Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: commercial examples of Kolsch  (Read 6380 times)

Offline klickitat jim

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8604
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #15 on: January 23, 2014, 03:26:56 am »
If you want the best Kolcsh style beer, it's in down town Leavenworth,  Wa. Icicle Brewery

Offline theDarkSide

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3041
  • Derry, NH
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #16 on: January 23, 2014, 06:29:02 am »
Sam Adams just put one out... ;D

Escape Route...it is actually pretty good.  Very close to one I just brewed except mine is clearer. 
Seacoast Homebrew Club - Portsmouth, NH
AHA Member
Stephen Mayo
------------------------------------------------

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #17 on: January 23, 2014, 09:19:22 am »
Thanks everyone. Looks like it will be easier for me to find a real German Kolsch than a lot of the ones mentioned. Looks like my local "beer warehouse" only has 3 domestic Kolsch beers in addition to the German ones:

Steamworks Colorado Kolsch
Uinta Hoodoo
St. Arnold's Lawnmower

On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline ynotbrusum

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4882
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #18 on: January 23, 2014, 07:14:22 pm »
Got this from a google search on the interweb:

This Top Ten German Kolsch list is from America's Top Ten and from the results of the 2011 U.S. Open Beer Championship.   
     
1. Sunner Kolsch - Gebr. Sünner GmbH & Co, Germany
 2. Endless River – Mother Earth Brewing, North Carolina
 3. Kolsch - Big Bear Brewing, Florida
4. Zommerfest - August Schell Brewing - Minnesota
5. Harpoon Summer Beer - Harpoon Summer Beer - Massachusetts   
6. Crystal Ale - Big Sky Brewing - Montana 
7. Geary's Summer Ale - Geary's Brewing - Vermont 
8. Gaffel Kölsch - Privabrauerei Gaffel Becker - Germany
9. Alaskan Summer Ale - Alaskan Brewing - Alaska
10. Gold Spike Ale - Berkshire Brewing - Massachusetts   
   

Not sure how many were entered, of course, but hey, it is probably a pretty good sample.

Cheers to Kolsch.  Love them beers.
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #19 on: January 24, 2014, 02:30:00 am »
I'd really like to try the Fruh. Worthy brewing in Bend had a great one in Bend last weekend and we came home with a couple six packs. Great stuff.  I've been seeing their can on more and more shelves so they may be in Colorado before too long. Picked up a case of the honey Kolsch at Rogue's garage sale a while back. It's nice but the honey is too prominent for my taste. At $20 for a case I made due. Still my favorite Kolsch is the one on tap in the garage.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

Offline klickitat jim

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8604
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #20 on: January 24, 2014, 03:47:25 am »
Nirvana is when you think your version is better,  and it's true

Offline reverseapachemaster

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3778
    • Brain Sparging on Brewing
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #21 on: January 24, 2014, 08:18:36 am »
I believe Prost also puts out a kolsch but I forget whether they do not bottle at all or only sell retail in growler-type bottles.
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing

Offline scottNU

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 105
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #22 on: January 24, 2014, 08:31:28 am »
Nirvana is when you think your version is better,  and it's true

I've found that Kolsch is one of the styles that most impresses both my homebrewing and non-homebrewing friends.  It's very drinkable and a style that requires brewing skill to pull-off.  I haven't reached Nirvana, but it's a delicious trip.

Offline morticaixavier

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7781
  • Underhill VT
    • The Best Artist in the WORLD!!!!!
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #23 on: January 24, 2014, 08:33:56 am »
Got this from a google search on the interweb:

This Top Ten German Kolsch list is from America's Top Ten and from the results of the 2011 U.S. Open Beer Championship.   
     
1. Sunner Kolsch - Gebr. Sünner GmbH & Co, Germany
 2. Endless River – Mother Earth Brewing, North Carolina
 3. Kolsch - Big Bear Brewing, Florida
4. Zommerfest - August Schell Brewing - Minnesota
5. Harpoon Summer Beer - Harpoon Summer Beer - Massachusetts   
6. Crystal Ale - Big Sky Brewing - Montana 
7. Geary's Summer Ale - Geary's Brewing - Vermont 
8. Gaffel Kölsch - Privabrauerei Gaffel Becker - Germany
9. Alaskan Summer Ale - Alaskan Brewing - Alaska
10. Gold Spike Ale - Berkshire Brewing - Massachusetts   
   

Not sure how many were entered, of course, but hey, it is probably a pretty good sample.

Cheers to Kolsch.  Love them beers.

I question the validity of this list for two major reasons:
1) it says it is the list of top 10 GERMAN kolsch beers but only two of them are from GERMANY
2) Geary's Brewing is from Maine, not Vermont.
"Creativity is the residue of wasted time"
-A Einstein

"errors are [...] the portals of discovery"
- J Joyce

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #24 on: January 24, 2014, 10:11:44 am »
Gonna try to pick something up this weekend so I can do a comparison tasting soon even though mine isn't meant to be 'traditional'

It still needs some more time although it seems to be getting better and better. Been in the keg for two weeks and I really hope it clarifies a bit more. May be the tastiest brew yet....
« Last Edit: January 24, 2014, 10:15:10 am by goschman »
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Pinski

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1943
  • Portland, Oregon
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #25 on: January 24, 2014, 10:26:52 am »
Gonna try to pick something up this weekend so I can do a comparison tasting soon even though mine isn't meant to be 'traditional'

It still needs some more time although it seems to be getting better and better. Been in the keg for two weeks and I really hope it clarifies a bit more. May be the tastiest brew yet....

I bet it will, seems like Kolsch yeast can be a slow settler.
Steve Carper
Green Dragon Brewers
Clubs: Oregon Brew Crew & Strange Brew
BJCP Certified

Offline HoosierBrew

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 13031
  • Indianapolis,IN
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #26 on: January 24, 2014, 10:35:32 am »
Gonna try to pick something up this weekend so I can do a comparison tasting soon even though mine isn't meant to be 'traditional'

It still needs some more time although it seems to be getting better and better. Been in the keg for two weeks and I really hope it clarifies a bit more. May be the tastiest brew yet....

I bet it will, seems like Kolsch yeast can be a slow settler.

Kind of ties into the cold crashing thread - be sure it's done fermenting and cold crash it.
Jon H.

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #27 on: January 24, 2014, 11:13:14 am »
Gonna try to pick something up this weekend so I can do a comparison tasting soon even though mine isn't meant to be 'traditional'

It still needs some more time although it seems to be getting better and better. Been in the keg for two weeks and I really hope it clarifies a bit more. May be the tastiest brew yet....

I bet it will, seems like Kolsch yeast can be a slow settler.

Kind of ties into the cold crashing thread - be sure it's done fermenting and cold crash it.

I used gelatin finings as well. Most of my beers have no issues clarifying. I assume that WLP029 is just less flocculant than the normal strains I use
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4507
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #28 on: January 24, 2014, 05:28:42 pm »
Picked up a 6 pack of St Arnold's Lawnmower and a 500mL of Reisdorf (sp?) as that was the only German one they had. I will try Uinta Hoodoo in time since I see it around often.

I won't be doing a side by side for a couple of weeks so that I can let mine cold condition a bit longer. Cracked a Lawnmower and it is very good. Again, I haven't directly compared them but it seems to have a nice malty sweetness that mine does not and is a bit darker than I expected. Mine has a more bitter crispness to it which would make sense since it is 27 IBUs compared to the 20 on theirs.

I am excited to taste and compare all 3 together and try an authentic German Kolsch. I rarely have any imported or European beer. Hopefully there weren't any storage issues. I honestly think this has become my favorite style which is funny because I was an extreme hop head just a few year ago...
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Stevie

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 6858
Re: commercial examples of Kolsch
« Reply #29 on: January 24, 2014, 05:46:21 pm »
When summer comes back around lookout for st Arnold's weedwhacker. Same beer as lawnmower but fermented with Hefeweizen yeast.