I F*cking Love This Style: Kölsch!

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Kölsch


The BJCP Guide defines Kölsch as:

 A clean, crisp, delicately-balanced beer usually with a very subtle fruit and hop character. Subdued
maltiness throughout leads into a pleasantly well-attenuated and refreshing finish. Freshness makes a huge difference with this beer, as the delicate character can fade quickly with age. 

Common Aromas:  Low to very low malt aroma, with a grainy-sweet character. A pleasant, subtle fruit aroma from fermentation (apple, cherry or pear) is acceptable

Common Flavors: Soft, rounded palate comprised of a delicate flavor balance between soft yet attenuated malt, an almost imperceptible fruity sweetness from fermentation, and a medium-low to medium bitterness with a delicate dryness and slight crispness in the finish (but no harsh aftertaste). 

 To read the full guide as well as the full description: 5B Kolsch

History:

Image: S. Borisov
Cologne, Germany (Köln) has a top-fermenting brewing tradition since the Middle Ages, but developed the beer now known as Kölsch in the late 1800s to combat encroaching bottom-fermented pale lagers. Kölsch is an appellation protected by the Kölsch Konvention (1986), and is restricted to the 20 or so breweries in and around Köln. The Konvention simply defines the beer as a “light, highly attenuated, hop-accentuated, clear, top-fermenting Vollbier.”-  source

My History:


I was first introduced to Kölsch by a homebrewer friend of mine. At the time I had never heard of the style nor was that interested as I was all about IPA's, Stouts and Pale Ales. I remember having his version and remember it being "just a subtle lager with fruity notes".  I remember it having this "sprite" quality to it. At this time Kölsch didn't seem as popular as it is now, it's not can release lines type of popular, but it's definitely a style you don't want to sleep on. 

I had not seen "Kölsch" or "Kölsch-Style" on the shelves until one day when I walked past Ballast Point's California Kölsch and was presently surprised to see something I've never seen before - a Kölsch style beer or better yet, a German Style Pale Ale. After just one, I was hooked. I couldn't get enough of this beer and this style. Something that was extremely crush able and had this nice hop aroma and flavor but did not have that finish of a typical pale ale. Notes of citrus is what I get on the back end. If this beer wasn't so expensive currently $10.99 - $12.99 for a 6 pack I'd probably have this in the fridge always. To compare I can get a 12 pack of 805 for about $14.99.

After this experience, I was ready to try every and any Kölsch style beer I could find. When I walk into a brewery, the first thing I look for on the tap list is a Kölsch. If no Kölsch is available I will seek out a Pilsner. These types of beers you can't hide behind. With Kölsch, you have a little leeway and can let your hops do the work, but again the style isn't hoppy, so it should be subtle. This will give you a good impression on how good the brewery/brewers are. 

I've had many different takes on the style mostly American but I've had a few German import styles. I've never been to Cologne, Germany and I'm no expert, if I was I'd be writing a book not posting on a blog.

Apeman's Overview:


American: I find that the fruity esters are noticeable and the yeast character is usually strong, though clean, it still has a unique quality that I think American brewers take more leeway than the purist.

German: I've never been, but I've had a few examples, one more noticeable difference is there seems to be a little more sulfur allowed as well as a more subtle hop and yeast character. I do get that flavorful yeast characteristic but rather than being a part of the body, I always preserve it in the back end. I find German import versions to be a little drier and have a distinct beady/sweet malty-ness more than I find in American versions.Though I've had a few American versions that I preseve had more of these traditional traits as well.

What I love about Kölsch style beers is just like pale lagers it can be a great base beer to build off of. Allowing the brewer to get creative and weird when it comes to adding something to the beer. The yeast really allows different options without losing it's signature flavors. The examples below are ones I've had and aren't just straight forward examples. Next time you are at a brewery, I recommend getting their Kölsch, it might be a simple, straight forward example but even those should pack a punch of flavor.


American:

California Kölsch:


I know I spoke about this above but I will give a little more impressions on it, this beer really reminds me of Bell's Oberon beer, yet it's cleaner and has that Kölsch yeast taste, it's not in your face but it's there. Like I said it's just a well balanced beer. This beer is dangerously drinkable to a point when I go to the brewery I only have one or two and then move to something heavier. I could drink this sh*t all day


Learn More


Seafarer - Three Weavers

This is pretty much a go to Kölsch for me. Not only is the price decent, it's a clean, crisp drinking beer. The yeast is dominate in this one, you can taste all those "characteristics" that make a Kölsch different than a Pilsner. Nothing overly fruity as well as not too much grain sweetness. It's a well balanced beer. I also live 15 minutes from the Brewery so I have a soft spot for it.

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Koffee Kolsch - Huss Brewing Company

Not your typical Kölsch by any means but this beer was really delicious. It's straw color with the coffee being added most likely right before packaging. The Kölsch characteristics still shined through but it was like drinking a cold coffee without the overly bitterness you'd get from coffee. I wouldn't sight this as an example of a typical Kölsch, but rather how Kölsch can evolve.

Learn More.



Karma Kolsch - La Ale Works:

This is another example of how brewers are elevating the style. This beer uses their base Kölsch (Goldilocks) and adds Thai Tea, cinnamon and vanilla creating a truly unique character. I had a taste of this and bought a four pack I was that impressed. This tasted like Honey Golden Grams, something if printed on the label with Kölsch, I would have just skipped. What is nice is the Kölsch base/characteristic blends perfectly with the Thai tea, not making it overly sweet. This version does have a really rounded finish missing out on the crisp bite you get at the end of most other examples, but it doesn't make this beer any less refreshing.

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German: 

Please note getting a "real" example is not easy in the states. It's usually not fresh and is always on the shelf and never cold. I've only had a few examples but this one is the only one I can remember. IF and When I got to Germany, I'll update this section!

Reissdorf Kölsch - Heinrich Reissdorf


This beer remind me of Pilsner Unique with the amount of sulfur and grain taste that is in this beer. It's got that German characteristic to it. I've never had this on tap and only in a bottle and never knew how fresh they would have been.









I'd love to get more examples of a typical Kölsch as I'd like to taste the history. This style is the perfect blend for me, it's got all the flavors of an Ale but has that conditioning of a Lager. Without Kölsch, I wouldn't have been as eager to seek out, Pilsners , Lagers and other German staples as in the past I was, Pils is a pils, lager is a lager, I was wrong and I thank Kölsch for showing me the way.

Please check out some links about the Style:

Commercial Versions:

Wiki: Kölsch:

Beer and Brewing: Brew it yourself:

My Disaster:



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