Calibration Kolsch
Lumberbeard Brewing

this is a really solid kolsch, especially for such a new brewery, and it puts to shame a number of similar beers i had around town at other new breweries during this recent spokane visit. i am thankful that this is so dry and bubbly and simple and european, its classic and right, well made and good, and based on calibration in the name i assume it was a batch one of this for them, getting the system figured out and such, i can only imagine how good this will be in a few more turns. quite clear and heady from the tap at the brewery, some german grain and yeast character in here, but rightly predictable for the style. its the hops that stand out the most to me in this, its hoppy as they go, and maybe not just noble hops, i get quite a bit of bite to this, lots of citrus, and a grassy herbal thing that runs through the whole drink, not just shows up at the end, at least as pungent to me as the malt, which is uncommon in the style but works well here. the yeast seems appropriate, the fermentation patient and within range, and the intangibles like dryness and carbonation quite solid as well. a bolder, slightly americanized take on the style, but a nice beer, professionally done, and still very drinkable.