Illinois Kölsch
Riggs Beer Company

 

Appearance: Pours with bubble show that builds a two finger head over the golden liquid; good retention and lace

Smell: Fruity esters with hints of banana and lemon joining the cracker malt; grassy and peppery

Taste: Cracker malt with a hint of banana, up front; through the middle, a hint of lemon joins the grassy and peppery hop flavors; the finish is relatively crisp

Mouthfeel: Light body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: A bit unusual for a Kolsh as it has some hefe elements; enjoyable, however

Thanks, falloutsnow, for the opportunity

Poured from a 16 oz. can into a glass tumbler. Nice foamy head that dissipates rather quickly that leaves lots of lacing. The smell is of fruit and the taste has a slight fruitiness as well. Quite refreshing and crisp with lots of carbonation. I really enjoyed this easy going Kolsch.

 

Taste mild with just a little bite and aftertaste. Look is golden but not clear. Pours with a full head. Enjoyed the beer

Thanks to falloutsnow for this one, canned 2021/02/17
Pours a med foamy airy 1 finger head with moderate retention, wisps of lacing, very hazy med golden tan color

Nose brings doughy malts up front, little cereal and grassy, hint of lemony and fruity esters, a little stale bread, light floral herbal hops

Taste brings more cereal grainy malt, bready, little cracker and dough, more of the floral hops with a touch of fruity note, light lemony and generic fruity esters again, some spices as well, hops get a little spicy late with med bitterness finishing, dry quick finish

Mouth is med to lighter bod, med foamy carb

Overall this is not quite a kolsch, it's more like a blonde ale, too much attributed from the yeast and suspended proteins, seems like it was fermented a bit too warm for a kolsch (which should be lager temps), hops a bit too high on the finish as well. not a bad beer, just not really in teh Kolsch domain as much, more "Americanized" I think.

Feb '21 can from Friar Tuck. Thick, pillowy head and a hazy, light yellow color. The aroma is similar to a good light english bitter in terms of an almost 'smoky' or dusty character (wonder if it could be a noble hop feature instead of a continental malt). Sophisticated, light ester aroma and taste. Great crackery, dusty sourdough malt character is balanced by a smooth assertive bitterness that holds steady throughout the sip. Carbonation is perfectly prickly, and the beer finishes dry and crisp. I wish my Illinois hops tasted this good in beer.

I got a 16oz can of this beer from my good friend and old neighbor from the 'Wego. It poured a pale yellow with thin white head that is not leaving any lace. The scent had slight burnt corn notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with corn meal base and slight bitter hop finish. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with fizzy carbonation. Overall it is a good beer.

A: Pours with a touch of haze. This is made with a little bit of wheat. A golden yellow color. A dense two finger white head forms with good retention and lace.
S: A bit of banana esters up front. Which isn't a bad thing at all. Cracker and sourdough like malts, grassy and floral hops in the finish. I like it.
T: Like the nose, up front I get a quick hint of banana esters. That fades to the wonderful malt character. Crackers, sourdough biscuits. Just enough grassy and peppery hops (assuming some kind of Noble) for an added depth of flavor. All without adding any real bitterness. This is excellent.
M/O: A light body with effervescent carbonation. Really crisp clean and super dry. I can drink this all day. Just flat out enjoyable to drink.

There is a fruity ester like character up front, and without being completely versed in style "authenticity" that does seem to fit well into the style overall (as most of what I get to try is obviously American versions). Though, Riggs always makes very true to style offerings, and would say this is another. Anyway, it is excellent and highly recommended.