All About Beer Magazine

Kölsch is an ale style emanating from Cologne in Germany. In Germany (and the European Community) the term is strictly legally limited to the beers from within the city environs of Cologne. Simply put, kölsch has the color of a pilsner with some of the fruity character of an ale. This is achieved with the use of top-fermenting yeasts and pale pilsner malts. The hops are accented on the finish, which classically is dry and herbal. It is a medium- to light-bodied beer and delicate in style. Most examples in the United States are brewpub draft interpretations produced during the summer months, though some commercial brewers produce a summer ale in the kölsch style.

Interpreting the 100-point Scale

Consumers can translate the point score to the following quality bands:

Point Range	Quality Band
96-100 points	Platinum
90-95 points	Gold
85-90 points	Silver
80-84 points	Bronze
Less than 80	Not Recommended

Legend

= Brewpub
ABV = Alcohol by volume
Date denotes the date on which the beer was tasted

90 Tsuyama Itsuha, Tago Brewery Co. (Japan). 5% ABV (2/07)
Slightly hazy golden amber color. Sweet fruity peach jam and banana pudding aromas are very attractive. A frothy entry leads to a tangy, dryish, light-to-medium body of toasted golden apple raisin bread, dried banana and delicate spice. Finishes with a toasty, delicate, bittering hop fade. Extremely refreshing and an excellent food beer.

90 Summertime Kölsch, Goose Island Brewing Co. (IL). 4.7% ABV (4/08)
Bright hay straw color. Nice lace from solid head retention. Citrus, candied lemon zest, meringue and tiny hints of bubble gum on the nose. Spritzy mouth feel that quickly mousses over the palate delivering the lightly toasted malt flavors of fresh bread and hints of lemon and grain of paradise. Finishes clean with just another hint of bubble gum—dare I say Juicy Fruit?—and ends balanced and bright. Quenching quaff for extra innings at the ballpark.

88 Kölsch, Spoetzl Brewery (TX). 4.8% ABV (11/06)
Rich pale amber color. Nutty, bread dough and clay aromas. A frothy entry leads to a dry-yet-fruity medium body of fruit bread dough, sea salt and pink peppercorns flavors. Finishes with a mineral laden, citrus and Brazil nut fade.

85 Corano Extra Kölsch, Brew Brothers (NV). 5.3% ABV (4/08)
Pale golden color. Thin veil of lace from very little head retention. Lively aromatics of lemon zest and lemon curd with hints of faint fresh sourdough bread and just a slight trail of musty malt. Bright and lively entry. More notes of lemon zest and citrus flavors combined with nougaty, bread-like malt backbone. Lasting finish of the aforementioned citrus zest with a quenching tang. A balanced summer quencher.