Stop Work 689 Kolsch - Straight To Ale

DocAJ

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

02-15-2012 21:11:23 | More by DocAJ

wmc0005

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%

09-05-2012 20:27:17 | More by wmc0005

brentk56

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Arrives with a clear golden color but very little foam; virtually no lacing

Smell: Grainy, with a hint of apple

Taste: Bready, up front, with a growing apple sweetness; the hops add a lemony, somewhat grassy character

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body with low carbonation

Overall: A little too sweet and lacks some balance; but for the poor mouthfeel, it is still a decent beer

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 21:41:07 | More by brentk56

earlingy

4.75/5  rDev +23.7%

06-29-2012 04:15:01 | More by earlingy

plumlmr

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -8.9%

02-29-2012 01:01:18 | More by plumlmr

freduardo

Alabama

4/5  rDev +4.2%

11-14-2011 21:08:23 | More by freduardo

gerite

Alabama

3.58/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a goblet glass at the Nook in Huntsville, AL.

Small white head that rapidly dissipated but left plenty of lacing for the entire drink. The appearance was a nice yellow-amber color with moderate carbonation that made lots of tiny bubbles. The taste was clear and crisp with a slight hoppyness and hint of fruity citrus. Nothing over-powering. A good late summer or early fall brew.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2011 03:23:38 | More by gerite

Reaper16

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

served on-tap @ The Alcove, Tuscaloosa, AL, into a mason jar

Pours a very slightly hazy yellow color. It's pretty much what you'd expect a German lager to look like. There's a bit of sterling white head on this pour, but like so many beers served on-tap the head is up to the discretion of the bartender. Solid appearance though, by any metric.

This beer has the requisite apple aromas that so characterize Kolsch beer for me. It has the non-wheat graininess that I come to look for. It smells like an accurate Kolsch in a lot of ways. What holds the beer back is this plasticky, PVC aroma that I've only really smelled before in Magic Hat No. 9. It seems like a yeast-related problem, but there is the possibility that the cleanliness of the tap lines are playing a roll in producing this off-aroma.

Thankfully that PVC component doesn't really show through on the palate. This offering from Straight to Ale is a pretty straightforward Kolsch. Apple skin and apple flesh and clean yeast flavors and lots of grain husk. That's all you really need from a Kolsch, and this beer delivers on that refreshing promise.

The mouthfeel is appropriately bodied. I find it to be a tad bit over attenuated, but nothing too major. Overall, this is one of the most solid American interpretations of the Kolsch style that I've come across. Straight to Ale continues to impress. They are on their way to becoming the Three Floyds of the state of Alabama.

Serving type: on-tap

09-17-2011 06:11:27 | More by Reaper16

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A coupel pours from a 4 oz. taster glass.

3.0 A: Lightly hazed golden yellow. No head formed.

4.5 S: Impressive for the style. Cidery with grassy hops. Wild apple fruitiness. Hay, straw, and a touch of earthy funkiness.

4.0 T: Surprisingly earthy with lots of horsey-type funk. Grassy and earthy hoppiness. Straw and a moderate bitterness. Clean overall.

3.5 M: Light body. Undercarbonated, but it might be the growler's fault. Could be creamier, but otherwise nice.

4.0 D: Good kolsch. One of the best I've had.

Serving type: growler

07-17-2011 19:41:14 | More by DavoleBomb