Stoop Sale
Kings County Brewers Collective (KCBC)

Picked this up over a yer ago at KCBC, finally getting around to it today. As usual, the name and art on the can were top-notch and the liquid inside wasn't that bad either. Not often that you find a German Kolsch brewed by someone in this neck of the woods and yes, this was pretty true to form when all was said and done. Full in body, light in flavor, and enjoyable, this was one of the better examples that I've had and easily worth another go-around!

Of course, the pour to this was quite nice - golden, bright, and somewhat radiant, this had plenty of bubbly head to top it off though that was probably because I took so long to get around to it! Lots of grape, wine, yeast, and apple in the muted nose with all of those coming through in the taste. Pear, honey, and lemon emerged in a bit on the tongue as this warmed up as this had a spicy undertone to this with some sweetness and slickness to boot. Almost felt like wine but with some heavy-handed funk thrown into the mix for good measure, as the fruit flavors were enjoyable from start to finish.

This was an ideal session beer too as the amount of alcohol was quite low and nearly undetectable. Hopheads would never reach for something like this but for those of us who appreciate something good regardless of style, this was nearly undiscovered in nature. There could have been more lacing on the side of my pint glass and a date that was legible on the bottom of the can (only the year was discernible) but other than that, I really liked this. Glad to see that it's in KCBC's rotation!

 

Pours a clear golden color, visible carbonation and a light foam head. Retention is average, according to style, as it soon dissipates but leaves some lacing.
I'm loving the aroma for its emphasis on fruit. I'm getting lots of green grape and honey malt sweetness. Later, I also detect fruit punch, apples and pear.
Medium bodied with a nice slick and full dry malt mouthfeel. The carbonation has a nice tingle. Fruity with notes of grape, apple, pear, citrus, yet, with a pleasant dryness that makes for good drinkability. The finish has a significantly bold hops kick that adds bitterness. The hops also produce a significant peppery prickliness in the taste. Towards the end, the malt flavors make a final push for dominance and yield a silky mouthfeel with a chalky finish.
A delightful example of the style. I must have again!

 

 

 

Hoppy for a kolsch; more of an IPL really. Has a soft edge of prickly pear fruit.

Crisp and clean drinking, but the hop bitterness lingers past the finish to its detriment.

C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE

 

The beer comes in a straw color, gentle haze.

The beer hits with grains, lightly sweet, grassy, lemon, light fruitiness, more light crackery malts. More grains. Medium minus moutfeel. A great drinking kolsch that I find preferable to their pils.

On tap at brewery.