Früh Kolsch - Brauerei Früh Am Dom

bump8628

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nothing like a Kolsch to start off the night on a warm spring evening. 1 L bottle, lightly chilled. Clear straw gold, nice stand of white suds that sticks around. Very subtle malt warmth - like whole grain crackers. Hop flavor is also subtle - lemon, white pepper, cut grass. Mild bitterness. Perfect balance. Very fresh.

Drinking Kolsch always reminds me of the one glaring gap in my glass collection - I need a stange.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 22:52:47 | More by bump8628

metter98

New York

3.8/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: The beer is crystal clear light yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high bright white head that quickly died down but left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface and a collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Light aromas of biscuit and grainy malts are present in the nose along with some hints of musty grapes.
T: The taste is similar to the smell and also has some initial flavors of bready malts and green grapes. There is a light amount of bitterness and this persists through the finish.
M: It feels light-to medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There are some notes of dryness towards the finish.
O: Having been to Köln and tasted several kölschs while I was there, I think this is a very good representation of the style. It is quite drinkable and would pair well with food.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 00:21:21 | More by metter98

JonnoWillsteed

Germany

3.71/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Head retained for a good while. Meanwhile the body of the beer continued to bubble in quite a lively way.

Pale bright straw. Crystal clear.

Little nose/smell, just a slight hoppiness.

Very nice 'rounded' flavour on the palette.

Very refreshing, if a little unremarkable. I'd enjoy again, but perhaps not specifically go and seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 16:47:35 | More by JonnoWillsteed

drabmuh

Maryland

3.84/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

At the time of this review, this is #12 on the "Top Beers - Kolsch" list on beeradvocate.com. Long time want, shows up in the states, NICE! Served in a stange cause I'm no amateur. Beer is yellow and clear, heavily carbonated, bright white head, low retention, no lacing, aggressive carbonationation.

Aroma is mild, sweet, a little yeast.

Beer is easy drinking and wet, nice and sweet but not cloying or overpowering, light in body, nice grain, nice finish, very nice beer. Yeah, I'd have this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 03:05:31 | More by drabmuh

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.69/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Served on tap in a pint glass

Appearance – Served a yellow amber colored brew with a one finger white head. The head faded relatively quickly to leave a moderate level of lace on the sides of the glass

Smell- The nose was a mix of some sweet fruit aromas of tangerine with a grainy and bready smell.

Taste – The taste started out with a more crisp and bready taste up front with hints of fruit and caramel sweetness which get more potent more toward the middle of the taste. Along the same time the sweetness maximizes some light bitterness of a grassy and herbal nature comes to the tongue. The sweet fades more toward the end of the taste leaving a crisp and grainy flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel –The body of the beer was on the thinner to average side with a carbonation level that was fairly average. Both were quite appropriate for the style and keeping with the crisp nature of the taste.

Overall – A quite easy drinking Kolsh with a nice crisp finish.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2013 14:56:29 | More by Darkmagus82

Theheroguy

Maryland

3.66/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

Pale yellow with a minuscule head.

An array of white grape flavors. In some ways its like a mellow easy drinking white wine. It very flavorful and full bodied despite looking otherwise.
Very tart and complex, crisp and clean. The taste of this beer is very far removed from other beers that I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 22:02:40 | More by Theheroguy

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

3.91/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Half litre bottle, poured into a pint glass. Pale colour, one finger head which was quick to disappear, kept some lacing, clear. Aroma was Chardonay and vanilla. Tasted cranberry, Chardonay, vanilla and yeast. Finish was delayed and wheaty. Crisp texture, well carbonated which gave it a slightly coarse edge. Enjoyable beer, made me want to explore the style further, bit of a palate changer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 09:34:42 | More by jonb5

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Crystal clear golden color with a nice 1 finger bright white head which dies rather quickly. Soft fruitiness with a sweet graininess.

Sweet graininess, light body and light effervescence. Toasted grain, faint butteriness, tart fruit flavors, bit of apple, sweet grain husk, Faint fruity hoppy bitterness to balance. Pretty good, very clean with good flavors and goes down like water.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 01:08:28 | More by jtierney89

smakawhat

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a Gaffel stange glass. Really excited to be trying another German true Kolsch and suddenly finding this in my area.

Lots of head on the pour, but it settles to a nice frothy white, the pinhead bubbles are just so even throughout, rocking and just coating with lace at times. Head is a classic super crystal golden lemon yellow, with a mix of different sized carbonation, some is very tiny, others are cola sized. Also some rise very slowly others rise incredibly fast, a mish mash of a lifting science experiment. An absolutely lovely beer.

Nose is classic. Dry malts and sweet bakery bread sense. Slight honey. Hints at mud and grass with some density. Solid. Thick. Inviting.

Taste is dense as well. Thick big malt backbone that just rips. Coating. Lush. Hints at honey sweetness coming with some lip coating feel. Big doughy bread aftertaste with a sense of crisp lager like finish (yes I know... it's an ale...). Mouthfeel is solid, fairly straightforward with minimal carbonation play on the palate.

Overall a real great simple drinking Kolsch, the ultimate Kolsch quest continues in earnest. I would love to try this side by side with Reissdorf, but I could have this VERY often!

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 02:17:05 | More by smakawhat

GMB

Japan

4.33/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A gentle pour of Früh Kölsch yields fills the glass with a crystal-clear, golden amber liquid. From with the liquid emerges a craggy, bone-white foam. The foam quickly disappears, revealing a flurry of small explosions on the surface. The bubbles in this brew seem to be on steroids. When I inspect the carbonation from the side, it seems as if my glass is acting as a magnifying glass. I expect a sharp mouthfeel.

The nose is much more complex than I expect from a Kölsch. Sweet, lightly toasted barley malt is present, but does not obscure the beer's gentle grassy and floral aromas. When I close eyes and focus my olfactory receptors, I even pick up some very mild notes of sour apple.

I've never tasted such a sophisticated Kölsch. Up front is a nice balance among sweet malt, floral and herbal notes. The latter yield the palate quickly to notes of sour apple with a very faint hint of cured lemon rind. The back end is fantastic: The well-balanced bitterness brings out the cured lemon notes just a bit more. Moreover, the understated malt, sour yeast, and light, floral hops are in perfect balance to produce the impression of a dry chardonnay, whose taste slowly develops on the palate as the hang lingers.

The mouthfeel isn't anything like I had imagined. A gentle swirl around the tongue tosses up a slightly thin but gentle foam; nothing harsh here.

I do believe I've found my favorite Kölsch. A delight.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 10:45:55 | More by GMB

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.45/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

My first kölsch in Köln! Stoked!

The beer is clear and golden crowned with pure white head.

Light aroma of grain.

It is light bodied and easy to drink. Tastes grainy, has some grass, mineral, and light fruity notes.

So kölsch is ok. It's cool drinking it outside on a sunny day shootin the scheisse.

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2012 06:14:00 | More by MattSweatshirt

Douberd

Netherlands

3.03/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

ABV 4,8%.
Can of 500 ml, bought on a recent excursion to Germany. At first I thought Kolsch was also part of the beers name, now I see it's a style of beer. Poured in a sort of Kolsch type of glass.
Three fingers of white, thick head, with very good retention but not much lacing left behind. At first great activity in the glass, stops almost as soon as the head disappears. Golden yellow in colour.
Pleasant aroma of hops, mixed with a malty smell, albeit faint.
Sweet and malty flavour at first, turns into a slighty bitter and hoppy aftertaste.
Thin on the body, low carbonation and dry on the palate.

It's the first time I drink this style, and I didn't find it much different than a lager, also, since it's the first time, I don't have anything to compare it to. Drinkability was high, and it was going down very easily.

Serving type: can

10-26-2012 17:24:55 | More by Douberd

rarbring

Sweden

3.48/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

The beer is clear straw colored, with a white head leaving some lacing. Small curtains.

Fruity aromas, ripe apples, some vegetables and dough. Rather pleasant.

Starting sweet white bread, then some lemon and apple juice, a tart peel finish.

Little carbonation, small soft bubbles, a soft and smooth texture, a slightly dry finish.

A not-to-bad Kölsch.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 16:48:35 | More by rarbring

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

330ml bottle.Footed pilsner glass.Enjoyed on mar´12.Pours blond in color,cristal clear appearance.Pure white lasting crown. Herbal, slightly sulphury,aroma.Balanced malts & German hops in mouth, subtle lemon touch.Very light body,medium carbonation.Lingers with no conflicting notes. Painfully overall results quite flat. Suggested in sunny days as a session beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 19:51:29 | More by GONZALOYANNA

Sunnanek

Sweden

4.03/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pour is clear pale golden with a large whipped-cream-like crystal white head. Slow dissipation leaves nice rich lacings.

S: Dry and mild sour. Yeast and faint spices. Light but complex. Acidic citric fruits; like grapefruits.

T: Very refreshing and light, but still complex in all it’s modesty – very nice example of a Kölsch. Grass and mild malt. Acidic sour. Yeasty. Everything is in mild tones.

M: Medium body and carbonation the same. Aftertaste is a bit longer than usually for this style, bitter and mild sour.

O: This is so easy to drink in high numbers. I really like this modest beer-style and this was a nice example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 07:54:08 | More by Sunnanek

DoubleJ

California

3.65/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A little "pick me up" beer before our day to EAP. Thanks for sharing the bottle Sergio! On to the beer:

It has a light golden color, topped off by a fair foam head. Its retention and lace are also fair. The nose is light as expected for a kölsch, but does provide a little joy. Notes of wet hay and apple escape from the aroma.

A light toasting beer, although it does provide some complexity. The notes of apple, hay, vague fruitiness, and bread are also present at some point. As the beer dries out, the note of hay lingers. The body can be described as "tight and light", light but not watery. Its gentle crispness is well received too.

Just the way to kick off a tasting that was only moments away. A light, refreshing beer from Cologne that won't fill you up.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 17:29:59 | More by DoubleJ

bark

Sweden

3.73/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Offwhite large compact head. The liquid is clear and pale gold-yellow (6 EBC). No lacing.

The smell is dry and quite German with minerals, some clean yeast and hints of alcohol (!). Hints of cellars and hoppy hay.

The taste is fresh and thirst drenching. Hins of cellars and grassy hops. Minerals. Medium body. Quite a lot of clean malty flavours and some butterscotch. The flavours are quite strong for the strength. The complex flavours reminds a bit of British pale ale. The aftertaste brings notes of alcohol and porridge plus a pleasant note of leather. Cream in the finish.

The carbonation is medium strong; the many small bubbles are fresh. The liquid is light and a bit dry.

A highly gulpable brew with some character, just like a Kölsch is supposed to be. The cellar notes makes a bit too heavy at times, though.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 21:38:42 | More by bark

sim0n17

Germany

3.98/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the top 2 Kolsch's if not #1 (along with Gaffel). Crisp, clean taste with a bit of a thin mouthfeel. VERY refreshing in summer knocking them back in the little .2 glasses. Not much smell, but makes a nice "blumen" for a Kolsch. It seems you can drink this one endlessly.

Serving type: on-tap

11-08-2011 17:50:38 | More by sim0n17

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle

A- Bright gold, perfectly transparent. One finger white head that disappears very quickly, withouth leaving any kind of lacing, even with a second, more aggressive pour

S- Malts are on the low side, with just some grainy hints. Aroma is very fresh, with hops (lemon, wet grass), and with a hint of tart grape that also brings a fairly distinct spicy feel

T- Malts are now more clearly detectable, though still not strong, with a grain/biscuit like feel. Some sweet fruity notes on the palate (grape for sure, maybe apple) and some fresh hoppy notes of lemon on the tongue, with very little bitterness. A nice and delicate hint of tartness in the aftertaste

M- Quite light in body with a syrup-like feel that kinda reminds of white wine. Still feels pleasantly lively thanks to it's dense carbonation

O- Some interesting fruity and vinous notes in a pleasantly refreshing and easily drinkable beer, that feels very much like a lager

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 09:01:03 | More by Cozzatoad

JohnnyP3

Alaska

3.58/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a .5L bottle with a best before date of 30.05.11 into a C&B Belgian glass. This beer is pale yellow, clear, and has a white head that quickly fades down into a thin cap over the beer. Carbonation is visible and appears moderate. Lacing is mostly absent, but there are some light traces here and there.

Smell is somewhat lemony with some pepper and white grape and the ever present grassy malt smell.

The taste features bread-like malt flavors that transition into white or concord grapes. Finishes with some lingering sweetness and a very light touch of hops.

Mouthfeel is relatively smooth with a nice crispness to the finish. Overall a very refreshing and drinkable beer, especially when the weather is warm.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 13:48:51 | More by JohnnyP3

StJamesGate

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours clear white gold with a few trails of bubbles and a champagne-like bone white head of loose froth that fades to a film. Nose is flour and flowers (heh) with a hint of white grape skin and noble hop spice. Melon and sour grain malt with grapey fruit hit and lemongrass hops. Gingerbread finish and numbing linger. Light but round, lively, crisp and dry.

I know that this is supposed to be light even among Cologne Kolsch, but it still has both the fruit and the spice. Definitely more going on than your average lager. This would kill on a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 17:42:58 | More by StJamesGate

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

An ale in theory but a lager at heart. 0,33 cl bottle MHB: 14.09.11.

It pours a clear and bright gold with a foamy but frothy bright white head. It leaves little bit of small speckles behind.

The smell is grainy with a light bit of light fruit and a kiss of hops.

The flavor is interesting. It has a unique fruitiness that i haven't yet tasted in this style. It is like white wine/grapes almost. It has a slight bit of hops, but the main flavor is an overriding fruity sweetness.

The mouthfeel is not as light as expected, it is under-carbonated.

It is an interesting beer, at least it isn't monotonous. Don't be araid of this style, it isn't that bad.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2011 17:25:49 | More by crossovert

rvdoorn

Netherlands

3.38/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

had this in a restaurant in koln. Pours like all kolsch beers, golden yellow with white head. Smell is light hoppy with malts and grass.taste malts and a bit more sweet than the average kolsch. Very drinkable,light mouthfeel,there is just not too much more to say about this beer,but need to fill 250 characters...

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2011 16:08:17 | More by rvdoorn

kjc51478

Germany

3.1/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light yellow with a fizzy but quick dissipating head. Aroma is slight but made up mostly of wheat and malt. Taste is crisp and slightly sweeter than most Kölsch I'm familiar with. The wheaty flavors follow through into the back end leaving a sweet and bready aftertaste. This is a middle of the road Kölsch.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 22:30:07 | More by kjc51478

patra7

Greece

3.55/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: In a filled glass it looks gold/amber, but when you draw it down you see that it actually has a yellow/gold color. Very thin, white head, quickly dissipating. You have to pour from fairly high to get a half-decent head. Just a few bubbles rising to the top.
Smell: The malt semi-sweetness is the first thing that hits me. Some honey / siropy notes as well, partially balanced by some floral notes, with a bitterness and some slightly metallic notes which pop up at certain moments (without becoming annoying).
Taste: Light malty / siropy taste at first, which is then followd by an acidity / fiziness that is quite aggressive and unexpected (esp. given the... head situation) and balances the overall feeling.
Mouthfeel: Light to medium body. Strong carbonation, besides the lack of a head. A rather coarse / "unrefined" feeling.
Drinkability: Quite drinkable, refreshing; not boring but not exciting either.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2010 21:58:16 | More by patra7