Kölsch: Ale or Lager?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SummitSeries72, Sep 2, 2016.

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  1. SummitSeries72

    SummitSeries72 Zealot (516) Mar 17, 2011 New Jersey

    It appears that Kolschs, as a style, are classified as ales. But many people say they are very close to lagers. What's the deal here? (Know that I have yet to try a Kolsch myself, but plan to do so in the near future.) Are they ales or are they lagers? What characteristics do they share with either category? Grateful for any clarification.
     
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  2. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,159) Mar 28, 2011 New York

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  3. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
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    They are 'top fermented lager beers', in that they utilize an ale yeast (saccharomyces cerevisiae) but then cold conditioned like a lager to allow the yeast to slowly clean the beer up as a lager yeast would.

    The main difference between ale yeast and lager yeast is that lager yeast consumes certain sugars that ale yeast doesn't (resulting in a drier beer, iow), ferments cooler and generally isn't used to produce fruity esters or spicy phenols; it's also more suitable for cold conditioning. Lager yeast will give a clean beer that lets the malt and hops shine on their own.

    In the case of Kolsch, it's made to mimic a Pilsner, but the yeast still throws some very subtle white grape and pear like fruit qualities into the mix.
     
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  4. SummitSeries72

    SummitSeries72 Zealot (516) Mar 17, 2011 New Jersey

    Good answer, Tongo. So you like Kolschs, I imagine?
     
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  5. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
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    That's my main problem- I like everything! :slight_smile:

    But, yeah, a Kolsch can be a great beer if you catch one that's not too old. On draught is usually the best way to drink the imported ones (Riessdorf, Gaffel), but there are some quality ones made here in the US.

    The best one I've had was Krankshaft Kolsch by Metropolitan in Chicago, but locally the Straub was nearly as impressive. Captain Lawrence will also do in a pinch.
     
  6. SummitSeries72

    SummitSeries72 Zealot (516) Mar 17, 2011 New Jersey

    My local beer store carries Reissdorf, Gaffel, and Captain Lawrence (in bottles, of course). For my first taste of the style, which of those three do you recommend?
     
  7. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,159) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    I do not think the Captain Lawrence is very good at all.
    Either of the Germans are very good. There are more around on draft - unfiltered ones are great like one from Sunner.
     
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  8. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
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    I'd go with the Reissdorf out of those three, then the Gaffel.
     
  9. Coronaeus

    Coronaeus Grand Pooh-Bah (3,708) Apr 21, 2014 Canada (ON)
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    I'd go with Reissdorf too.
     
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  10. Smakawhat

    Smakawhat Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,727) Mar 18, 2008 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Yes... Kolsch...
     
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  11. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,058) Feb 15, 2010 New York
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    Just to complicate things, of those three I'd go with Gaffel... unless the bottles look old.

    I think all three choices are fine. The Captain Lawrence beer is a good option if it appears to be considerably newer than the imports, otherwise go for the German ones. I used to prefer Reissdorf over Gaffel, but I now prefer Gaffel. Reissdorf is also much more expensive than the other two beers.
     
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  12. patto1ro

    patto1ro Pooh-Bah (1,998) Apr 26, 2004 Netherlands
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    If it's unfiltered, it isn't a Kölsch. Part of the spec of Kölsch is that it's filtered.
     
  13. ecpho

    ecpho Savant (1,159) Mar 28, 2011 New York

    Ok that's fine but I've had an unfiltered Sunner kolsch on tap so I guess that brewery from Koln mislabeled it.
     
  14. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,301) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah Society

    In 1985 (25.06.1985 to be precise) the German government and 24 breweries from the Cologne region published the 'Kölsch Convention'. It was inspired by the attempts - fiercely resisted in Cologne - of outside brewers to cash in on the popularity of Kölsch.

    According to the convention, a beer may only be called Kölsch if it meets the following criteria:
    • it is brewed in the Cologne metropolitan area
    • pale in colour
    • top-fermented
    • hop-accented
    • filtered
    • 'vollbier' - 11 - 14% plato
     
  15. scottakelly

    scottakelly Initiate (0) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    If you pressed me to call Kolsch an ale or lager I would go with lager. It has to be lagered so hence its a lager
     
  16. TrojanRB

    TrojanRB Grand Pooh-Bah (3,185) Jul 27, 2013 Texas
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    You probably had a Wieß.

    Essentially the same beer, but unfiltered.
     
  17. Hoppsbabo

    Hoppsbabo Pooh-Bah (2,029) Jan 29, 2012 England
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    It's a top fermented beer that's lagered. There's no such thing as ale in Germany, apart from the odd IPA here and there.
     
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  18. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,301) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Germans view ale as one sort of British beer, the other being Porter/Stout. As in fact I do.
     
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  19. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    But Germans have indeed brewed ales:

    [​IMG]
     
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  20. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Sunner labels the unfiltered version as Kellerbier:
    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
    Sünner Kellerbier

    By the standards of the Kölsch Könvention, only filtered, bright beer can be called "Kölsch". However, when it's taken directly from the fermenter, unfiltered and with a soft, natural carbonation, it can be spectacular!

    We offer the Sünner Kellerbier only occasionally, so jump at it when you see it. You'll find it slightly yeasty, more bitter and even drier than the everyday Kölsch.

    Limited Availability.
     
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