Gaffel Kölsch - Privatbrauerei Gaffel Becker & Co.

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500 mL bottle from the LCBO; best before June 30th 2012 so this is slightly past its prime. This is one of those styles that I don't get around to trying very often (I've only had one other kolsch), largely because there just aren't a lot of readily-available examples in these parts. Regardless of my lack of experience with this specific style though, I've had plenty of pale German beers before and if I've learned anything, it's that Germans are really damn good at brewing them.

Pours a translucent, bright golden-yellow colour, topped with about one finger of foamy white head. It fizzles away after a few minutes, leaving behind a creamy, even cap and a ring of lacing smudged along the sides of the glass. Decent aroma, but nothing particularly special - it's mostly grainy malt sweetness with some grass and light, white grape fruitiness. There's also some skunkiness, but given the age of the bottle I'll cut it some slack.

Very clean-tasting. The flavour is mostly grainy pale malts, with some light cracker sweetness and notes of appleskin, white grapes. A bit of sulfur. The grassy, floral noble hoppage comes forth toward the finish, providing some pleasant dryness that lingers very briefly in the mostly-clean finish. Light-bodied, with relatively high carbonation that gives it a very crisp, refreshing mouthfeel. Like any well-made pale lager-esque brew, throwing this back quickly is not a challenge at all.

The flavour is far from complex - not that I expected anything differently, as this is a pretty straightforward style - but it's undoubtedly a refreshing, clean, well-made beer. Highly sessionable too - I think I could drink this all night, and at this price point ($3 per pint), it's pretty good value for your buck.

Final Grade: 3.68, a solid B grade. There are a lot of fizzy yellow German beers on the shelves of the LCBO. A lot of them are not worth trying, but a few of them are - and I would be comfortable arguing that Gaffel Kolsch falls firmly into the latter category. If only the domestic brewing giants could use their ample expertise and bottomless capital to put out a brew of this quality! Definitely worth a try for any fan of German lagers.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 05:38:49 | More by thehyperduck

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-16-2013 13:27:25 | More by TheBeeraholic

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Light golden, clear, with big, frothy head

Aroma: Herbal, honey, citrus

Taste: Nice, juicy start; refreshing, well balanced middle and finish; very drinkable

Remarks: Good session beer

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 13:25:32 | More by IchLiebeBier

Eighty

Washington

3/5  rDev -18.5%

06-13-2013 20:11:51 | More by Eighty

DudMan

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

06-13-2013 15:43:41 | More by DudMan

xdefeatsy

Ohio

3/5  rDev -18.5%

06-11-2013 18:19:11 | More by xdefeatsy

BKBassist

New York

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

06-10-2013 23:14:34 | More by BKBassist

Beric

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

06-01-2013 12:57:45 | More by Beric

Luiz0930

California

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%

05-31-2013 07:15:25 | More by Luiz0930

HoppyBeerSista

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

05-28-2013 10:41:06 | More by HoppyBeerSista

RobTown

Florida

4/5  rDev +8.7%

05-24-2013 22:06:36 | More by RobTown

jmkoscie

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

05-14-2013 23:17:10 | More by jmkoscie

MadScientist

New York

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

05-13-2013 00:30:47 | More by MadScientist

ItsTheLimit

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -25.3%

05-07-2013 01:07:50 | More by ItsTheLimit

mendvicdog

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

05-03-2013 23:16:32 | More by mendvicdog

lsummers

California

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

05-02-2013 04:53:01 | More by lsummers

dar482

New York

3.91/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

It comes in a light yellow color.

There is a grassy and grainy aroma.

The taste actually has a lot of similarities to a pilsner, but not quite. There is a good bitterness, and then a light sweet finish. There a slight bitter finish. It is a bit lacking in flavor, but still quite good and really drinkable.

Not the best kolsch, but decent.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 02:07:20 | More by dar482

Sunnanek

Sweden

3.85/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: Pours pale yellow with an enormous white thick head that slowly sets into somewhat nice lacings.

S: Very dry and a bit metallic, just what you can expect from a Kölsch. Light maltyness, but still rather complex. Floral hops, citric and grassy.

T: Rich maltyness, bready sweetness. A bit creamy, almost. Citric, with clove and grass, perhaps even some nettles. Some mild bitterness completes the malt and the floral hops. Dry, crisp and slightly metallic.

M: Aftertaste is medium long for this style, holding dry bitterness. Body is light and carbonation balanced and smooth.

O: This is a nice Kölsch, a rather difficult style to fully appreciate since the complexity is almost suttle, But this one has all a Kölsch should, and in a very nice way.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 17:57:22 | More by Sunnanek

FlatRabbitRed

Arizona

3.78/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice Kolsch, this one is a great example!

Light golden color, lots of carbonation, very white head, very sweet beer.

No grassy or musty notes coming from my glass, very slight lemon and spice notes, more of a tangy sweet flavor through out. No bitters, very low hop feel. Refreshing easy to drink, would like to drink more!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 23:12:18 | More by FlatRabbitRed

silverking

Florida

3.31/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

A- pours a pale gold with a fluffy white head. Head retention is fair, but the lacing is poor.

S- musty, citrus, grassy, grainy.

T- Citrus, funk, grains, some slightly bitter hops make an appearance in the finish. The whole experience came across a bit on the tart side.

M- Light and refreshing, with a healthy dose of prickly carbonation.

O- Not bad, not great.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 20:48:00 | More by silverking

draftpunk

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.9%

04-07-2013 23:02:24 | More by draftpunk

e30todamax

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

03-31-2013 14:58:21 | More by e30todamax

sammy806

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +15.5%

03-29-2013 13:32:43 | More by sammy806

billybob

Massachusetts

4.36/5  rDev +18.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

pours a medium gold in color no head or lace at all. smells of fresh grass with faint floral notes and slight fruity sweetness. taste of fresh grain, grass and some hops. mouthfeel light carbonation ok but a little more would have helped. fresh and light easy to drink would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 17:30:59 | More by billybob

Ciocanelu

Romania

3.5/5  rDev -4.9%

03-24-2013 13:23:25 | More by Ciocanelu