“This light German ale is gently bittered and easy drinking, with subtle noble hop character and a clean, refreshing profile. A perfect summer sipper!”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Pale straw golden pour with a light and fluffy two finger head resting on top. Steady reduction with a wet lace being dragged down the glass.

Aroma: We’ve really grown to love this style. Namely the crisp, refreshing and light fruity nature of them. It literally takes two of the world’s most crushable beers (lager and pale ale) and merges them together. Here we have a crisp and delicately sweet honey biscuit malt, water crackers and a faint hint of corn with light fruity hops cutting through nicely.

Flavour: Follows on from the nose with its incredibly crisp, refreshing fruity hop profile and light malt body. Some bread crust and straw adding to the subtle corn, water crackers and mild honey sweetness. Almost zero bitterness throughout as it finishes with soft and rounded bready malt, distant fruitiness and some herbals on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Ultra crisp, light on and refreshing. Proper neck oil. Light-moderate body, finely carbed. The 4.7% ABV is spot on for a kolsch.

Overall: Our 2nd crack at this brewery. At least this one is somewhat fresh so we can get a good idea of the skill set the brewers possess. They absolutely nailed this. One of the better interpretations we’ve tried. Keep em coming!

“Our Kolsch is designed as a thirst quencher. It’s a light and bright handcrafted beer. Golden straw in colour and well balanced with subtle fruity characters from the hops. An all round firm favourite.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Pale straw golden pour with a light and fluffy two finger crown. Good head retention but minimal lacing on the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Bright and zesty. Healthy amounts of citrus rind and oils, cereal grains, water crackers and wheat. More nuanced hints of herbal spice, stone fruits, pear, tropical fruit and pine needle. Pairs really damn well on this 30° Sydney arvo!

Flavour: Drinks even better than the aroma which is quite rare. It’s ultra refreshing…emphasised by the light citrus and tropical fruit hop cutting through the mellow biscuity malt profile. A flutter of toast and nutty malt also gets amongst it. A mildly dry bitterness around the mid rolls effortlessly into a rather spicy, dry, grassy but clean finish which really hangs on to the back palate.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean, refreshing. Dries out a tad in the swallow. Light-moderate body, perfectly carbed. The 4.7% ABV is bang on for the style.

Overall: Proper neck oil. One of those reviews we had to rip through coz we were downing it so fast. We’re diggin these guys, this is our 2nd crack at their range and we’ve been impressed by both. Certainly making a return at some point in the near future.

“Get your umlauts out! Röck Döts, kölsch. Brilliantly pale gold ale, brewed in the traditional Köln style, with crisp, sweet malt, balanced to Germanic precision with the delicate noble hop notes of Tettnanger & Saphir. Cleaner than a Mötley Crüe member, fresh out of rehab. Röck ön!”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Slightly pale straw golden pour with a massive four finger head. It slowly reduces and leaves patches of blotchy lace here and there.

Aroma: Hits with a crisp and mellow temperament. Subtlety is the key with this style and what we’re picking up is light cereal malts, grains and some very delicate honey sweetness. Subtle noble hop spiciness, light florals and herbs with a fleeting hint of orange blossom, lemon zest and a tropical note. We love this style and we’re diggin this interpretation.

Flavour: Follows the nose with a crisp and light malt structure – cereal grains, bread crusts, floral honey. The noble hops provide a gentle bitterness along with their hallmark peppery spice, florals and herbs/grass. It all cruises into an easy-going finish that slowly dries out as it endures. Grainy malt and grassy/spicy hops also hanging on.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, light on and effortless. Spritzy carbonation with mild-moderate body. The 4.8% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: It’s a decent Kölsch. Keeps pretty conventional and drinks super easy. Especially on this 33°c Sydney arvo!

“Kölsch is a pale, crisp, and delicately balanced ale with subtle fruitiness and a clean, dry finish. Light to medium in body, it showcases a gentle malt sweetness and a soft, hoppy bitterness. Its straw to light gold colour and refreshing character make it an ideal, sessionable beer.” 

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Slightly pale straw golden pour capped off by a thumb of creamy white head. Good retention and wavy lacing left behind.

Aroma: Smells kinda dusty which is bizarre. Once it settles the dusty note turns more bready/crumby and a lovely albeit subtle honey sweetness comes to the fore. Delicate citrus fruits and pot-pourri florals also begin to open up. We’ve noticed that whenever we give the glass a good swirl that dusty quality comes back. Weird. Other than that it’s a cracking aroma.

Flavour: Follows the nose with fairly grainy, bready/crusty notes on entry. The subtle citrus fruits, peppery spice and florals cut through gently. A soft bitterness carries it all through the mid, picking up a light musty-ness before landing on a smooth and semi-dry finish which offers grains and straw in the tail.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and effortless. Dries out a tad in the swallow. Mild-moderate body, perfectly carbed. The 4.4% ABV is about on point for the style.

Overall: It continually improved as we imbibed. Proper neck oil this one. Had to rip through the review as it was going down far too easy! Solid offering.

“A perfect beer for any occasion. A German Golden Ale with a light body and straw colour. Delicate hop character matches the elegant pale malts for a balanced ale that can quench a thirst and matches well with lighter foods. Our King Valley Kolsch showcases the beauty of our region with crisp characters from our super fresh water obvious with your very first taste. We call this beer the Elbow Bender as it’s so easy to come back for another sip.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Deep golden pour with a very mild haze. Much darker than most Kölsch we’ve tried previously. It constructs two fingers of fizzy white head which gradually breaks apart. Laces reasonably well.

Aroma: Quite meaty and well layered for the style. It’s notably fruity – think more orchard fruits like pear, red apple and subtle peachy notes. Some honey sweetness from the malt plus a bit of black pepper and florals from the hops. It’s interesting because it’s showing some complexity yet it’s still rather crisp and clean. Ahhh Kölsch, such a cool style.

Flavour: Similar characteristics to the nose, as in the feeling of a rich malt sweetness and layers of flavour yet it still drinks so light and effortless. Not as fruity as the aroma though…it focuses more on the crisp hop profile, semi-sweet honey malt and some delicate yeast esters. A nice bitterness kicks in late which then lays down for a clean and dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, light on, but with a good consistency. Mild-medium body, nicely carbed and a well fitted 4.9% ABV.

Overall: A very good interpretation of this German classic. Displays a good fusion of Lager and Ale qualities. Not to mention the ease of putting it back! Solid.

“Gretchen Maple Kölsch is our take on a classic German style Kolsch, where a cold fermentation promotes a clean, lager-like finish to this easy drinker. We sourced all organic ingredients for this one, with organic Pilsner malt from Germany, organic Cascade hops from NZ, and organic maple syrup from Canada. The beer finishes super clean and easy, with a lovely maple flavour on the back palate. Pairs well with mezze plates, smokey dips and chips from the vending machine.”

Glassware: Tulip.

Appearance: Honey-golden pour with a very mild haziness. It forms a thumb of light and fluffy head which retains pretty well. Kinda wet and patchy lace as it ebbs.

Aroma: Loving the strong maple scent emanating from it. OG maple syrup from Canada too which is a masterstroke coz it has this rich, sweet and nutty complexity that’s unbelievably alluring. The Kölsch side of it is a surprisingly good counterbalance…we weren’t sure how it would stack up against the maple but the crisp, biscuity malt and the zesty lime from the hops balances the maple magnificently. Really diggin this.

Flavour: Delish. What we love the most is that it feels as if they’ve dialled the intensity back a notch or two which is perfect as it’s still only a Kölsch and should remain light and crushable. The rich sweet maple is still front and centre and just like the aroma, the crisp malt bill and zesty hops provide that impeccable balance from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Light and effortless but still providing some consistency. Mild-moderate body and perfectly carbed. The 4.5% ABV is spot on for the style.

Overall: By far the best beer we’ve had from Yulli’s. We’ve been pretty critical of them in the past (most of which we still stand by) but this little beauty is top shelf.

NO COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: A light honey-yellow pour is capped off by a finger of off white head. Good retention and a sheet of lace is left in its wake.

Aroma: Kinda nice and subtle floral and spicy notes leading out. A rather sweet and slightly rich malt structure at its core. Definitely getting some vegetal scents from it. A touch of starchy potato and parsnip, unripened pear and a certain earthiness. Not the most conventional set of aromas for a Kölsch but we’ll come along for the ride.

Flavour: Hhmm there’s something not quite right. Maybe it’s the overly sweet malt it has going on (we also picked this up on the nose too). That component paired with the earthiness and vegetal notes are clashing a bit. Still, the spicy and floral hops do a decent job pulling it into line. A delicate bitterness also kicks up midway then rolls into a fairly clean and tidy finish.

Mouthfeel: Still has some crispness although it’s quite chewy for the style. Nicely carbed, moderate-medium body and the 4.6% ABV is on par.

Overall: Not Jindy’s finest offering that’s for sure. Usually everything they touch turns to gold. The malt bill was a bit too rich and it all struggled to come together. Pretty average for their standards.

“Kolsch is a light, dry and hoppy ale originating from the German city of Cologne. A true Kolsch is required to be brewed according to rules within the Kolsch Konvention. These rules include that it’s brewed within 50km of Cologne, filtered and served in a 200mL cylindrical glass called a Stange. This is our version brewed 16,575km from Cologne, unfiltered and more than likely not served in a Stange.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: It would have poured a gorgeous clear and bright golden colour if not for all of the suspended sediment. It forms a short white head which settles at the rim. Minimal lace as we go.

Aroma: Honestly it’s unlike any Kölsch we’ve had before. The classic florals and spicy hop profile synonymous with old world German beers are here but it has a distinct fruity tartness to it that almost comes off as sour. Very delicate honey and umami rice crackers here and there, some light cereal grains. Very unique…we’re still on the fence though.

Flavour: That tart/sourness on the aroma has all but disappeared. Now we’re tasting the true conventional Kölsch qualities of white bread crusts, spice, light florals, soft honey sweetness and savoury rice crackers. Getting a hint of raw almond/hazelnut and herbals through the mid leading into a clean and dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry and light on. Perfectly carbed and the 5% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: It’s like we went through the 5 stages of denial in one review! We went from dislike to serious dislike then to thinking it was OK and now we’re digging it haha. Respect.

“A traditional German Kolsch ale brewed in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot. With an American twist of a little rye malt and pairing of American hops alongside German Noble hops. A clean dry finish ready to be your new favourite.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Pale golden pour with a mild hop haze. It forms a short fizzy head which breaks up fairly quickly. Scarce lace work on the glass as we go.

Aroma: It certainly comes off as a traditional Kölsch – nice and crisp, a semi sweet biscuity/honey malt profile and rounded out with old world grassy and herbal hops. Just the slightest hint of yeast esters poking through too…light banana and spice, maybe the faintest touch of bubblegum. Pretty decent aroma. Diggin it.

Flavour: Drinks pretty well. It’s refreshing but it also provides a good amount of body. It’s displaying more of an earthy note here with the grassy and herbal hops in support. The addition of rye is very subtle and comes through as more estery than anything as it punctuates with an earthy dryness which drags out nicely.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, fairly clean and dry. Mild-medium body with a well positioned 5% ABV.

Overall: Not a bad crack at this German classic. The description (which could’ve been articulated better by a 5th grader) says there are American hops used but we get absolutely zilch. It’s just a straight up and down traditional Kölsch that’s super approachable.

“A modern twist on a classic favourite. Lean, clean malt profile with aromas of bread crust, mountain wildflower and hay. hopped with Saaz and Motueka.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Light pale golden pour with a finger of white foam capping it off. The head gradually peels off and a healthy lace trails it down.

Aroma: Digging the crisp and super clean nature of it. On the surface it gives every indication that it’s a traditional Kölsch with the floral, herbaceous and earthy notes it’s suggesting. It’s not until we dig our noses in deep that we find subtle hints of citrus peel and zesty lime. The malt bill is incredibly clean and bready. Good vibes.

Flavour: The crisp and clean nature of the beer carries over nicely. Neatly trimmed Noble hop notes of earthy herbs, mildew and soft florals mingle with the dry, crusty malts and the result is this uber-sessional neck oil with impeccable balance and simplicity. The finish is perfectly rounded and it draws out nicely on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Clean, crisp and delicate. There’s a lovely effervescence which lifts it up. Light-moderate body and the 5% ABV is right on the money.

Overall: We must admit we’re not typically swayed by this mob but they’ve absolutely nailed this. It’s like the perfect BBQ beer…ultra crushable but full flavoured. Kudos, Sailors Grave!

“Founded by Peter Joseph Früh in 1904, Früh are a historic brewery based in Cologne, Germany which is known for producing the beer of the region: Kölsch. The Kölsch style is protected by law, so only beers brewed around the city can bear the name. Luckily for us, that’s exactly where we brewed our collaboration beer: King Kölsch. The style is unique as it uses top fermenting yeast (commonly used in ales), but is then lagered at low temperatures like you would a Helles or Pilsner.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Pours a strikingly bright golden hue with 100% clarity. The head swells to about three to four fingers before it slowly retracts and settles to a thick overlay. Excellent lace work on the glass too.

Aroma: Super light and grainy. Some floral aspects along with peppery spice and fresh cut grass. The ale yeast provides this extra chewiness plus a hint of dried bread crusts and cereal grains coming through. We really love the hybrid nature of this style…it makes for fun and interesting aromas.

Flavour: Not many styles can quench a thirst on a scorching hot summers day like a German Kölsch can. It’s light, grainy, floral, spicy and herbaceous but with a distinctly fuller body than its lager-based counterparts. A soft bitterness through the mid carries the grainy and spicy notes into the well drawn out finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry and clean with light-moderate body. Perfectly carbed. The 5.2% ABV is right on par for a traditional Kölsch.

Overall: Well we’re not surprised by the high quality of this…Brewdog and Früh together are an epic combination. It flies very close to Früh’s OG recipe which, in our opinion, is one of the best iterations in the world anyway. Superb.

“Refreshing lager-like drinkability with the complexity and character of an ale? That’s Hunter Classic. Inspired by the cold fermented Kölsch style ales of Germany, this multi award winning brew belongs 100% to the Hunter. A Trophy winning recipe perfected over 20 years of brewing. Enjoy a Classic.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Hits the glass with a pale gold complexion and good Co2 activity. It forms a big three finger head which peels off rather quickly. Some spotty lace here and there, that’s about it.

Aroma: Not many other beers can beat a crisp, lightly hopped and refreshing Kölsch on a 30+ degree afternoon so it’s safe to say we’re digging this already. Loving the initial grainy malts, they combine beautifully with the modest hop profile. We get slightly buttery biscuits, estery orchard fruits, starchy veggies like potato and parsnip, rice crackers, soft spicy notes and florals. A flutter of honey here as well. Solid.

Flavour: Pretty similar to the nose with its dominant hay and wheaty grain bill. Soft esters, subtle woody notes and semi sweet honey in support. Hits a bit of a tangy note midway then shifts into a more savoury rice cracker-like character late in the piece. Noble hops own the finish with its herbaceous, grassy and spicy notes. Good duration on it too.

Mouthfeel: As expected – crisp, light on, clean and perfectly weighted. Just a nice subtle sparkle to the Co2 and the 4.5% ABV is tucked away nicely.

Overall: We had to make this a quick review as this was going down the gullet waaayyyy too easily. Should have got a 4 pack between us! Put simply, this is the epitome of a summer session beer. Top notch.

“Kölsch is a German beer style that originated in Cologne (Köln). It is fermented at warm temperatures with top-fermenting yeast, then conditioned at cold temperatures. It is the same brewing process used by Düsseldorf’s altbier.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Lively and bright golden complexion with full transparency. It forms a loosely packed head which swells to about 1cm before it quickly dispersed. Scarce lacing as we imbibe.

Aroma: All the Cold IPA lovers out there should get on to the humble old Kölsch. This bad boy is the OG when it comes to cold fermented ales. Smells nice and clean, crisp and refreshing yet still possesses that slightly chewy quality we get from the ale yeast. Also picking up delicate hints of earthy hay/straw, grass, pear/apple, florals and pot pourri, really subtle citrus, bready malts and crackers. Getting a mild vegetal note out of it too.

Flavour: The earthy-ness is really dominant on the palate. Tonnes of hay, straw and dried grass which fan out on to more farmyard grains, wheat and orchard fruits. It’s quite floral…rose petals and or rosewater come to mind. A little malty sweet which counters the earthy characters well. It really thins out as it rolls into a relatively crisp and easy finish with lingering malt sweetness and light grains.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, somewhat clean and thirst quenching. Body is on the leaner side, nice vibrant Co2. 4.4% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: This cracking Kölsch rounds out this fabulous little series for us. In summary we’ve really liked all of them. We’ve definitely found ourselves another go-to brewery for classic Euro styles. Kudos Burnley 

“Crisp Kölsch style ale, brewed using only the finest German malts and Tettnanger and Hallertau Blanc hops, then infused with Pinot Noir grape skins and a restrained touch of rose water to create a clean sparkling beer with delicate floral aroma and an endearing blush of pink.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Slightly hazy straw golden pour with two fingers of fluffy pink-hued off white head. Reasonably good retention with sudsy lace clinging to the glass.

Aroma: Crisp, clean and refreshing. The combination of Tettnanger and Hallertau Blanc hops give the aroma a true old world quality bringing spicy, floral, soft herbals/mildew, subtle citrus and an almost funky gooseberry note. We must admit the Pinot Noir grape skins are almost MIA if not for the suuuuper delicate tannins and forest floor accents. Pretty damn good but…it all comes together nicely.

Flavour: Very conventional Kolsch base with the grape skins providing an extremely subtle touch of earthy red fruit. The malt bill is so clean and crisp and those old world hops accentuate with their spicy, herbaceous/grassy and light florals. Picking up restrained hints of rosewater and pear before it punctuates with a nice clean finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, snappy and light on. Mild-moderate body and fine carbonation. The 5.5% ABV is a nice touch.

Overall: GP can do no wrong! Dead set these guys could brew their shittest beer and it would still be better than what a lot of other breweries can do on their best day. They’re just a cut above the rest.

“Kolsch Style Session Ale Brewed Using Noble Hops & Premium Pilsner Malt.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Straw golden complexion with full transparency. It forms a wispy overlay which maintains fairly well. Healthy lace work as it subsides.

Aroma: Crisp and reasonably tidy. Subtle Noble hop characters; earthy, herbaceous and grassy. Tied together with a flaky and grainy malt profile. Some spicy-ness starting to open up as it settles. Every now and then we pick up a hint of fruity yeast esters and creamed corn/vegetal notes (DMS) although we don’t mind a bit of it in Pilsners and Lagers. Pretty conventional and we’re diggin it.

Flavour: It displays a finely balanced and well structured marriage of earthy and grassy hops, semi sweet cracker malts, honey and grains. Like the aroma we’re tasting a hint of fruity yeast esters and corny DMS. Kind of an earthy, grainy and yeasty finish which holds up reasonably well.

Mouthfeel: Thin and crispy. Soft rounded texture. Nicely carbed. The 4.6% ABV is about standard for the style.

Overall: Not bad for a brewery we hadn’t even heard of until we saw it on the shelf. The “session ale” side of it is a bit confusing though, we would have thought 4.6% is technically full strength? Well, maybe not in the craft beer world it isn’t so maybe they’re on the money! 

“Do you know what a Kölsch is? Our Golden Ale is one! A style famous in Cologne, Germany for its brightness, clarity and easy drinking style. Fermented with ale yeast, then finished with cool lagering. The result is the best of both worlds: A light easy drinking pale that finishes crisp and clean. This new name for our fave brew will provide enlightenment for the craft beer lover about the style they are enjoying.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Pale straw golden body with a thumb of finely beaded foam resting atop. The head reduces slightly but manages a decent lace as we go.

Aroma: Bright, crisp, light citrus and spice coming off initially. Some herbaceous notes there in the background along with soft florals and straw/hay. Further grainy-ness opening up as it settles in. Very subtle yeasty tones showing up late as well. Very pleasant and matching this unusually warm winters arvo.

Flavour: Spot on for the style – lots of fruity and spicy hops, herbals and grainy straw/hay. Yet so beautifully crisp and clean. Semi sweet/ light honey malts fill it out. Smooth transition in to the light fruity and grainy finish.

Mouthfeel: Approachable is the name of the game here…crisp, clean and perfectly balanced. Co2 is spot on, offering just that right amount of spritz. 5% ABV is right on the money too.

Overall: We knew this would be a good drop. Red Hill are one of the best in the business when it comes to traditional European styles and this fits the bill perfectly. Solid offering.

“This German-style ale is a light gold in colour with a smooth, crisp mouthfeel. The addition of Noble and American hop varieties post-fermentation lends to subtle citrus aromas, which makes this brew a perfect session beer.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Bright gold with 100% clarity. Really healthy co2 streams up to the surface but it fails to retain any head. Wet streaky lace clings to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Clean yet discreet scents of floral hops, peppery spice, some wet cardboard and light estery notes like freshly cut pear and green apple. Subtle Noble hop characteristics and crisp and somewhat crackery malt also coming through. Don’t know why but we keep getting this hint of synthetic material…kind of like nappies or polystyrene. Weird. Very weird.

Flavour: Ultra muted…we’re struggling to get any flavour out of it to be honest. What little malt that does come through hints at mild sweetness with an undertone of grain and crackers. Hardly a hop quality in cooee…there’s an inkling of bitterness but it’s gone in seconds while the finish is a little sweet but again falling way too short.

Mouthfeel: Soft, inoffensive and a little watery. Mild co2. Like the rest of the beer…MIA!

Overall: We really hate panning beers but this is just sub-standard. The aroma at least had something to tangle with but the rest seems watered down and lacked any stand out flavours, character and texture. Very disappointing.

“Cologne style Ale. Crisp, delicate, easy drinking & very moreish, the original Zierholz Beer. This beer combines a delicate fruitiness derived from fresh European style hops grown in Nelson, New Zealand and a pure German Ale yeast strain from a brewpub in Cologne with an appetizing malt character created using premium malts from Bamberg in Bavaria. The German Ale is an excellent choice for having with lighter dishes such as seafoods and salads but also goes nicely with spicier dishes such as curries providing welcomed refreshment and palate cleansing properties.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Slightly pale gold with a thumb of white foam settling to a collar. Works a fine lace as we hook in.

Aroma: Classic European nose…herbal spicy hops, light florals, ginger beer and mild yeast esters underlined by a semi sweet honey malt. Loving that ultra subtle woodyness as well. Incredibly well balanced. One of the better Aussie Kolsch aromas that’s for sure.

Flavour: It’s interesting because at first there doesn’t seem to be much going on but once we scrape the surface we find it’s actually quite complex….in a delicate kind of way. Subtle yeasty notes upfront move in to a soft Noble hop bitterness midway. Grassy/spicy finish which goes the distance on the back palate.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, light and well rounded. Very crushable considering its unexpected complexity. 5.1% AbV.

Overall: A very satisfying Kolsch. This is our first crack at this Canberran brewery and we’ll certainly be seeking out more from them. Impressive.

“Dry Creek Sangiovese juice from Orsi Family Home Vineyards blended w/ light Kolsch and refermented in oak barrels. Fruity grape notes, oaky mouthfeel, and a crisp Kolsch finish.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: We’re seeing a pink-ish red hue with a short head that vanishes instantly. And no head = no lace!

Aroma: Tart citrus overtones with red berries and soft oak tannins in support. It gives off a super refreshing effervescence, kind of how a lemon, lime and bitters would. Definitely getting a hint of the vinous red wine coming through with that surprisingly pleasant lacto funk cutting in. Lovely.

Flavour: It comes on a bit stronger than anticipated. Tart citrus and sharp lacto/pedio funk cutting through those oak tannins and soft vanilla notes upfront. More of that red wine and berries through the mid leading in to a mildly tart and drying finish.

Mouthfeel: Quite light on actually – must be due to the lager/kölsch body. Big and bitey 8.7% ABV to counteract it though. 15 IBU with a vibrant co2.

Overall: A thoroughly pleasant beer. It would be the perfect substitution for a rosé or a sparkling red which would pair beautifully with either spiced duck, pork and cheddar based cheese. Hits the spot!

“For the first time since 2013 Brewery De Ranke launches a new, permanently available beer, Simplex. A fresh, light beer that resembles the bitter, hoppy pilsners from the sixties, although it is in fact an ale. “This is a beer we developed out of nostalgia for the old-styled pilsner”, say brewers Guido Devos and Nino Bacelle.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Hazy straw gold with a fair bit of suspended sediment. It forms a thumb of finely beaded foam which holds together well. Tonnes of webbed lacing clinging to the glass as we go.

Aroma: Quite complex for a kölsch. Getting subtle hints of Belgian yeast esters, straw, white pepper, earthy farmyard, orange zest and coriander. It has that touch of biscuit malt but it’s mostly grainy and crackery. Lively little saison-like fusion through it.

Flavour: She’s acting a bit more like a kölsch on the palate – grainy/husky malts on entry moving to straw, spice and earthy hops in the middle. The finish is dry with bitter grassy hop, straw and mild spice.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, dry and light on. Sturdy bitterness (50 IBU) developing late and persisting. Only 4.5% ABV which is remarkable considering the amount of body to it.

Overall: Not your typical kölsch. Loving the Belgian esters on the nose with a big flavour profile to back it up. Plenty of character crammed in to this unconventional offering.