Kolsch Style Beer

The Kolsch styled beer was first brewed in Cologne (Koln), Germany and will be offered as a seasonal beer by Connecticut's  Nor'easter Brewing Company as a summer seasonal selection.  This style is not a widely offered beer here in the United States; however, it is a perfect brew for a warm summer's day or evening.  The light body, pale golden shade, and crisp, dry finish make this a perfect choice.


Although most German brewed beers tend to be bottom fermented Lagers, the Kolsch style is brewed as an Ale.  Typically, the base malt is a Pilsner barley with up to 15% malted Wheat.  In fact, I understand most beer drinkers mistake this for a pilsner, but this style is unique. The special blend of barley, together with the noble hops and two stage fermentation (including over two months in cold storage) yield a soft malt flavor and slight undertone of bitterness.  The Kolsch beer pours out with a delicate, snow white head of foam and boosts a medium to medium high carbonation.  In Germany, Kolsch Beers are served in a tall, cylindrical glassware called 'stange'.

The Kolsch style is generally brewed to an Original Gravity of 1.044-1.050 and a low bitterness of 20-30IBU with a pale golden shade of 3.5-5SRM.  It has a low alcohol rating of 4.4-5.2%ABV.  This beer style is outstanding along side a seafood dinner and will make a salad pop.