Oak-Aged Watermelon Kolsch
Brewery Ommegang

A: crystal clear; deep peach - almost amber in color; less than a 1 finger fizzy ivory head that receded quickly to a thin tight collar; no lacing;

S: fresh watermelon;

T: bright fresh watermelon from start to finish; nice balance between sweetness and bitterness;

M: light to medium bodied; moderate carbonation; moderately dry finish;

O: didn't really get any oak;

I am very partial to this because I love watermelon. If you love watermelon -REAL- watermelon, this will be a genuine treat. I genuinely expect, when taking a sip, to be spitting out a few black seeds.

My takeaway...

The Kolsch aspect is non-existent. I think it's the style, used more as a vehicle, to deliver the result. It's Light, sweet, and refreshing. Like slightly overripe watermelon. The agave gives it a waxy twang, and the lime rounds it out (mainly on the nose). You get some of the gentle malts on the backend. I suspect this, if had warm, would present the style better. But cold, it's basically drinking boozy watermelon juice.

Very unique, extremely tasty. If marketed as a Watermelon Shandy and throw in a tiny bit of watermelon pulp,it'd be perfect.

 

Poured into a wide mouth, grip-shaped goblet: color is pink, nearly clear, head is off white and presents quickly at 1/4 inch thick, then dissipates to nothing.

Smell is watermelon, agave sweetness, limited malt, and not much oak.

Taste is more watermelon, agave sweetness, light base malt, limited Kolsch character.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, low bitterness but some carbonic bite that lingers.

Overall an interesting brew with a real watermelon flavor with backing notes from the agave and lime that provide some depth; Kolsch-ness is not well presented.

The beer pours a voluminous pinkish white head that takes a while to dissipate. The beer itself is a clear pink color that looks interesting.

The smell has a sweet berry smell and light agave notes. There isn't much oak but the agave does come out a bit.

The taste has the same sweet berry notes in addition to the agave notes. There is also a lime note that balances out the sweetness in the finish.

The feel is fairly clean. It has a light body and smooth texture with little carbonation despite the huge head it produces.

Overall, it was an interesting beer, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a kolsch.

 

 

 

16oz can picked up at Big Head's Bottle Shop in Missoula, MT
Poured into

P clear amber/ruby w/ a 1f very light pink-ish head
N med nose of fruitiness, crackery malt, and light grassiness; pleasant
T indiscernable fruity sweetness (not what I perceive to be watermelon, though) and carrot juice, w/ a mod crackery malt backbone; tangy finish; light watermelon masked by plenty of lime as it opens; pleasant, once again
Mf light-med bodied w/ med to med-high carb
O not quite what I expected (was anticipating a sweeter/juicier profile), but pretty good nonetheless

Review date: 07.20.25
Can date: not captured

Aroma is sweet watermelon, pale malts and a hint of wood/fruit. The flavor is sweet watermelon/slight jolly rancher, pale malts and a dryish/mildly tart finish.

 

Refreshing beer for the summer. Crisp. Real watermelon flavor. Not boozy. Interesting color when poured. Great beer.

An interesting amber,orange appearance.
Medium bodied with medium light carbonation.
Aroma is watermelon , some other mixed fruit, earthy and oak
Taste is real watermelon, some lime, an almost dry earthy wood quality.
Very well done beer

 

Juicy, salty, refreshing. Natural watermelon flavor and nothing overly sweet or artificial. The agave interacts beautifully with the watermelon, punching grassy, woody, and earthy qualities through the base kolsch. Really delightful, like your sister.

 

Looks, smells and tastes like watermelon juice with a dash of lime. Interesting. Fairly light bodied, juicy and refreshing but one and done.

 

 

Pours an effervescent & chill-hazed pink/amber with a pinky of cream-colored head. Above average head retention & lacing

S: Plenty of watermelon & that's about it, fades a little once warmed up

T: Watermelon, hints of strawberry, oaky dryness, some sweetness & a little tartness. Tartness & watermelon rule as this beer warms up, the flavor seems natural, I presume the dryness is coming from the Golden Agave Barrel chips this is aged with. Finishes with some watermelon sweetness, a touch of dryness & just a little tartness

MF: Medium bodied, subtle carbonation

Probably would call this a fruit beer, but who am to argue with the brewers? Super refreshing, this certainly strays from traditional style guidelines. So damn drinkable