No love for Kolsch?

It's not so terrible that you'd drain pour 6 bottles -- it's just not as characterful as it used to be.

Someone mentioned Kölsch needing to be "more something," well -- that's not really Kölsch. It's not a beer to contemplate, it's one to drink with friends at a picnic or cook out and just enjoy for what it is. Unfortunately, Summertime had already set a standard for itself -- and the new incarnation just doesn't stack up for me. I'll probably try it again in better weather to see if I have a different opinion, but I've already heard SN Summerfest has been spotted -- more on my radar than Goose Island.

 

I heard that if you call their kolsch oxidation hotline, they'll send you a refund check and a t-shirt.
(sorry Goose rep, I'm just kidding around)

 

They used to have Kölsch Stange -- I'd take a couple of those!

 

Since you aren't claiming that it isn't faithful to style, I'm assuming that it's relatively OK in that regard.

 

Make no assumptions. When I tried it I was attempting to compare it to the previous Summertime (difficult over 2 years, but I used to like the beer a lot). As to "to-style," the best I can come up with from memory is that it was rather bland. Good Kölsch will have a nice breadiness, like Pilsner, and the new Summertime was lacking.

Again, I'm definitely going to try it again with full attention. Until then, just know it's no longer a full favorite.

 

I think of light flavorless beer when I hear Kolsch

I went to a local tasting at my beer distributor a few years back and the local brewers had a Kolsch. They said they made it so AAL drinkers would buy their beer. I like PBR more than their Kolsch

Enjoy

 

Just because a local brewer calls something they brew to attract the Bud Light crowd a Kolsh does not mean it is a Kölsch.

 

Actually, I have a lot of respect for a brewer who can pull off a good Kolsch. Not my preferred style but a style that does make it difficult to conceal brewing errors.

 

Not gonna lie, I just finished off a Goose Island Summer Time Kolsch and it was surprisingly good! Goes to show how subjective these things are sometimes.

 

It all depends on how you "rated" it, too. Did you rate it to-style with true Kölsch in mind (and are you proficient at tasting beer to-style?)? Did you "rate" it compared with what Summertime once was? Or did you just "rate" it as a quaffer?

I don't particularly like Goose Island's Four Star Pilsner "to-style," but I agree with others that it's a good drinker for those times when I want a light and hoppy beer.

 

This is the point surely , the vast majority of the "Kölsch" mentioned in the thread aren't Kölsch at all , just beer labelled as such. Difficult to get an appreciation of the style with so many imposters around.

 

Not if you use true Kölsch as a baseline. If only we could use the Enterprise Transporter to get true fresh Kölsch from Köln to my front door for even better comparison!

 

Simply saying, I love a fresh kolsch during the summer! It's a beautiful beverage.

 

I agree with you!

 

Im not a huge fan on they style. I can also admit I dont really try to find any beers from this style either and will buy other beers over seeing a Kolsch. I can say i really enjoy homebrewed Kolsch IPAs

 

So... basically you're saying you're just innit for the hops.

 

Are those similar to Pilsener IPAs?

 

I think this is likely part of the problem. US brewers are making a light colored ale and are calling it Kolsch, likely wanting an option for the macro drinkers who walk in their door. Unfortunately, these beers have nothing in common with a Kolsch besides being a light colored ale. Then some craft drinkers taste this swill and think all Kolsch tastes like that.