Kölsch
Sonnen Hill Brewing

355 mL can from the Toronto Brewing 2021 advent calendar; no canning date and served slightly chilled.

Pours a pale golden-yellow colour with some light sediment strewn throughout its body; seated atop is a full inch of fluffy, foamy, sparkling white head that drops off within five minutes or so. Gobs of beautiful, sticky lace cling to the glass as it recedes, with a thick, creamy collar left encircling a sudsy cap - looks outstanding in the glass. Notes of lemon peel and white grape on the nose, along with clean, grainy barley malts, crackers and muted hints of orchard fruit.

The flavours follow the aroma - gritty, grainy pale malts and light cracker sweetness, followed by a mixture of noble hop and mildly fruity notes. Red apple, grassy hay and lemon pith, with spicy, earthy, herbal hop bitterness tying up the back end; these earthy, herbal hop flavours linger into the aftertaste. Light in body, but definitely not thin; the carbonation is active, prickling the palate and resulting a crisp, refreshing mouthfeel. Very easy to pour down the hatch, but it's flavourful enough that I'd prefer to take my time with it - let it roll across your taste buds a few times, and fully enjoy the nuances of this exquisite lagered ale.

Final Grade: 4.02, an A-. I had never even heard of Sonnen Hill Brewing until I plucked this beer out of the crate, so I had no real expectations going into this Kölsch - but it turned out to be one of the best Ontario-made examples of the style that I've tried to date. A near-perfect blend of noble hops, pale malt and light fruitiness - one of those beers where such a small serving is just entirely insufficient, as I could've easily pounded back another two or three of these cans without even blinking. Highly recommended to fans of German beer, or craft lagers in general.