Pyramid Curve Ball Kölsch

Brewed by Pyramid Breweries
Style: Kölsch
Portland, Oregon USA

pours a clear yellow with light bubbly head. Aroma is doughy and a little musty. flavor is light with a little citrus hidden. Very little carbonation. overall kind of empty. However, this is a summer beer and I bought it in October (bottle was dusty) so it may be a freshness issue (?)

on tap-pours a thin white head and pale yellow color. Aroma is honey, wheat, musty. Taste is honey, wheat, musty, herbal, secondary flat (saaz?) hops, some pepper. OK effervescence.

12 oz bottle from Von’s. This one poured a clear golden color with a small white head that head disappeared quickly. Aroma was light and sweet with a bit of musty red fruit. Flavor was cherries, laurel, biscuits and some yeast. Mouthfeel was a medium-thin with adequate carbonation. Finish showed just a touch of hops but was mostly sweet and slightly astringent. Overall this is very enjoyable and drinkable but it is not a great brew, Pyramid really can do much better. One re-rate note: as I drink thru the sixer I am noticing that there seems to be an inconsistency in quality from bottle to bottle. Some bottles have a more full palate, some bottles have more cherry flavor, some have a saccharine aftertaste and one has distinctly more hops. I see this as cause to lower my opinion, will the real kolsch please stand up.

An okay beer. It’s clean, crisp, has a little bit of an herbal and oily note. I didn’t think it was that good. Pyramid makes some much better stuff.

Light color, color and flavor. Grainy malt, light bitterness and mild hops. Clean finish. Kind of boring and not as complex as the only other Kolsch I’ve had in Cologne.

Name: Curve Ball
Date: 05/20/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Trade

clear gold, fine white head, drops of lace, light sweet corn aroma and flavor, light lasting bitter finish, a streight lager with no curve at all

Aroma: 2/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 3/10; Palate: 4/10; Overall: 6/20
Rating: 1.6/5.0
Drinkability: 5/10
Score: 4

The fragrance has a hint of day old grass clippings. Color is peachy, reminds of summer fruit. Flavor has decent hops, not sweet, but with strange, almost chemical off-notes. This is a complex beer, but that is not necessarily a good thing.

Poured a straw color with a thin white head that didn’t last long. Nose was grainy and grassy. The taste was grainy with some herbal hoppiness. A decent Kolsh but not outstanding by any means.