Evan!
Well-Known Member
They arrived yesterday afternoon, and I immediately put 'em in the fridge. I had a party to go to, but when I got home, I capped the night off with a Kolsch:
Uncapping / Pouring / Aesthetics: The fill on all the bottles is a little low for me, but I'm suspecting that I fill mine too high. Who knows? Who cares? A pleasant hiss at uncapping, nothing out of the ordinary here. Nice 1/4" head upon dispensing, stuck around for a minute or so, which is enough in my book. Nice, tight bubble matrix. The color is interesting. Pretty cloudy beer, with a pale rusty orange/pinkish color. I've never brewed Kolsch and don't drink commercial examples too often, but if I remember correctly, Kolsch is supposed to be pretty clear, almost like a pilsner. Perhaps it just got shaken up in transit? BJCP says Kolsch should be pale to light gold, and "authentic" versions are crystal clear---but this is homebrew, so...I'm not too worried. I'm sure it wouldn't have tasted as good if you'd filtered it. :cross: I do wonder if the non-shipped versions are clearer? I have one more bottle, so maybe I'll let it chill in the fridge for a week and check it out.
Aroma: Nicely balanced with a subtle fruity nose (can't put my finger on the fruit, maybe some pear and nectarine?), with very little hop aroma (perfect for the style). As it warmed up, it exhibited more lush characteristics, even seeming a bit tropical at times, but always balanced with a nice light maltiness, as if a touch of Biscuit malt was used. Also a slight hint of yeast on the nose, which is nicely integrated. Overall, the nose is subdued, which is appropriate for the style, but my personal tastes like a more aggressive aroma profile. I guess that's why I don't drink too much Kolsch
Palate: Again, balanced very nicely. Not too much bitterness or hop flavor, and absolutely no "homebrew twang". Smooth, lush mouthfeel, but not so lush as to not be refreshing. Nice subtle peach hints. The finish isn't too long, but why would it be?
Proximity to the Style: The color and cloudiness make it look like a hefe, but I'm not yet convinced that that's not from the shipping journey. We'll see when I open my second bottle next week. The rest of it seems to be spot-on, according to the BJCP guidelines.
Overall Impression: Like I said, I'm not really a Kolsch guy, but I could definitely toss back a sixer of these on a hot summer day. Very refreshing, like a hefe, but not. Not the most complex or character-rich beer I've ever had, but very well made, very close to the style guidelines, very refreshing, and very enjoyable to drink.
Thanks for the excellent brew, Beerrific. More reviews to follow!
Uncapping / Pouring / Aesthetics: The fill on all the bottles is a little low for me, but I'm suspecting that I fill mine too high. Who knows? Who cares? A pleasant hiss at uncapping, nothing out of the ordinary here. Nice 1/4" head upon dispensing, stuck around for a minute or so, which is enough in my book. Nice, tight bubble matrix. The color is interesting. Pretty cloudy beer, with a pale rusty orange/pinkish color. I've never brewed Kolsch and don't drink commercial examples too often, but if I remember correctly, Kolsch is supposed to be pretty clear, almost like a pilsner. Perhaps it just got shaken up in transit? BJCP says Kolsch should be pale to light gold, and "authentic" versions are crystal clear---but this is homebrew, so...I'm not too worried. I'm sure it wouldn't have tasted as good if you'd filtered it. :cross: I do wonder if the non-shipped versions are clearer? I have one more bottle, so maybe I'll let it chill in the fridge for a week and check it out.
Aroma: Nicely balanced with a subtle fruity nose (can't put my finger on the fruit, maybe some pear and nectarine?), with very little hop aroma (perfect for the style). As it warmed up, it exhibited more lush characteristics, even seeming a bit tropical at times, but always balanced with a nice light maltiness, as if a touch of Biscuit malt was used. Also a slight hint of yeast on the nose, which is nicely integrated. Overall, the nose is subdued, which is appropriate for the style, but my personal tastes like a more aggressive aroma profile. I guess that's why I don't drink too much Kolsch
Palate: Again, balanced very nicely. Not too much bitterness or hop flavor, and absolutely no "homebrew twang". Smooth, lush mouthfeel, but not so lush as to not be refreshing. Nice subtle peach hints. The finish isn't too long, but why would it be?
Proximity to the Style: The color and cloudiness make it look like a hefe, but I'm not yet convinced that that's not from the shipping journey. We'll see when I open my second bottle next week. The rest of it seems to be spot-on, according to the BJCP guidelines.
Overall Impression: Like I said, I'm not really a Kolsch guy, but I could definitely toss back a sixer of these on a hot summer day. Very refreshing, like a hefe, but not. Not the most complex or character-rich beer I've ever had, but very well made, very close to the style guidelines, very refreshing, and very enjoyable to drink.
Thanks for the excellent brew, Beerrific. More reviews to follow!