If you’ve never heard a Kölsch before, what are you waiting for? Not only is this beer style great any time of year, but it’s also particularly fantastic during the spring months. Made with top-fermenting yeast like an ale before being conditioned at cold temperatures like a lager, this hoppy, crisp beer has its origins in Cologne, Germany. But there’s a little more to it than that.
Kölsch is more than a name
Kölsch is similar to Cognac, Scotch, or Tequila in that, as of 1997, it has a protected geographical indication. Just like those other forms of alcohol that have specific geographic parameters, technically, Kölsch must be brewed within 31 miles of the city of Cologne. This hasn’t stopped American brewers from trying their hand at this fresh, crisp style. While some don’t pay close attention to the rules and call their beers Kölsch, others pay tribute to Germany by calling their brews Kölsch-style beers.
What does Kölsch taste like?
Traditionally brewed using the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot), this beer style is known for its filtered appearance and hoppy aroma and flavor. This mashup of a lager and ale is also known for its clean, fruity, gently spicy flavor, finished with floral, lightly bitter Noble hops. It’s the perfect, refreshing, thirst-quenching beer for a warm spring day or a hot summer night. It also pairs well with grilled meats and sunny day yard games.
Our favorite five Kölsch-style beers
Now that you’ve learned a little bit about Kölsch beers and their history, it’s time to actually drink some. To help you on your Kölsch journey, we picked five of our favorites and ranked them based on flavor and overal seasonal appropriateness. Keep scrolling to see them all.
5.) Rogue Honey Kölsch
This isn’t your average Kölsch. Rogue Honey Kölsch gets its name because it’s brewed with wildflower honey. The result is a classic Kölsch base of sweet, bready malts and floral, earthy hops that are elevated by the addition of honey sweetness. The result is a complex, refreshing, sweet, crisp beer well-suited for spring sipping. While you’ll likely enjoy a few beers on this list, you should try this unique brew.
4.) Reissdorf Kölsch
No Kölsch list is complete without an actual beer brewed in Cologne. One of the best is Kölsch. Brewed since 1894, Reissdorf Kölsch is a sessionable top-fermented, cold lagered beer known for its refreshing, clean flavor profile featuring fruity, hoppy, lightly floral notes and a crisp, dry finish. It’s a classic take on the style and one that belongs in your Kölsch rotation this spring.
3.) Altstadt Kölsch
If you didn’t know any better, you might assume this is another traditional Kölsch from Germany. Altstadt is actually a German-style brewery located in Fredericksburg, Texas. One of its best is its Altstadt Kölsch. This award-winning beer is known for its balance thanks to the use of top-fermenting yeast, select German malts, and Noble hops. The result is a sweet, malty, refreshing beer with just a hint of floral, earthy, lightly bitter hops at the finish.
2.) Prost Kölsch
With a name like Prost, you better believe this brewery is pretty good at crafting authentic German-style beers. One of our favorites for spring sipping is its Prost Kölsch. Brewed with Weyermann Premium Pilsner mat, Weyermann Cologne, and a German hybrid ale yeast, it gets its hope element from the addition of Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Callista hops. This results in a crisp, crushable, thirst-quenching beer with notes of sweet malts, honey, orchard fruits, and floral hops.
1.) Fair State KÖLD
If you only drink one beer on this list, make Fair State KÖLD. This sessionable, 4.7% ABV Kölsch-style beer is brewed with Kölsch yeast, Carafoam, and North Star Pils malts. It gets its hop aroma and flavor from the liberal use of Sterling hops. This creates a year-round, clean, crisp, refreshing Kölsch known for its flavor profile of fruit esters, pilsner malts, orchard fruits, honey, and floral, earthy, herbal hops. The finish is dry, lightly hoppy, and bitter. This is the kind of beer you’ll want to drink in spring, summer, fall, and maybe even in winter if you’re feeling a little wild.
Bottom line
If you’re a fan of a nice, malty lager, a crisp, refreshing pilsner, or even a floral pale ale or bitter IPA, you’ll love the clean, complex, thirst-quenching flavor of a well-made Kölsch-style beer. We could be as bold as to say that the Kölsch just might be the best spring beer there is.
This is because of the fact that it has all the qualities of an ale as well as a lager. It’s balanced, crisp, dry, and effortlessly flavorful. Instead of the summer of George, we suggest the spring of Kölsch.
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