Sierra Nevada Kölsch Style Ale - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Philousa

California

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Imbibed at Burger on 2/3/13

Very clear pale yellow, like the sun on a foggy summer morning. White frothy head with good retention. Clean aroma with some nuttiness and slight bready grain to it. Mostly light though, even a little lemony. Lemon also extends to flavor, kicking things off, followed by a tart body, no doubt from the yeast. Nuttiness is mealy, like a walnut, adding to complexity without taking away from the "cleanliness" of the flavor profile. Noble hops have their place, bringing a flowery nectar-ish bitterness to the end. Finish is dry with feel tending towards watery. This is a great Kölsch that I want on a hot summer's day, but would have any time of the year.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 18:04:03 | More by Philousa

innominat

Ireland

3/5  rDev -24.6%

11-01-2012 16:55:25 | More by innominat

tdm168

North Carolina

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at World of Beer Raleigh

A - gold with a big, frothy, white head that has great retention

S - musty, cereal grains

T - grassy, mild bitter hops, faint lemon

M - crisp, light bodied, smooth

This is a decent, highly drinkable example of the style. The flavor is on point and to style. This is a perfect trade-out for any American Lager.

Serving type: on-tap

09-16-2012 01:29:18 | More by tdm168

ThomasG19

California

5/5  rDev +25.6%

08-17-2012 16:29:23 | More by ThomasG19

UCLABrewN84

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap for the 4th Anniversary event at Blue Palms Brewhouse in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear yellow with a foamy off-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, grass, and hay. Taste is much the same with a mild amount of herbal hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is drinkable but very basic.

Serving type: on-tap

08-14-2012 01:38:40 | More by UCLABrewN84

lballstar

California

4/5  rDev +0.5%

11-25-2011 21:47:19 | More by lballstar

bob727

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.5%

11-21-2011 06:42:40 | More by bob727

plaid75

New York

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at the Blond Tiger, NYC.

Poured a medium straw hue with a one and a half finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light herbal hop spice a clean grain.

The taste was very well balanced and round on nature with a smooth light doughiness and complimentary noble hop spice.

The mouthfeel was toward the fuller side of the style.

Overall a nicely crafted kolsch beer. Easy drinking.

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 16:40:38 | More by plaid75

ThreeWiseMen

California

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled this for the first time at the brewery last night. FYI: every Thursday is cask night at Sierra Nevada.

Served in 20oz. imperial pint glass.

Appearance: The pale golden body displayed a cyclone of carbonation within: a swirling, mesmerizing, mass of bubbles. This kept up for quite some time, and was a real treat to watch. Ooohh... aahhhh. Three fingers of pillowy, white fluff sat serenely on top, apparently unaware of the storm raging beneath. This head had fantastic retention and drug a trail of bubble bath-like lace all the way down the glass. If the color was a touch brighter, this would earn a five. A solid four and a half though.

Smell: The bad part about a big, soft, head that won't go away: it makes it really hard to smell anything. I got sweet grains, lemon, and bitter barley and that was all.

Taste: Sweet mild grains and honey in the front, and lemonade and grass in the back. Mellow and enjoyable. The graininess intensified throughout the session, but the taste as a whole is light.

Mouthfeel: Very light and chewy. Carbonation felt a bit low for the style but was still adequate. Finishes clean with a light, grainy aftertaste.

Drinkability: A solid kölsch that I wouldn't mind ordering again. Would be better if it had a bit more flavor to it, but all in all a very easy drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-21-2009 23:37:10 | More by ThreeWiseMen

adamette

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at Winking Lizard in Mentor, Ohio about an hour ago. Review from notes taken at that time. Poured into a clean, clear pint glass, 12 oz. for $4.30.

A One inch creamy white head over a rather basic looking translucent yellow body with no visible carbonation rising up. There is good lacing as I sip this beer.

S Basic barley with some malt to the nose.

T Nice barley taste but with an added bonus: a nice light sweetness that I really like.

M Light, easy drinking.

D Very good with light feel, reasonable ABV and that nice touch of sweetness.

Notes: Entirely drinkable Kolsch from Sierra Nevada. I appreciate their exploration of different styles.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2009 00:02:32 | More by adamette

brewmaster411

California

3.35/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What can you expect from a light bodied, light flavored beer? While this beer was very well made and drinkable, it was not exceptional. By comparison, Hollywood Blond was more definitive of the traditional style. I cannot fault Sierra Nevada for their effort, but this is the lightest bodied beer they have created.

The appearance, aroma and flavor were very nice, and I believe on target for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-07-2007 17:53:41 | More by brewmaster411

PEBKAC

New York

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I saved this guy for the 4th, but mother nature didn't agree with me. Two days later, a hard twist lets go a nice spurt of pressure. A couple relish dogs in, & I'm good to go.

Soft, paper mache head, golden wheat body. Lightly fruity; Betty Crocker lemon-pepper muffins come to mind.

Again, very saturated with "40 minutes @ 375" on the way in & down. Salty Cheez-Its, with just a touch of over-baked bitterness lingering at the end. Like those fake "butter flavor" pretzels that come in 14lb bags for .79 cents. :P

Excellent fizz, though a bit weak, when compared to most everything else SN has in their repertoire. It could have been the time sitting in the jug, but considering how tightly I tuck them in at night, I doubt it. :) Body is almost non-existent. You only notice something pouring down your esophagus, by how refreshed & satisfied you suddenly feel. I would drink it straight out of the bottle, but the neighbors are watching. Anyways, who would hold my tongs... & this plate of sausages?

:P

Serving type: growler

07-07-2007 03:06:32 | More by PEBKAC

flexabull

California

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice to see this here in Redding. Especially with the high 90's temps we've been hitting lately.

Pours a very light crystal clear gold color, with a small but sturdy white head.

Aromas are light and fruity.

Taste is very crisp and very dry. This is has a zesty fruit quality, a bit creamy, and with a slightly sharp hop tbite on the finish. A very refreshing, tasty, and light beer.

Mouthfeel is good. There is a touch of weakness to it, but it's certainly not bad.

Drinkability is great. An excellent summer thirst quencher. I like their Summerfest, but this is just as tasty, and even easier to drink. Very session worthy.

Serving type: on-tap

06-14-2007 03:55:01 | More by flexabull

calir1

Oregon

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

When I tasted this beer I was actually too drunk at the time to really know how to review this, but I was just supprised they make this beer, I am always shocked to see new beers all the time from SN, last time it was the "Torpedo". I saw this beer at my local brew fest 2 weeks ago, I remember it tasted a lot like a kolsch though!!!

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2007 22:54:35 | More by calir1

rayjay

Hawaii

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A new style for SN, everyone at the brewery described it as "something alot lighter than anything else we've ever done." Curiousity, of course, got to me, and I had to try it!

Light golden in appearance, almost transparent.

Very smooth, light, bready body with the *faintest* hop bite, perhaps a bit more than a traditional kolsch. Very refreshing. There is a slight yeasty profile that reveals it's ale heritage.

A very different SN beer, excellent for sessions, or those with palates too sensitive for a PA. Before, the lightest beers on tap were the Gold and the Wheat, and this definately beats them both for lightness.

A great refreshing beer, but not good enough to keep me from the hoppy stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2006 19:54:34 | More by rayjay