Kmita Kolsch - Dark Horse Brewing Company

AleWatcher

Illinois

1.73/5  rDev -49.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1

Grabbed as part of a mix a 6 pack... I love Kolsch as a style...

This is the darkest looking Kolsch I've ever seen. Deep coppery amber colored body with a small splattering of nearly white bubbles atop it. The head subsided quickly to leave a thin collar but no lacing.

Smells really too malty. Almost like a barleywine somehow.... Minus caramel malts. Some sweet bready malt and some harsher grainy malt lead the way. Some leafy, vegetable, and spicey hop notes come in on the backend. Yikes. The finish is surprisingly bitter, and as it warms it gets quite boozy.

Feels overcarbonated, yet oily. Like too many bubbles on the tongue, but it's surprisingly full-- at least more full than medium bodied.

Not very refreshing. Not very Kolsch-y. Not very good. In the future I'll avoid this one like it was made by White Birch.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 01:55:04 | More by AleWatcher

smakawhat

Maryland

3.83/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from the bottle into a stange glass.

A murky brown light orange body is presented, some cola like sticking carbonation, but with a good amount of small white pinhead rising bubbles as well. Head makes two fingers, light tan in color and settles to a small thin puck.

Nose is interesting, light fruity esters giving to fig and raisins almost hinting of Belgian dark ale sensing sweetness, but much lighter and less sweet. Good solid hints of simple toffee and caramel.

Really nice crisp palate, with good dense malt and light club soda effervescent quality. Sharp hop mixing with a lime citrus astringent finish. Light toffee and fruity raisins match nicely in this very interesting style through the mid palate.

Real interesting beer, probably not what I want in a Kolsch, but it's a real interesting style a mix of light kolsch and sweet dark caramel flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:08:26 | More by smakawhat

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

05-12-2013 02:33:05 | More by HarmonMW

Slay40

Michigan

4/5  rDev +16.3%

05-10-2013 21:13:56 | More by Slay40

DMax90

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

05-08-2013 00:16:53 | More by DMax90

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.29/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

SMELL: Barley, whiskey malt, euro beer kinda smell with toffee and booze being prominent. Some fruity alcohol and candy notes are there as well.

TASTE: Self dubbed a Polish Style Kolsch, this beer opens with an upfront scotchy malt profile and a minor tea like lemony hop bitter. The flavors are somewhat light but has enough of a malt bill to provide ample cocoa and nutty notes. Finishes with a chalky feel on a medium/full bodied beer. Too heavy to be a standard Kolsch, this rounded polish style Kolsch reminds me more like a light scotch ale.

OVERALL: Hard to categorize, this Kmita Kolsch is fairly tasty, and blindfolded I would have sworn this was imported. An odd ball beer, I kind of like it, but I really would look elsewhere for a clean example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 23:24:21 | More by Stinkypuss

Stoutlad

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +9%

05-06-2013 20:41:24 | More by Stoutlad

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.54/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Hinterland stange.
5.5% ABV, no date.

A - Kmita Kölsch pours out a surprisingly copper amber color, hazed with fine particles; much darker than any Kölsch I've ever seen. The beer's creamy ivory head lingers on the surface for a while leaving some attractive lace before it collapses into the beer.

S - Dusty, dirty, and dry, this Kölsch has a toasted malt aroma with caramel undertones and spicy rye-like notes with lingering broad Connecticut Shade leaf tobacco and faint hop notes. I'm not sure what a "Polish Style Kölsch" is supposed to be like, but this is pretty off base for a Kölsch though not bad as what it is.

T - Lots of maltiness when a typical Kölsch is considered, there's toffee, caramel, and bread flavors which all overwhelm the minor hoppiness that's in the beer. The finish is filled with dusty, almost chalky dry dirt and the same rye-like spice the nose offers. Again, the plethora of flavors really pushes this beer beyond the realm of what a typical Kölsch should be.

M - Medium-bodied and smooth, this beer has a nice mouth feel with a dusty, dry finish and spice note that is nice but it's far from the crisp, clean German-style Kölsch beers.

O - I'm not quite sure what a "Polish Style Kölsch Ale" is but this beer doesn't measure up to what a Kölsch should be if styles are considered. By no means is it a bad product, in fact, Kmita Kölsch is a very well-made beer, it just doesn't fit guidelines. I'd love to know the story behind this beer; I feel that it might make the experience make a little more sense. In the end Kmita Kölsch is drinkable but not as drinkable as a typical Kölsch.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:12:53 | More by BeerFMAndy

Ciocanelu

Romania

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

04-20-2013 12:37:02 | More by Ciocanelu

hollywood_15063

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

03-30-2013 02:39:26 | More by hollywood_15063

mackeyse

New York

3.5/5  rDev +1.7%

03-22-2013 13:29:25 | More by mackeyse

mccallisters_dali

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +16.3%

03-21-2013 23:49:21 | More by mccallisters_dali

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

03-18-2013 11:38:46 | More by RedneckBeerz

beergorrilla

Michigan

3/5  rDev -12.8%

03-14-2013 04:43:35 | More by beergorrilla

Gschaf

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -20.1%

03-01-2013 03:08:31 | More by Gschaf

Moonman1206

Virginia

3/5  rDev -12.8%

02-24-2013 01:54:31 | More by Moonman1206

jrpapajcik

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%

02-18-2013 19:38:32 | More by jrpapajcik

THECPJ

Delaware

2.75/5  rDev -20.1%

02-14-2013 17:53:09 | More by THECPJ

yankinwis

Wisconsin

3.25/5  rDev -5.5%

02-08-2013 23:43:08 | More by yankinwis

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.21/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I have no idea what a Polish kölsch is supposed to be like, but this is the darkest kolsch I have ever seen. Most brown ales aren't this dark. Super malty nose and tons on the flavor as well. Smooth feel, but quite thick. This is not really a kölsch so far as I am familiar with. Nice drinker but well outside the style parameters.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 03:47:51 | More by RblWthACoz

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.86/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Served in a Lagunitas mason jar.

I remember being so perplexed by the concept of a "Polish-style kolsch" this past summer that I ran out to the Whole Foods in Lincoln Park and grabbed a pint at their bar. Good times. Let's have another, shall we? This stuff pours a partly hazy copper-amber topped by a finger of glowing off-cream-white foam. The nose comprises toasted and buttery biscuit, candied orange zest, and a hint of fennel. The taste holds notes of tangelo zest, orange peel, light black pepper, toasted biscuit, and a dash of nutmeg. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a creamily drying finish. Overall, a tasty interpretation of a kolsch, even if it bears only a small resemblance to the base style.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 22:29:54 | More by TMoney2591

DarthTremens

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +9%

02-01-2013 22:26:48 | More by DarthTremens

EL48823

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +9%

01-28-2013 20:35:55 | More by EL48823

dmorgan310

Michigan

4/5  rDev +16.3%

01-20-2013 02:29:02 | More by dmorgan310

Rostie

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +23.5%

01-16-2013 11:44:52 | More by Rostie