Capitol City Capitol Kolsch

Brewed by Capitol City Brewing Company
Style: Kölsch
Washington, Washington DC USA

Pale Yellow Color with White Head. Sweet Grains....Overall Bitter and Dry..Hay Barn Characteristics..Little Heavy on Grains, but a Nice Kolsch.

5/11/07: On Tap in DC.
Lemon body with a thin white head. Small grass nose. Flavor of hay and slight hops. Finish is bitter.

Creamy head, yellow color. Grainy taste with a tight dull bitter. Some diacetyl and buttery note. Lively carbonation. Off tastes and not a Kölsch at all--just a really pale American ale.

Sampled on tap on 7/15/06 at the downtown location: Pours a bery pale lightly effervescent golden with nicely-lacing white head. Aroma has mild grainy and noble hoppiness. Real dull, nearly flavorless, bland, grainy and bitter. Not very true to style and needs a more authentic yeast strain, and more body.

Growler poured same day. Sour milk and malt aroma. Light yellow color with nice big head. Creamy malt flavor with a moderate hops finish. A very nice Koelsch - would stand up to most of its German brethern.

I like light american beer. I like Capitol Kolsch. Make it three Capitol Kolsches. I didn’t taste any orange -blossom honey. Tasted like good beer to me.

Draught pint, downtown location on 1/20/07
Small but well-retained white head tops a very clear, well-conditioned body with the color of orange-blossom honey. Little to no lacing left behind, light carbonation in the liquid.
Right away the nose smells lightly estery and perfectly distinct of authentic kolsch yeast. Not just some lame attempt to glorify your crappy brewpub light beer. Soft pears and light apples give way to lightly grainy, biscuity two-row and a hint of dough. Some minerals and just a pinch of acidity lay on the finish. The aroma strength is quite high for a draught beer served in a convex pint glass. Absolutely no flaws, I dont even find traces of corn or vanilla. Light, fluffy honey malt notes arise with warming, and the fruitiness intensifies somewhat, as well, but the beer never loses its crisp, clean, lightly bitter bite on the end. Hops are very subtle, just soft flowers and herbs that add light aromatics and mild bitterness at most.
Quenching and very crisp on the end, with a cleanliness throughout and moderate bitterness. Soft hop flavors of moss, fresh grass and light herbs provide an undercurrent of complexity without disturbing the nectarine and pear fruitiness that seems to shine the brightest. Malt ranges from lightly nutty to mildly sweet/honey-like. Very authentic offering and again, no flaws in flavor. Medium carbonation is reserved instead of lively or biting. Smooth, lightly watery texture is appropriate for the style.

Capitol Hill location. Light flavor, lemon and floral hops. Very light yellow color. Very refreshing. I also had this at the Shirlington location about a month later and my memory of it is more fonder. Not sure if it really was better, or if my palate was already tainted from other beers the first time I had it, but from my opinion it’s quite good.