Schlafly Kölsch | The Schlafly Tap Room
Brewed by:
The Schlafly Tap Room
Missouri, United States
schlafly.com
Style: Kölsch
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
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
Added by Thrasher on 07-09-2002
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 745 | Reviews: 222
Reviews by ummswimmin:
4/5 rDev +7%
ummswimmin, Apr 12, 2014
More User Reviews:
4/5 rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Perfect clarity on a light orange colored offering. Gentle spacious rise of carbonation. Thin, skim head always provides some sort of covering. Thin line lacing, weak coverage rate.
S: Fresh cantelope, melon, fresh grains and apple skin. Light fresh straw, spicy hops, with a good strength per style and some lemony orange notes.
T: Fruity flavor, cantelope melon and light straw follow the nose. Very crisp with a light straw-hop dry graininess on the follow through.
M: Crisp mouthful, lightly dry, fruity, lightly oily body.
O: Crisp fruity flavor with a nice dry gain base, perfect for the summer heat with a high rate of drinkability. While i prefer the biggest of hop bombs and BA stouts, i can certainly appreciate a clean drinking, fruity and well to do styled kolsch, which seems to have more flavor then your average example. Crisp, fruity, very clean and a bit understated/underated imho. Strong B+.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Perfect clarity on a light orange colored offering. Gentle spacious rise of carbonation. Thin, skim head always provides some sort of covering. Thin line lacing, weak coverage rate.
S: Fresh cantelope, melon, fresh grains and apple skin. Light fresh straw, spicy hops, with a good strength per style and some lemony orange notes.
T: Fruity flavor, cantelope melon and light straw follow the nose. Very crisp with a light straw-hop dry graininess on the follow through.
M: Crisp mouthful, lightly dry, fruity, lightly oily body.
O: Crisp fruity flavor with a nice dry gain base, perfect for the summer heat with a high rate of drinkability. While i prefer the biggest of hop bombs and BA stouts, i can certainly appreciate a clean drinking, fruity and well to do styled kolsch, which seems to have more flavor then your average example. Crisp, fruity, very clean and a bit understated/underated imho. Strong B+.
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3.75/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is hazy yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface, a collar around the edge and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of fruity yeast are present in the nose—grapes stand out in particular—along with some hints of grassy hops.
T: The taste follows the smell and has fruity flavors of yeast along with a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and I found it to be a good representation of the style.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A: The beer is hazy yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin white head that died down, leaving a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface, a collar around the edge and lots of lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Light aromas of fruity yeast are present in the nose—grapes stand out in particular—along with some hints of grassy hops.
T: The taste follows the smell and has fruity flavors of yeast along with a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels light- to medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer is easy to drink and I found it to be a good representation of the style.
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3.69/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle pours into my glass a sunny yellow hue with a small tight bubbly head atop the brew. Aromas begin with cooked cereal grains and a herbal, grassy backbone. Light citrus tones come and go with mellow yeast spiciness. Crisp and nice.
First sip brings a smooth cereal grain malt upfront. It's met by a touch of lemon zest along with a mild grassy, herbal hop profile that carries itself on the way down. A touch of bitterness plays clean up on the finish along with a light bready yeast afterthought. An easy drinking, pretty tasty brew.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a slight creaminess. Good steady carbonation. This is an easy drinking summer beer that I could enjoy in larger quantities. Overall, I found this an enjoyable brew and I'd have it again if the chance arises.
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look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
12oz bottle pours into my glass a sunny yellow hue with a small tight bubbly head atop the brew. Aromas begin with cooked cereal grains and a herbal, grassy backbone. Light citrus tones come and go with mellow yeast spiciness. Crisp and nice.
First sip brings a smooth cereal grain malt upfront. It's met by a touch of lemon zest along with a mild grassy, herbal hop profile that carries itself on the way down. A touch of bitterness plays clean up on the finish along with a light bready yeast afterthought. An easy drinking, pretty tasty brew.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a slight creaminess. Good steady carbonation. This is an easy drinking summer beer that I could enjoy in larger quantities. Overall, I found this an enjoyable brew and I'd have it again if the chance arises.
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4.05/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle, a new arrival at Winetree Liquors on Washington Street in Evansville, Indiana, which recently hosted a Schlafly beer tasting. This one pours a clear, medium yellow body with a two finger head that is just slightly offwhite. Sketchy patch lacing is present. Aroma is subtle, with grassy and spicy hops and a backdrop of honey and caramel maltiness. A faint note of grainy corn is noted. Mouthfeel is light medium with crisp carbonation. Taste is subtle and well balanced, the way a good Kolsch should be. Slightly fruity, but not sweet. A bit lemony, with a mild grassy hops presence that is ideal. Very tasty and highly sessionable. One of the best of style I've sampled on this side of the Pond.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle, a new arrival at Winetree Liquors on Washington Street in Evansville, Indiana, which recently hosted a Schlafly beer tasting. This one pours a clear, medium yellow body with a two finger head that is just slightly offwhite. Sketchy patch lacing is present. Aroma is subtle, with grassy and spicy hops and a backdrop of honey and caramel maltiness. A faint note of grainy corn is noted. Mouthfeel is light medium with crisp carbonation. Taste is subtle and well balanced, the way a good Kolsch should be. Slightly fruity, but not sweet. A bit lemony, with a mild grassy hops presence that is ideal. Very tasty and highly sessionable. One of the best of style I've sampled on this side of the Pond.
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3.53/5 rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Rich golden in color and it is pretty hazy in appearance. A minimal layer of foam rests on top. I smell that distinct kolsch yeast in the nose which almost has a honey like smell. The mouthfeel is pretty light and smooth. Ther's just a bit of bitterness and perhaps citrus in the flavor. A smooth refreshing summer beer.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Rich golden in color and it is pretty hazy in appearance. A minimal layer of foam rests on top. I smell that distinct kolsch yeast in the nose which almost has a honey like smell. The mouthfeel is pretty light and smooth. Ther's just a bit of bitterness and perhaps citrus in the flavor. A smooth refreshing summer beer.
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3.45/5 rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Sampled at the Schlafly Tap Room at the St. Louis Airport. Light gold, fine sticky head. Decent Kolsch flavor with a crackery malt, very similar to Sam Adams' Spring Ale. The hops lack attack and could be emphasized better, but they lend a very clean taste. There is a tangy lingering aftertaste, but the beer was initially served very cold and was at its best at this temperature. As it warmed, it became metallic. Certainly ok all in all, but not fantastic.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Sampled at the Schlafly Tap Room at the St. Louis Airport. Light gold, fine sticky head. Decent Kolsch flavor with a crackery malt, very similar to Sam Adams' Spring Ale. The hops lack attack and could be emphasized better, but they lend a very clean taste. There is a tangy lingering aftertaste, but the beer was initially served very cold and was at its best at this temperature. As it warmed, it became metallic. Certainly ok all in all, but not fantastic.
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3.4/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours a crystal clear yellow with a large snow white head. Teeny tinu bubbles hang around to make a nice sheet of lace. Smells quite grassy with a little pine in there for good measure. Taste wise it's a lively little kolsch. Nice citrus foreground with a moderate resin tang to it. Mouthfeel is moderately watery, but that's the style. Very drinkable while sitting out back enjoying the early autumn sun,
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Pours a crystal clear yellow with a large snow white head. Teeny tinu bubbles hang around to make a nice sheet of lace. Smells quite grassy with a little pine in there for good measure. Taste wise it's a lively little kolsch. Nice citrus foreground with a moderate resin tang to it. Mouthfeel is moderately watery, but that's the style. Very drinkable while sitting out back enjoying the early autumn sun,
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3.65/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.85/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at the Tap Room.
Pours a perfectly clear golden-straw color with a one-finger white head. The head dissipates into a patchy layer on top leaving light lacing.
Smells of slighlty grassy aromas with good amounts of floral hops.
Tastes good. Grassy flavors are joined by solid malt flavors that are just sweet enough to keep the hop bitterness balanced. There's also a light spiciness that comes out right before the bitter ending.
Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability is good. I could have a few of these on a warm day.
Overall this beer is pretty solid and one I would have again - worth a shot.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had on-tap at the Tap Room.
Pours a perfectly clear golden-straw color with a one-finger white head. The head dissipates into a patchy layer on top leaving light lacing.
Smells of slighlty grassy aromas with good amounts of floral hops.
Tastes good. Grassy flavors are joined by solid malt flavors that are just sweet enough to keep the hop bitterness balanced. There's also a light spiciness that comes out right before the bitter ending.
Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.
Drinkability is good. I could have a few of these on a warm day.
Overall this beer is pretty solid and one I would have again - worth a shot.
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3.58/5 rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Got as an extra on a trade. Poured into a Terrapin barrel mug glass.
A- Nice clear gold with a fast foamy head that barely stuck around. Thin lacing that clings to the edge of the glass
S- Sweet malts and crisp aromas such as hay, yeast and honey.
T- Nice cereal flavor with honey and crisp bread. It finishes so smooth with a slight hoppy bitterness.
M- Nice and refreshing. It goes down smooth and crisp. Although not my favorite style this beer is not bad at all. The carbonation is balanced and the feel is smooth and very approachable.
O- A good beer for the style. I could see this being perfect for outdoor events on a sunny day. It's easy drinking also nice and refreshing
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Got as an extra on a trade. Poured into a Terrapin barrel mug glass.
A- Nice clear gold with a fast foamy head that barely stuck around. Thin lacing that clings to the edge of the glass
S- Sweet malts and crisp aromas such as hay, yeast and honey.
T- Nice cereal flavor with honey and crisp bread. It finishes so smooth with a slight hoppy bitterness.
M- Nice and refreshing. It goes down smooth and crisp. Although not my favorite style this beer is not bad at all. The carbonation is balanced and the feel is smooth and very approachable.
O- A good beer for the style. I could see this being perfect for outdoor events on a sunny day. It's easy drinking also nice and refreshing
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Schlafly Kölsch from The Schlafly Tap Room
3.74
out of 5
based on 745 ratings.