Hütt Brauhaus-Schoppen
Brauhaus Knallhütte/Hütt Brauerei Bettenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG

So my brother has brought home a German exchange student, Felix, for his second visit to the United States. This time, he brought some gifts. What did he get for me? Well, what any self-respecting German should get for someone of age: beer! Hütt Brauhaus-Schoppen, to be exact, which translates to Hütt Brewery Pint. It’s a Kölsch, created by a brewery that hails from the village of Baunatal, in northern Hesse’s Kassel district (about an hour and a half north of Frankfurt, if you’re not familiar with the geography). It’s a region steeped with history, from Wilhelmshöhe Palace to the Brothers Grimm. Felix is from Kassel, so he’s incredibly happy to be sharing some of his heritage with us in the States.

Now, as is my policy with all reviews, I will try to be as objective as possible. And, although this was a gift that I would never, ever belittle, I can assure you that its giver will never see this review. So you can be sure that I’m telling it like it is when it comes to this traditional German ale.

A: A beautiful, shining gold! Classic body, especially when you think of euro pale ales. The head, after starting off big, white, and foamy, quickly recedes into a disappointing nothingness. Some lacing here and there, but the whole thing can come off as oily and unpleasant at times. Nice color, bad body behavior.

S: Not what I was expecting for something that claims to be brewed under Reinheitsgebot – skunkiness. The nose is so skunky, in fact, that it’s reminiscent of American adjunct lagers. Odd, because adjuncts would be impossible under such a strict German purity law; at any rate, it does seem that something is a bit off. It’s an aroma that’s hard to bypass, but underneath I can sense some fruity hops and clove-heavy yeasts. Nothing special.

T: Slightly better than nose; but only slightly. A decent buttery sense comes across the entire palate before the bigger notes come forth, setting the stage for satisfaction. Unfortunately, though, the dim grains come first, providing that same sad skunkiness of the nose. A Kölsch is supposed to be clean, refreshing, and very sessionable; such an unappealing taste completely compromises all three of those sought after characteristics. Some hops appear, too, though it’s hard to their presence as anything but dull. The fruits still aren’t assertive, but they do show a hint of nice grapefruit/lemon near the finish, saving this otherwise doomed brew.

M: Pretty lifeless, which is not surprising when you consider the lack of carbonation in the appearance. There’s some pop on the tongue, but definitely not enough to keep this as crisp as it needs to be.

O: Is Kassel forgettable? Of course not. And neither is our friend Felix. However, this beer is. It’s not a great Kölsch, and probably not something you should go out of your way to seek out. But, if you’re ever in Germany, make sure to check out Kassel. Who knows; maybe Hütt has some other beers that would make the region proud. All I know is that, if you’re anywhere in Germany, you’re always just a few steps away from a great beer. Prost nach Deutschland!