Sierra Nevada Kolsch Style Ale

Brewed by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Style: Kölsch
Chico, California USA

Draught pint at Sunset Grill on 6/7/07
Clear, apricot and golden body is minimally bubbly, with a small, white head perched atop precariously. Lacing is marginal.
Sharp in the nose, with a strong fruity hoppiness of apricot and unripe nectarine. It melds with a cereal-like grain quality to give more of the flaky, crisp aroma I would expect from a kolsch, but yet, there is still some of the fruitiness lingering even with warming. Some acetyldehyde, perhaps? It shows brief interludes of vanilla-cream-like sweetness, but manages to end with enough kolsch yeast bite and more of the odd, fruity acidity. Strange, but not altogether unappealing. Probably just some weird melding of aromatics between the hops and the malt. Medium aroma strength, no alcohol, possible acetyldehyde, though more likely just some other yeast bi-product or even hop fruitiness.
Lighter bodied than the Fishermans kolsch (which I had prior to this) but still with lots of sugar up front. It is rinsed from the palate by a very grainy, nearly tannic malt dryness that combines with some mineral notes and too much toasted malt acidity to really bite at the palate. I still can’t shake this slight notion of yellow fruits and apples that is slightly unsettling and seems to distract from the crispness and cleanliness that the style dictates. Still, the attenuation and body are its strong points and this is able to carry it past the slight shortcomings in flavor.

on tap at the hop devil grill, NYC. thick foamy white head, looks a little merangue-like. body is clear golden, minimal fizz up the center. aroma is crisp straw and freshly dried grass. flavor is also dry and crisp pale malt up front, a little bit sweet like white sugar, but quickly goes to grassy lager-like graininess. finish is dry and bitter. good crisp carbonation throughout.

On tap at HDG. Clear golden in color with a nice white head that left a nice lacing on the glass. Hoppy and fruity aroma. Citrusy, grassy, piney notes. Malty grainy, and hoppy flavor. Finish is bitter. Clean mouthfeel. Crisp and refreshing. Medium bodied beer. Very nice. Easily drinkable. Nice light summer beer.

Rating 1047, had on tap at the Blind Pig in Champaign Illinois while at the Chicago Area gathering in Champaign. Clear golden with a medium sized foamy white head. The nose is soft with some grass and honey. Taste is gentle carbonated and slightly hoppy. Good stuff.

Tap at Sunset Grill - clear golden pour, with a foamy, two-finger head - distinctive, pilsner-like, european noble hop aroma, with some grassiness and light honey - mild bitterness and herbal qualities up front - very clean and smooth - gradually, a light sweetness builds up, tasting of honey and some grain - the hop character fades, and the sweetness couples with a prominent, but clean maltiness for the finish - a refreshing and well-made kolsch.

From the tap this pours a bright yellow body with a creamy white head. The aroma is honey sweet with a light bitterness of freshly mown grass. It tastes of honeyed bread with a grassy/herbal bitterness that grows as you drink. This is a good candidate for a refreshing lawnmower beer.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp? Pig Co., Champaign, IL<font size=-1>

Draught at Blind Tiger. Very light gold pour with sparkling bubbles and minimal white head. Light wheaty/fresh hay and floral nose. Smooth, clean and fairly neutral tasting, with some pear and green apple notes to add a bit of vitality. Nothing much to really comment on, but refreshing and quite gulpable, which means it achieves its purpose.

Hay and malt nose with notes of light bread and herbs. Well done with a good round mouthfeel and nice balance all of the way thru. Clean and lingering finish.