Talk to me about Kölsch

Sierra Nevada's and Victory Kuhl Kolsch were my 2 top ranked ones and loved them both. Both are seasonal/sampler pack only from my recollection.

Sam Adams Escape Route is pretty solid as well. A variety of German ones, but none of those really blew me away. Probably a freshness issue. IMO Kolsch (particular imports) are hard to find fresh and substantially less tasty old.

 

I would say Schlafly Kolsch is about as accurate a representation as you can get. I mean, they sourced their yeast strain from the Gaffel Brewery in Koln, Germany. Co-Founder Thomas Schlafly's wife is a native of Koln as well, and it received both of their seals of approval. Plus it won a Gold Medal for Best German-Style Kolsch in the World Beer Cup in 2010. Check it out below:

http://thebrewermagazine.com/?p=609

As far as what I expect, is something light and easy to drink. Pale yellow/gold color, almost effervescent in quality. Slightly fruity and just a hint of a peppery note.

I've also had Krankshaft Kolsch, which was very good. It was a bit heavier than Schlafly's version though.

 

Freshness definitely has an impact. I recent saw Reissdorf Kolsch at my local store, but have refrained from buying it due to no date. I'm less likely to gamble on a beer when it's a style as delicate as Kolsch.

 

You will never know until you go to Köln.

 

Here in SC, Coast Brewing makes an excellent example of the style, pale yellow, slightly effervescent, light fruit, and a very clean finish

 

You might want to take a gander at the following thread. Will likely have more insight for you. Good luck.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/no-love-for-kolsch.313171/

 

Duesseldorf, yes, but you drink Alt there. You can find Kölsch around parts of Geemeny. One should drink local there, especially in Franconia and other parts of Bavaria.

 

I grew up near cologne and was raised on Kölsch basically.
When it is in really good condition, it really really works-from a small cask, gravity-served.....From KEG it also can be ok, when "es läuft"(which, in and around cologne, Kölsch usually does).
Bottled, it is difficult to judge.....
When it is served the way it SHOULD be, it should be smooth as hell, with an interesting subtle fruity,yeasty hint, and subtle hops.
I personally love Kölsch with wheat malt (Malzmühle,Peters,Dom,Küppers etc) but that's just a matter of taste.

 

IMO the biggest feature of a properly brewed Kolsch beers is a distinctive flavor of Continental Pilsner Malts with a subtle but noticeable white wine flavor which is an ester produced by a Kolsch ale yeast strain.

As others have intimated a Kolsch beer is a delicate beer which may not survive the rigors of transport (across the Atlantic Ocean) and age very well. I have had a number of German brewed Kolsch beers (produced in Cologne/Koln) on draft in the US which survived the transport very well and were beers of beauty.

There are a number of US brewed Kolsch beers that I think are very, very good which have also been mentioned previously: Sierra Nevada Kolsch and Victory Kuhl Kolsch.

My personal favorite Kolsch is my homebrewed Kolsch which I make every year using German Pilsner Malt (e.g., Weyermann Pilsner Malt) and Wyeast 2565 (and German Tettnang hops).

IMO a properly made (and cared for) Kolsch is one of the most beautifully brewed beers.

Cheers!

 

I'm not sure how 'to style' it is but I LOVE Captain Lawrence Kolsch on a hot summer day! Damn good stuff!

 

Sierra Nevada's was really good last year. I hope that comes in the mix pack again.

 

I went to the SN home page and when you pull up the summer pack it shows the Kolsch there, it could be left over from last years, but the beer camp mix pack was updated so no reason to think the summer pack wasn't updated as well.

 

I went to Cologne and tried some top rated German Kolsch. It was like a normal lager, very easy to drink and crisp, refreshing. With some accented hop/malt characters. Try "Gaffel Kolsch" or "Fruh Kolsch", not a excellent kolsch but fine they are nice example of the style.

 

If you have a trusted beer bar you go to ask if they can get a keg from Germany. That's the best way to find out without going to Cologne.

 

Reissdorf is excellent and a perfect representation of the style, got it from a bar that specializes in German beer so its much fresher than just stumbling across it. Captain Lawrence's kolsch is very poor IMO. One of the best American kolsch beers I have had is actually from JDub's Brewing in Florida!