Talk to me about Kölsch

Glad I didn't respond to that previous post -- gotta find those emoticons and use 'em liberally when yer joshin' --

 

FWIW -- I saw Goose Island's "Summer" mix pack today (Summer, really?) and the Summertime Kölsch (style) is back! Only 3 bottles at a time... but it was always one of my favorite summer beers.

 

Just in Dusseldorf. Fruh and Reissdorf are pretty readily available across Germany.

 

I love a proper Kolsch and a non over hopped brown. Are you a "hophead" only?

 

Pilsners are indeed a massively underrated style, just like kristalweiss (sp?)

 

Did you maybe see this??? http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/no-love-for-kolsch.313171/

Love a good Kolsch.. dig Schlafly's.

 

That Metropolitan was a really great surprise for me. I had never heard of them before, but I'll be damned if that's not the best version brewed in the US. Really great beer!

 

I like you @TongoRod but I bought a sixer of that at Binny's when I was in Chicago and it was by far one of the worst Kolschs I ever had...

Tasted literally like Lemon Pledge...

 

Ha! Well, my Secret Santa is apparently a better shopper than you because that doesn't describe what I had at all . Either that, or they might be inconsistent- hard to tell from a single serving.

ETA- I found my notes from that NBS:
"The aroma has that gentle combination of bready Pilsner malt, soft and delicate fruity esters (white grape, pear), and the slightest hint of spicy hops. The palate is crisp and dry, very well assembled, and favors the bready malt; although the fruit comes out to play a lot more on the surprisingly long finish. It's just so fresh and lively, so perfect and unassuming- nothing is amiss or out of place. This is a great beer, and a true pleasure to drink- it would easily make it to my rotation if it were available in my area."

Anyway- sorry you had a bad experience with it. Hopefully it's not a regular occurrence.

 

You never know...

BUT you can never take it away from me!

Krush a Kolsch today!

 

This would be worth the drive from Connecticut for me. I will be looking into this. Thanks for letting me Eve's drop!

 

In my limited knowledge of the style, JDub's Poolside nails the water profile, which a lot of American made Kolsch seem to ignore... just Kolsch yeast + Pils malt is not "doing it right"

 

Cool, im glad someone else agrees its a good one! Sucks I live in NJ, love the stuff!

 

I recently learned that Metropolitan dates their beers on the six-pack bottom -- a little awkward to look at it in the bottle store, but it helps. Especially with styles that aren't the ones attracting all the tickers.

FWIW -- I thought the Krankshaft was a great rendition of the style myself.

 

That’s an interesting point, but as you may know, Cologne is divided in two by the river Rhine, and the water on one side of the Rhine is significantly harder than on the other. Is there a single correct water profile? I don’t know.

 

Brewers modify their local water all the time to best suit the beer styles they are producing. Just looking at municipal water reports will not solely provide the information as regards brewing water.

As regards “Is there a single correct water profile?” perhaps a better perspective to just consider the concept of using low mineral content water for brewing a Kolsch.

Dan Cary is the owner/brewer of New Glarus Brewing Company and he apprenticed (worked) in Germany as part of his training. Below is his discussion of brewing water to brew a Kolsch:

“Water in Köln is soft, with low levels of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonates. Soft water is important because the "soft"mouthfeel of true Kölsch is due in no small part to the water and is certainly a major factor in the overall delicate impression the beer leaves with the drinker.”

http://morebeer.com/brewingtechniques/library/backissues/issue6.1/williams.html

Cheers!

 

Hehe, hence the disclaimer starting my post. For some reason I think of "dialed in" as having a soft feel but finishing with some (not a ton, but some) mineral contribution. This could be completely wrong and from assuming Reissdorf as the template for the style.

 

I consider myself lucky in that I have a very good German beer hall nearby with fresh kegs of Kolsch as well as other fantastic German beers shipped in regularly and huge crowds, ensuring kegs are kicked and turned over constantly. I rarely buy German beer in the bottle anymore and just head to the biergarten if I'm in the mood. If the OP has a similar spot within a reasonable distance that would be the best way to experience authentic Kolsch and other German beers without going overseas.

 

i feel for the American kolsch lovers on here, as some have said, its a style of beer that just isn't the same when outside koln in a bottle. Im only an hour and a bit away but rarely drink kolsch at home because its just not the same as drinking it fresh on gravity from a barrel in a brauhaus. I know its a long way for some of you but if you get the chance, get over to koln