Kölsch
Schlafly Beer - The Tap Room

KölschKölsch
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From:
Schlafly Beer - The Tap Room
 
Missouri, United States
Style:
Kölsch
Ranked #224
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
83
Ranked #33,348
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 11.72%
Ratings:
821 | reviews: 255
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 03, 2026
Added:
Jul 09, 2002
Wants:
  30
Gots:
  143
Our Kölsch is a classic golden ale that uses a centuries old yeast strain sourced from a famous Kölsch brewer in Köln, Germany. Fermented at 62 degrees, then cold conditioned, it has the delicate fruity aroma of an ale with the crisp, clean finish of a lager. It is brewed with lightly roasted malt and 100% German Noble Hops: Perle for bitterness and Hallertau Traditional for flavor and aroma.

In 1918, the term Kölsch was used to describe the ale brewed in Köln, a city on the Rhine River in western Germany. The style began to rise in popularity in the 1960s and now, many American craft brewers brew variations of the style, labeling it a golden ale. Our Kölsch is unique to the Schlafly brewery because Ulrike, a native of Köln and wife of brewery co-founder Tom Schlafly, connected Schlafly Beer with the Gaffel Brewery of Köln. Schlafly Beer won the Gold Medal for Best German-style Kölsch in the World Beer Cup in 2010.

25 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drtth:
Photo of drtth
Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
The clear golden yellow beer pours out into a Duvel glass with a 1” white head that recedes slowly to a cap and then a thin irregular island of foam on the surface with a ring around the glass while leaving some rings of foam and some patches and lacing on the sides of the glass. Sipping creates some arches, legs and patches of foam.

The aromas have a nice light biscuity malt character that backs up some herbal hops that also seem to have some lightly fruity and slightly grassy character from the hops.

The flavors are much as expected from the nose with the light biscuity malt and it’s touch of sweetness supporting the mostly herbal hops. In addition there’s a bit of spicy and fruity character along with the solid herbal bitterness.

The mouthfeel is on the light side of medium bodied, clean and fairly smooth with the moderate finely bubbled carbonation. The finish begins semi dry and herbal with some solid bitterness that persists as the ending turns dry and before it and the herbal character end in the back of the palate.

Overall this is a reasonably nice Kolsch that is both easy to drink and fairly enjoyable. I could see having a few of these over the course of an evening, but I would prefer having the herbal bitterness dialed down just a bit.
Jun 09, 2019
More User Ratings:
Photo of Sinfull
Reviewed by Sinfull from New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Clear, golden color. Medium-sized, white head. Aroma of malt, fruits, and hay. Malty taste with some hoppy bitterness at the end. Refreshing, summer ale.
Jun 04, 2025
 
Rated: 3.92 by KACK1533 from Massachusetts

Feb 11, 2025
 
Rated: 3.92 by DownyIsHungry from Minnesota

Feb 02, 2025
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

3.74/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On draft

Clear, dark golden color, white head that fades. Pale malt aroma, a little fruity. Similar taste, fairly clean but a little sweet. Medium bodied.
Aug 23, 2024
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

3.24/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Close, but lacking some of the pure grain sweetness. Nice foamy head and lacing, but slightly cloudy. Hay, bready aroma, taste mostly white bread. Abrupt, flat finish.
Apr 17, 2024
Photo of Deaconmark
Reviewed by Deaconmark from Illinois

4.19/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
To be sure rating according to style. This pours from a can dated on bottom 08/21/23. Nice pour head ok slightly dense and white. The nose in sweet but not over the top. Clear and very light in color. Easily taste the earthiness and spices with a hint of Carmel flavor. A hoppy beer at first but the malt finish is smooth and rounder. Frankly as Kolsch beers go this one hit all the spots. It is drinkable and yet maintains decent body for a beer that is light in style. I can tell you that for the occasion and situation this a to go to beer.
Nov 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.58 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Sep 07, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gerred from Missouri

Sep 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.37 by HanktheTank94 from Maryland

Sep 04, 2023
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
12 oz can canned 7/13/23 into a Kolsch glass.
L: Pours clear light caramel with large steady carbo bubbles, a 1" rocky white head with a cap, excellent retention then down to frothy edge foam, medium thick scattered lacing.
S: Lightly floral, pastry dough, some distant sweet fruits.
T: Lightly sweet and pale malts, grassy hops, gently earthy, white grape, light dough, very little aftertaste.
F: Slightly crisp, light body with a fast, moderately dry finish.
O: This is an excellent Kolsch. Fruity & dry. Loudly and clearly rings all the bells for its style and it is excellent.
Aug 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.6 by SSGCujo from Wisconsin

Aug 16, 2023
Photo of HarlotBronte
Reviewed by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

3.83/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
L: Clear golden body; short dense white head

S: Malt forward with earthy hops

T: Malt, grassy hops, honey

F: Crisp, clean, dry finish. Feels full bodied for 4.8% ABV.

O: Solid kolsch I could drink all day.
Aug 02, 2023
 
Rated: 3.5 by Jorgedeluis from Ohio

Jun 30, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Jun 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.33 by Buckminster85 from Missouri

Apr 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.95 by SoundMakesSense from Indiana

Mar 05, 2023
Photo of JustinUbes
Reviewed by JustinUbes from Pennsylvania

3.57/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Really good Kölsch. I’m a huge fan of this style and this is one of the better ones I’ve had. Pours a white gold color. Smells bright and hoppy. Tastes crisp. Good beer.
Feb 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by KT3418 from Colorado

Dec 06, 2022