Kuhnhenn Brothers Gold (Kölsch)

On tap at the Devil’s Den in South Philly. I have no idea how they got this beer but I was very excited and made a trip there last night just to try it. Pours a slightly hazy dark golden amber orange with light golden yellow hues when held to a light source and a one finger frothy white head that quickly fades into a lasting ring. No lacing. Very sweet citrus aroma that smells mostly of lemon juice. There is a healthy dose of citrus lemon peel as well as some biscuit malt, subtle hops and lemon zest. Fuller end of medium body some some nice yeasty bready notes. Very sweet citrus peel presence that again is mostly lemon juice and lemon zest. Graham cracker biscuity malt and nice crisp hops lying underneath. The sweetness form the lemon flavor is way too overpowering, like someone squeezed an ounce or tow of lemon juice in my glass. This really hurts the drinkability and really ruins a lot of the positives of this beer.

Pours a light gold in color with a huge inch and a half rocky head.
Smell is all wheat and malt. Very strong wheat and malt. Taste is crisp, clean and light. Plenty of lemon zest and very light in the taste. This is a good, hot, humid summer day beer. Very true to the style. Decent.

Draught at the brewery. Pours a clear pale yellow/gold with a small white head that dimnishes to a ring around the glass. The aroma is light citrus and floral hops and light grass. The flavor has light yeast, earthy hops, light malt , and medium bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium to light and fairly smooth. Flavor is short lived.

Draft at the brewery, is a deep gold with a white head that thinned to a ring, some effervescent bubbles rise to the top, left lots of lacing on the glass, aroma of malt and fruit fragrances, a dry malt aroma with faint hops, malt and bread flavor that reminds me of a pilsner but more so in flavor, some fruit flavor and more hop crisp bitterness than I have encountered in other Kolschs, some citrus in the finish combined with the hop bite to give a good dry finish, thick mouth feel, medium or less carbonation, not as light of a drink as I was expecting, tasty.

On tap at Kuhnhenn, this was a very clean, refreshing, crisp kolsch dominated by crisp, petaly hops backed by light bready malt with subtle nectary sweetness.

tap @ Kuhnhenn - light body yellow beer. Had a good taste on the first sip but went south after that. Kind of left a bad taste in my mouth.

12oz btl, sampled in late 2005. No idea of bottling date, but tastes fresh. Pours a sparkling golden with two-finger white head, loosely strewn about carbonation fading slowly back into the body. Aroma is surprising, very lively bavarian hops profile, light but pleasant yeasts, corn and lightly toasted fresh grains. Flavor is stellar, very fresh and interesting. Similarities to the aroma include more fresh hops, malts and yeast. Also traces of lemon, honey, healthy grass, other orange fruits, wheat. Palate is perfect for the style, light bodied and very dangerously drinkable. Finishes with a slight sting from the hops and a tongue coating of super soft malt and honey, a little bready. An excellent rendition of the style, definitely the best that I’ve encountered.

Tres. I don’t get the umph but I do get something that I’m surprised to see as a very good Kölsch. American brewed no less. Thus far in my life I had not derived much pleasure from this variety of brew. Much more flavorful than the imported beers from Köln that I’ve had the opportunity to quaff. Perhaps it’s a freshness factor. Still, this one proved quite appetizing. Yellow and foamy. Tingly on the tongue. It brought with it a dry, sour gumball flair. This is something I’d definitely like to try again.