Jamil has dropped Kolsch

[beer_bear]

any cold one. Especially if it's free or served with friends.

[polski]

i just opened the first kolsch i've ever brewed and i have to say it is really super yummy. I had never really had it before, but hear Doc talking about it on one of the brewcasts so had to give it a go. glad i did.

Are there a lot of commercial examples available that i can try to see how close i came to the standard?

[J.Brew]

Where can I pick it up?? Also what is a good Helles I can get at the local bevmo or bottle barn?

[Doc]

Go the Alt.
Are you doing Dusseldorf Alt ?

Doc

[Kaiser]

Are there a lot of commercial examples available that i can try to see how close i came to the standard?

The only true Koelsch that I have been able to find in the US so far is Reisdorf Koelsch.

Kai

[jamilz]

Reissdorf is the largest brewer of Kolsch by far. It is a pretty decent beer too. The thing is, all of the bottled versions are much more acidic and dry than the pub versions. They have a higher carbonation level too. A bunch of them are all made at the Kupers plant and there are only 3 or 4 other places brewing Kolsch. It is a pretty sad situation. I think Alt is in much better shape.

[Kaiser]

Reissdorf is the largest brewer of Kolsch by far. It is a pretty decent beer too.

Unfortunaley it suffers from the same "long transit problems" that all the other beers imported from Europe have. But at least it can give you an idea what the original is supposed to taste like.

Since it is so difficult to find true German commercial examples for these beers in the US, most homebrewers (and even judges I assume) don't really know what they are shooting for if they want to match the style. Good domestic examples of these beers are usually taken as a reference instead. Though this is better than nothing I can imagine the american interpretation of the style to drift away from the original.

I noticed the same thing with doppelbocks, where we are actually able to get at least 3 good commecial examples in the US. Most of the american examples of this style I found to bitter (from hops and/or grains) or to dry in their finish.

The thing is, all of the bottled versions are much more acidic and dry than the pub versions. They have a higher carbonation level too. A bunch of them are all made at the Kupers plant and there are only 3 or 4 other places brewing Kolsch. It is a pretty sad situation. I think Alt is in much better shape.

Are you still talking about genue Koelschs from Germany or american breweries that brew koelsch-style ales?

Kai

[jamilz]

Talking about German breweries. There are only a few left. One makes 5 or 6 of the different Kolsches and there are maybe 8 or 9 on the market?

I know what you mean about the hoppy bocks in the US, but I don't find a lot of dry ones. I think I find a lot more overly sweet, almost cloying, bocks made by US breweries.

There is such a huge difference between the beers by the time they're bottled and shipped over, it is hard to really say you know the styles until you've had them at the location. I was pretty shocked by my experience in Dusseldorf. A real eye opener and adjustment in my expectations.