Inside the mind of Jim Koch

Would you say that Captain's Koelsch manages to capture that "real" Koelsch character? I saw they use
Columbus & Crystal hops and Canadian 2-Row & German Vienna malts. I know a very skilled brewer may be able to coax out just the right malt flavors and hop characteristics from these non-traditional ingredients, but such brewers -- like good Koelsches -- are also few and far between.

 

It's the only other kolsch I can find on the shelf besides the ones that the poster mentioned unless you want to count goose islands which has the distinct taste of modeling clay. so it's up for grabs . . . the style in general I mean. Captain lawrence tastes good. I have not tried th sam adams but I will.

 

This thread seems to be focused on the kolsch style, but I'd like to jump back to the business side of it, which is where I believe the original post started.

To your comment, I am not trying to be antagonistic either, but could you expand on why you think that statement represents something "wrong" with the American craft scene?

 

Kölsch is one of my favorites styles, unfortunately there's very few State side ones made that I found that can hang with some of the German expressions. That includes Jim's offering, so I don't really see this as a rebranding, but more of just him playing around cause he can.

I am also really not understanding the original posters question either...

 

I suspect this is truly the heart of the matter.

 

All of the Victory beer I've had has been great- they do styles well that most brewers don't even want to try. Moonglow Weizenbock was awesome, loved 4Hop Bock, Victory Alt, Braumeister Pils-Tettnang, Golding Glow, Uncle Teddy's Bitter, Victory ESB. Whenever I see a new Victory beer on tap, I grab it immediately. I will for sure be on the lookout for their kolsch, thanks Jack.

 

Forgot about that, I have tried it, and liked it. Whether or not it's traditional, I don't have the facts or experience to make a call like that.

 

It's because he thinks a brewery shouldn't focus on tinkering/perfecting or release a new, different style of beer. They should just focus on making a better IPA, something hundreds of other breweries in America are trying to do. I for one embrace with open arms a big brewery like Sam Adams trying to show beer drinkers there are other styles not named IPA. I love IPAs, but if they were the only beer I'd get tired of it quickly!

 

why dont you come out and say that you're a snob and just dont like Sam Adams. I'm sure if your local brewery "tinkered" or came out with a new beer in the same style you'd "shit your pants over it".

 

You may also want to be on the lookout for the Victory Hop Ticket Beers that will periodically be available on draft:

“Hop Ticket Schedule:

January – February: Session IPA
March – April: Hoppy Wheat
May – June: Dry Hopped Pils
July – August: Noble IPA
September – October: Harvest Ale
November – December: Sticke Alt

I am really looking forward to the Nov/Dec release of Sticke Alt. I have my fingers crossed that this beer will be a re-brewing of their 10th anniversary beer: Ten Year Alt.

Cheers to the Victory team!

 

Would like to know what the Sept/Oct "Harvest Ale" will be. I wonder if it will be a Harvest IPA, or something else, like a Harvest ESB. I personally hope it's a ESB, as I have good experiences drinking Southern Tier's Harvest Ale, an ESB. I think Victory has already brewed a Harvest Ale in the American Pale Ale style, though.

I've also seen at one local beer a new series of Victory draft only beers called "D'Town Drafts." They had a pils on as part of the series. Didn't try it unfortunately, but the series idea seemed cool.

The Ten Years Alt does sound really good, though. I just tried Uerige Sticke Alt so I have a thirst for that style now.

 

I have not had the Victory, just the COAST. From what it looks like on Untappd, the Victory Koelsch may also be unfiltered, which would officially make it more of a Wiess -- and thus quite different in mouthfeel and (likely) overall flavor than a traditional Koelsch such as Reissdorf. Hoping @Starkbier will chime in with some details.

 

If the east/west kolsch was well received, that means it sold. Why WOULDN'T you make another one. Also, Kolsch is damned good. Why does he have to make another IPA. The man owns a GIANT brewery, he can and should do whatever he wants.

 

I haven't had it in about a year, but assuming the recipe hasn't drifted I'd say you'd definitely guess 'Kolsch' if you drank it and didn't see the label. I think it's quite nice, pretty much in the ballpark of Gaffel with that hint of a dry toasty/bready finish (looking at the recipe now it seems like that's what they were going for, too). I don't think it's up there with Reissdorf, which I find more refined, but overall I'd say it's legit stylistically.

 

Sure. I think the best way I can describe it is to say look at my previous post before that one. I said it sounds like the OP is saying "nobody cares about Kolsch beers, so why do brewers even try?" And then the OP basically confirmed that was what he was saying, which prompted my post in question. I just think that's a terrible attitude, and the last thing the beer world needs is another IPA. Koch is a brewmaster and he makes beer because he loves beer. That's the "answer" to the question posed in the original post. Maybe he was not satisfied with the East/West Kolsch, so he decided to make a new one. If that had been an IPA, nobody would have thought twice about it, but because its not an IPA, imperial stout, or sour, his actions are met with skepticism. What I think is wrong with the american cract brew scene is the attitude that IPA or other extreme beers are the only ones worth spending time on and perfecting, and I felt that statement was a strong reflection of that attitude.

 

I heard that Jim Kock first learned how to brew beer on a grassy knoll.