottom of the can but the lack of sediment was a hint that this held up well during my return trip from California. While not a winner, anyone into macros would be wise to give this a go, if for no other reason than a chance to expand his or her horizons. If anything, this has me missing the National Parks that I visited during my run this year!
Oct 18, 2021No surprise that this poured like straw, smelled like cereal, and tasted like grain and grape as this was typical example of the style. Enough head topped this off as there were two rings of lacing near the top with plenty of spotty suds the rest of the way down. Some floral and grassy notes and sourness from the Saaz Hops and Cologne Malt made this feel German as the taste was slightly slick like honey with some biscuit to round out the body. Plenty carbonated and reminiscent of grape in the aftertaste, this was fine for a change but not my cup of tea - even if there was a hint of spice scattered throughout my time with this.
If I had another here, I might have cracked it open after finishing this given that it was nearly impossible to detect the 5.5% ABV. No date was written on the bottom of the can but the lack of sediment was a hint that this held up well during my return trip from California. While not a winner, anyone into macros would be wise to give this a go, if for no other reason than a chance to expand his or her horizons. If anything, this has me missing the National Parks that I visited during my run this year!
Reviewed by RyanK252 from California
3.65/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Can poured into a Mammoth Brewing Co pint glass
A: Pours golden straw yellow with a frothy off white head that settles to a firm layer and laces nicely.
S: Floral, grassy, yeasty, slight herbal earthy notes, biscuity malt, and a little honey sweetness.
T: Floral, grassy, light slightly spicy herbal notes, underlying fruity side, pear, melon, and peach, a little yeasty, crackery slightly biscuity malt, and a little honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, slightly soft to moderate carbonation.
O: Over the years I've seen this beer marketed as a Blonde Ale and a Pilsner, but I guess now it's a Kolsch. Not sure how much the recipe has changed along with the names. As it stands it's not bad and serves as an approachable crowd pleaser. Good one to keep in the cooler while fishing, but nothing to go out of the way for.
Jul 18, 2021A: Pours golden straw yellow with a frothy off white head that settles to a firm layer and laces nicely.
S: Floral, grassy, yeasty, slight herbal earthy notes, biscuity malt, and a little honey sweetness.
T: Floral, grassy, light slightly spicy herbal notes, underlying fruity side, pear, melon, and peach, a little yeasty, crackery slightly biscuity malt, and a little honey sweetness.
M: Medium body, slightly soft to moderate carbonation.
O: Over the years I've seen this beer marketed as a Blonde Ale and a Pilsner, but I guess now it's a Kolsch. Not sure how much the recipe has changed along with the names. As it stands it's not bad and serves as an approachable crowd pleaser. Good one to keep in the cooler while fishing, but nothing to go out of the way for.
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.35/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.35/5 rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Pours a yellow and golden color with ample clarity and a soft 1/3" head. Aroma of light malt, Munich, and maybe some non descript grain and hay.
Taste is a beer similar to the macros, but with a little less sweetness and 100% barley. The hopping is minimal, the carbonation is high. This is one of those beers that they sing about in the country songs about how you want it ice cold because the girl is so hawt. It is a decent option for that person who isn't about beer but will drink one. The slightest sweetness and bitterness. A standard blonde ale. 25 ibu I would guess. No off flavors. I wouldn't shit on the beer just because it is what it aims to be a mild pilsner that keeps the lager feels way down. The yeast doesn't really provide anything here.
Mar 11, 2018Taste is a beer similar to the macros, but with a little less sweetness and 100% barley. The hopping is minimal, the carbonation is high. This is one of those beers that they sing about in the country songs about how you want it ice cold because the girl is so hawt. It is a decent option for that person who isn't about beer but will drink one. The slightest sweetness and bitterness. A standard blonde ale. 25 ibu I would guess. No off flavors. I wouldn't shit on the beer just because it is what it aims to be a mild pilsner that keeps the lager feels way down. The yeast doesn't really provide anything here.
Reviewed by Zorro from California
3.52/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.52/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Clear golden ale with a medium sized white head. No Trout in the bottle.
Smells clean and mildly sweet. Mild noble hop scent, mostly hay and grass. This is your standard easy going lager.
Starts out mildly sweet with mostly a toasted grain flavor. Grain and very slight bitterness. They hop is both saffron and hay in flavor. Tasty enough to be interesting but nothing that would challenge your Pabst loving relatives.
Medium mouthfeel.
Overall tasty yet friendly beer. Something that would go with anything be it the Beach or a steak dinner.
Mar 11, 2018Smells clean and mildly sweet. Mild noble hop scent, mostly hay and grass. This is your standard easy going lager.
Starts out mildly sweet with mostly a toasted grain flavor. Grain and very slight bitterness. They hop is both saffron and hay in flavor. Tasty enough to be interesting but nothing that would challenge your Pabst loving relatives.
Medium mouthfeel.
Overall tasty yet friendly beer. Something that would go with anything be it the Beach or a steak dinner.
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