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timos1

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Feb 25, 2014
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please forgive my impudence mighty beer Lords,

but where the ever living F can I get a decent attempt on a kolsch...they always put juice in it, like always. i cant afford to go to germany right now or in the next 10 years but doesnt anyone do a real kolsch? I actually managed to brew one 2 year ago it was damn good at first but no shelf life on those things.
 
Just out if curiosity, are any actual Kölsches (e.g. Früh, Gaffel) distributed to the US?
You're being very liberal w the term kolsch by referencing Früh and Gaffel, I believe you can get those abominations there...
However, Mühlen, pfaffgen, and päfgen are where it's at. Most US iterations are either horrible or basically a low abv IPA/pale ale. Heater Allen is probably your best bet as the make almost exclusively German beers and nail all styles.

Good luck

Better option, visit Cologne:)
 
You're being very liberal w the term kolsch by referencing Früh and Gaffel, I believe you can get those abominations there...
However, Mühlen, pfaffgen, and päfgen are where it's at. Most US iterations are either horrible or basically a low abv IPA/pale ale. Heater Allen is probably your best bet as the make almost exclusively German beers and nail all styles.

Good luck

Better option, visit Cologne:)
Digita7693 knows what's up! I did the Köln Düsseldorf tour with him, hope to do it again soon.

Once you drink Mühlen you will understand how poor some of those others are.

I find the Chuckanut Kolsch to be quite good but unless you live in WA you won't see it
 
please forgive my impudence mighty beer Lords,

but where the ever living F can I get a decent attempt on a kolsch...they always put juice in it, like always. i cant afford to go to germany right now or in the next 10 years but doesnt anyone do a real kolsch? I actually managed to brew one 2 year ago it was damn good at first but no shelf life on those things.
*year's
 
You're being very liberal w the term kolsch by referencing Früh and Gaffel, I believe you can get those abominations there...
However, Mühlen, pfaffgen, and päfgen are where it's at. Most US iterations are either horrible or basically a low abv IPA/pale ale. Heater Allen is probably your best bet as the make almost exclusively German beers and nail all styles.

Good luck

Better option, visit Cologne:)
Well, they _are_ kölsches... At least they don't have fruit juice added.
Agree that Mühlen is the **** though.
 
I know it's definitely not traditional in any sense, but ********* Alaska Summer Ale is so gooooooooooood
 
If you're trading with someone in Austin, Hops & Grain recently added a really good canned Kolsch to their year round lineup. I buy it constantly.

78702can_nosweat.jpg


Austin-only distro.
 
first time i've heard that
You've never been to Cologne have you ;)

Piece of **** may be harsh, and I guess it's what the US gets, but it is nowhere near the best and there are many us versions that are better. Put another way if my options were Miller or residorf, and neither whisky nor water were options, I'd take the Miller.
 
You've never been to Cologne have you ;)

Piece of **** may be harsh, and I guess it's what the US gets, but it is nowhere near the best and there are many us versions that are better. Put another way if my options were Miller or residorf, and neither whisky nor water were options, I'd take the Miller.

never been to Cologne. but i have a brother in Berlin i plan to visit one of these days. when i do, it will be a drunken tour of your lovely country.
 
Straub Brewery in bumfuck, PA (think poor man's Yuengling) has branched out to make several "craft" offerings over the past few years. Their Koelsch won silver or bronze at this year's World Beer Cup...and I know that doesn't mean ****...but it is a really well made Koelsch. I crushed the ones from the variety case I brought home with me.

It's not overly sweet, no fruity esters, and it's not overly hopped...it's just a damn good Koelsch.
 
You've never been to Cologne have you ;)

Piece of **** may be harsh, and I guess it's what the US gets, but it is nowhere near the best and there are many us versions that are better. Put another way if my options were Miller or residorf, and neither whisky nor water were options, I'd take the Miller.
How do you feel about Sunner... that's probably the one I like the most of the imports we get here.
 
How do you feel about Sunner... that's probably the one I like the most of the imports we get here.

Meh

Maybe should take into account that I'm an *******:)

Honestly I never really liked Kölsch when I lived in Köln as a student, partially due to the incessant praise by everyone from Cologne that it was the greatest thing ever.

Years later I came back to it and thought it was ok until I had the likes of Mühlen and the others I mentioned. I've tried Reissdorf etc many times again and they just don't compete. It's like Upright Engelberg pils or Hearer Alen vs. Budweiser. Phenomenal vs it has alcohol and can be drunk when cold on the right occasion.
 
If you're trading with someone in Austin, Hops & Grain recently added a really good canned Kolsch to their year round lineup. I buy it constantly.

78702can_nosweat.jpg


Austin-only distro.
This beer no longer even ******* exists.

HOWEVER...

In the passing of 3 years since that post, Austin now has one of the best kolsch beers in existence... St Elmo Brewing Karl Kolsch. I could literally drink only this beer for the rest of my life and be perfectly content. The brewers are from Austin Beerworks, where they developed the beer (and sold it there) and ABW let them take the recipe and name to their new brewery....

l0Z78zd.jpg


If you ever make it to Austin they also have on site the best food truck in town (that no one talks about outside of town because it hasn’t been on Food Network), Soursop who churn out the best freaking Thai and Malay food I’ve ever had that perfectly pairs with the beer.

Nom.
 
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This beer no longer even ******* exists.

HOWEVER...

In the passing of 3 years since that post, Austin now has one of the best kolsch beers in existence... St Elmo Brewing Karl Kolsch. I could literally drink only this beer for the rest of my life and be perfectly content. The brewers are from Austin Beerworks, where they developed the beer (and sold it there) and ABW let them take the recipe and name to their new brewery....

l0Z78zd.jpg


If you ever make it to Austin they also have on site the best food truck in town (that no one talks about outside of town because it hasn’t been on Food Network), Soursop who churn out the best freaking Thai and Malay food I’ve ever had that perfectly pairs with the beer.

Nom.
Steve took me there specifically for the Kölsch. It did not disappoint.

The Indian Mexican fusion food truck a few doors down at Still is solid too!
 

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