Hallertau Blanc Kölsch
Wallenpaupack Brewing Company

 

1917
Name: Hallertau Blanc Kolsch
Brewery: Wallenpaupack Brewing
Location: Hawley PA
Style: Kolsch
ABV: 4.9%
Date: 9/15/2022
Next on the review table is Hallertau Blanc Kolsch. Kolschs are my favorite summer beer, pairing well with cooler summer evenings, bullshit, and barbeques. I decided to use my footed Brurey stange for service. The color is amber-yellow, with golden hues charting around SRM 8. The pour created a frothy, creamy, bright white one-fingered head with excellent retention. The slow dissipation left chunks of lacing on the side of the glass. The clarity is mostly clear with some carbonation bubbles and yeast floaties. Overall the appearance is above average for this style.
Nosing the glass, I pause slightly to let my nose and brain formulate what is in the stange—a light malty sweetness followed by lightly toasted malts, with a touch of fruitiness. Working out what the fruitiness is, I conclude it is similar to apples. I also detect a soft floral aroma, like the ending of a sad bouquet. It's enough of a scent to know it is flowery, but it's hard to distinguish the variety: a light green herbal hops and a touch of grass in the sunshine. The beer smells divine.
At the first sips, I noticed the soft floral aromas began to brighten, holding the malty backbone in check. The lightly toasted malts resemble crackers., Minerals with the malts balance this light beer. The fruity sweetness is subtle enough not to become overbearing. The fruit I am tasting is similar to apples and pears. The beer finishes with grassy notes and peppery cloves.
The mouthfeel is soft and somewhat carbonated, finishing crisp and dry. The body is medium and has medium carbonation.
This fabulous Kolsch is crisp, soft, and refreshing—a stylistically, near-perfect beer. I wish I had a packed fridge.