Lovin' some Kolsch

I enjoy drinking Kolsch beer. The ‘trick’ is that the beer needs to be fresh since Kolsch is a delicate beer style.

If I can find them fresh I enjoy drinking imported Kolsch beers such as Fruh, Gaffel, Reisdorf, etc.

My personal favorite US craft brewed Kolsch is Victory Kolsch but that beer is draft only and can be difficult to find on tap.

I recently had a fresh bottle of Captain Lawrence Captain’s Kolsch. I would not ‘advertise’ this beer as being a Cologne style Kolsch but I enjoyed drinking it none the less.

Stoudt’s makes a Kolsch called Karnival Kolsch. I have not drank this beer recently (the past year or so) but I did enjoy my past drinking experiences with this beer.

Since obtaining fresh Kolsch beer can be challenging I have adopted the strategy of homebrewing my own Kolsch beers.

Cheers to Kolsch beers!

 

Love Kolsch's they are crisp hoppy pure highly drinkable
Sunner
Reissdorf
Alaskan

 

Go to Zum Schneider in Alphabet City and enjoy some Reissdorf on draught! Their beers are very well-kept and tend to move, so you will definitely get the 'fresh experience'. Cheers!

 

I too love kolsch.

A handsome beer with exceptional clarity and with a presence in the glass that decries brilliance. Nose should have a good sour bite and a mildly fruity smell. Light grain and earthy. Refreshing and perfect with the fruit as it comes over the palate feather light and the malt smooth and earthy. Spectacular in it's straight forward simplicity. Dry overall and leaves with a small bitter and no aftertaste except for the minerals int he water.

( I took that from my review of reisdorf - love the stuff)

 

Coast (SC) makes a very nice Kolsch, perfect for a hot summer day

 

So I spent about 4 months in Cologne and fell in love with Kolsch. So many Gaffel and Fruh were consumed in the bars. Yes, the talk narrow glass. Crisp and cold and very refreshing. The people in Germany are so territorial about their beers so kolsch in Cologne was a requirement. Although there have been some good American kolsch styles brewed, it can't match the (see Utopia Jane's beautiful description) taste of a Reisdorf, Gaffel or Fruh

 

So well said

 

Three Floyd's Calumet Queen is an excellent Kolsch

 

Did you have any Freigeist beer during your stay in Cologne (Koln)?

Cheers!

 

French Broad Brewing in North Carolina makes a very good kolsch....probably can't get it in NYC though

 

Love Kolsch.. one of my favorites...

Best on tap, not been lucky enough to try from the firkin yet.

Really do enjoy Fruh and Reisdorf. A couple good state side versions I enjoy also.

If you are in NY can you get Captain Lawrence's Captain's kolsch? not a bad place to start.

 

Agreed. Truly under-appreciated style. Really wish it was easier to find them in the States.

 

Schlafly Kölsch is pretty good, and available in NY.

 

Love Koelsch. Agree with Zum Schneider. I also brew my own.

 

if you want to save some money go to Trader Joe's and grab a sixer of Josephs Brau Summer Brew, very refreshing but it's not nearly the same as one from Germany.

 

I tried this in the bottle for the first time and found it very refreshing. I detected a very grassy aroma and crisp, spicy Noble hops from the taste. It was a bit hazy though, I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be or not, I checked reviews and they seemed spot on for what I was seeing/tasting. My beer guy assured me it had recently arrived, so I hope it was fresh?

Lately all the Reissdorf I've had on tap has tasted awful to be honest. I remember it being better in the past, but maybe there's old kegs hitting this area. I only post all of this so I can be sure I have somewhat of an idea what a good Kolsch tastes like. I've many many "Kolsch-style" beers, but I know those aren't the same. Need to get my ass to the source someday.

 

Fruh is my favorite Kolsch... love the style. If you make it to Indiana try our Vacation Kolsch which we make as authentic as we can here in the US and is a recipe based on our travels to Germany where we have had the chance to drink many of a fresh Kolsch! Prost!

 

I'm surprised that there hasn't been more love for Sunner in this thread. Sunner is my favorite one up to this point. I enjoyed a nice, tasty tray of this one on Saturday night at one of my favorite watering holes.

Just because it just arrived doesn't mean that the beer was fresh.

Couldn't have said it better myself.