Karnival Kolsch - Stoudts Brewing Co.

timuel

Pennsylvania

1.88/5  rDev -50.3%
look: 4 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Anyone who's brewed with a Kolsch yeast has undoubtedly noted the terrible smell given off during primary fermentation. Only with aging at near-lagering temps and perhaps a finning agent or two can you get rid of that and let the more delicate notes shine. My impression of Karnival Kolsch was that it was rushed through production and filtered for clarity.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 18:33:38 | More by timuel

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

2.65/5  rDev -29.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

On-tap at Cole's. Light colour, with carbonation bubbles. Neutral aroma, minimal head. This is a thirst quencher but the taste was rather minimal.Only the faintest drop of lemon or hops was I getting. Unoffensive but fairly plain, and so not that drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2010 03:02:25 | More by northyorksammy

rangerred

Tennessee

2.85/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Picked this one up in the bargain bin. Only later did I realize the best by date is 7/17/11. Oops.
Taking that into consideration:

Pours a clear straw yellow with a thin soapy half finger head. A little cap on top of the beer but nothing in the way of lacing.

Aroma is very faint with bready malt, hay, and grass. A little bit of lemon zest as well.

Bread on the taste with a little bit of biscuit. Some grassy hops but a quick, somewhat harsh, shot of bitterness. All of the flavor fade extremely quickly which I attribute to the age. Nonetheless there is nothing really offensive and it seemed to hold up pretty well.

Overall, I would really like to try this fresh. While I still don't believe it would really stand out, it could be an enjoyable, refreshing summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 22:05:15 | More by rangerred

matty

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pale yellow colored beer with a slowly fading head.Aroma is bready malts.Taste is biscuity and grape.Very bland and boring although not horrible.I doubt I would recommend this to anyone and as for myself this was my first and last.Definetly a snoozer!!

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2010 12:20:47 | More by matty

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

First had: on tap at Casey's, Newtown Square, PA

Poured a clear, light golden color, with a frothy white head that dissipated rather quickly to a thin layer. Aroma of light malts and hay. Similar taste, with lightly toasted malts, hay, grass, earth, just a hint of hops, and a slightly bitter aftertaste. Very light profile, crisp, refreshing, and quite drinkable for a summer beer. I'm not a big fan of the style, but this was okay.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2011 18:51:35 | More by Rifugium

KajII

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

[Best served in a Kolsch glass]

Poured a slightly hazy pale yellow with a large white fizzy head that had good retention and produced excellent lacing. The aroma was of straw malts, a nice grassy hop and a soapy scented yeast with hints of citrus and maybe honey. It tasted rather bitter and mildly acidic with a nice citrus note at first with the flavor becoming just a bit sour with a nice hoppy finish. Mouthfeel was was light in body and watery in texture with a nice soft carbonation.Overall it was nice and flavorful, although nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 01:11:12 | More by KajII

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

The brew pours a cloudy golden color, like straw, with a half-finger head, light lacing and medium carbonation.

The smell is of straw, possibly lemongrass, yeast and wet hay.

The taste is yeasty, slightly malty and there is a bite on the aftertaste which appears to be due to the carbonation. There is also a light dose of bitter hops. Light spice of type.

The mouthfeel is light thin and creamy.

Overall there is not much going on here but I guess this is the Kolsch style; this is similar to other Kolsch style beers I have had. It is not all bad the the addition of some fruit, more spice and hops would soup this up nicely.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 19:37:21 | More by microbrewlover

irishking1977

New Jersey

3.05/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Clear gold with a minimal head and less than moderate lacing. Looks like a pilsner. Pretty run-of-the-mill.

S: Grassy, herbal, and floral/hoppy aroma. Kind of all over the place and somewhat pungent in a negative way.

T: Fresh cut grass and an unusual hop finish with virtually no malt background. Again, this is a kolsch? Reminds me of a pilsner or an euro pale lager. (lookin' at you, Stella) That's not a positive thing.

M: Really carbonated, which makes this disappointment of a beer easier to drink; If this goes flat, I can bet it would be undrinkable to me.

D: Not a session beer purely because I am not liking the combination of grass and funky hops aftertaste. I've had a better kolsch beer by Saranac. In general, not my favorite style (pilsners also in that mix of styles I am not a big fan of) But both the kolsch style and pilsner style are normally considered highly sessionable brews. For me, this one doesn't fit in there.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2010 21:39:11 | More by irishking1977

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.05/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, best-by date of 7/19/11. Poured into a Peters Kolsch stange. Its light golden colored with a little over 2 fingers of foam, effervescent looking. Proper.

But the aroma is just a little off, kind of skunked. It wouldn't seem possible as the best-by date is so far off, but I guess a fragile style like Kolsch can't be pushed too far as it can't hide flaws. It tastes OK except for the mild case of light damage, neutral flavors beneath the skunk. Pleasant malty aftertaste, marred as it is.

Light bodied and poundable, I'd love to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 20:42:05 | More by TurdFurgison

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.05/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Strong aroma is malty and yeasty with a hint of caramel. It pours a clear, wan yellow with a fluffy and not persistent white head. OK, what can I say - I prefer darker beers. Fortunately, appearance is this beer’s weakest point, as the malty flavor has firm yeasty and fruity notes, not complex but refreshing. Texture has good body and a fair amount of fizz. Overall, nothing to Tweet about but still OK.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 03:05:32 | More by Cyberkedi

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The pour was about what I would expect from the style. A nice even colored light amber, bordering on a golden color. A nice sized head of white foam then rose up over the top to take a hold on the glass, reaching a height of around two inches and then settled back down to leave a bare top with minimal lacing. No real side glass presence was noticed, though there was some nice carbonation.

The aroma was rather light, touches of caramel malts, light bready tones and a hint of banana were all that were readily noticeable, not bad really, would have liked a bit more of a pop in it though if I am being honest. The flavor was very nice though. Rich notes of biscuit and bready malts, layered on top of a light fruity spike of flavor. Some nice touches of grain coming through mid palate before dropping back into a smooth, and subtle feel. Crisp and clean finish left only the lightest bit of caramel flavor on the tongue before fading into the back and leaving me ready for the next sip. Nice, smooth, easy carbonation was an ease to drink, and I would have no issue with putting down multiples of this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 22:23:45 | More by mikesgroove

jrallen34

Illinois

3.15/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle into my Rochefort glass...Pours a light cloudy straw with about one finger of decent head, not much retention, ok lacing....Medium aroma for a kolsch, light hops a little skunk to them, but tons of generic corn which is not good...Tatse is light but mostly skunk hops from start to finish, nothing too exciting here.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2010 22:27:03 | More by jrallen34

stewart124

Ohio

3.15/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Faint golden yellow in color with little head to offer.

Nose has plenty of cereal graininess and some lemon.

Taste is subtle and fairly plain. Nothing really impressive but nothing wrong. This has a nice malt character and it really builds as you go through the beer.

Overall this nothing special but again there is nothing wrong here. Dry and assertive all the while adding some bready notes and fairly subtle lemon characters.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 03:23:07 | More by stewart124

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours out as a really nice clarity, yellow body and a fizzy white head. The aroma is light, most has a nose of some malt and grains. Not really much hop aroma at all here. The taste is light all around. The flavor that it does have is pretty refreshing though. The mouthfeel is very light and very easy to drink. Overall not a bad Kolsch.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 03:39:03 | More by Knapp85

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a a golden straw color with active, fluffy white head. Decent retention, some sticky lacing. Smell is of sweet biscuity malts with a noticeable lemony hop presence. Taste is slightly sweet, bready malts and faint lemony hops again - not really saying Kolsch to me. Almost medium bodied - again out of style, adequate carbonation. Ok beer, definitely not a Kolsch in scent, taste or body.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2010 19:18:47 | More by rfgetz

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a pale yellow color with a small head. Smell is mild, a bit of malts. Taste is crisp, malty and a tad sweet, fairly light. Feels light in the mouth and is highly drinkable. Overall this is a pretty good quality brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 14:04:05 | More by tone77

u2carew

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. Longneck
A) Pours with a big head then settles leaving big bubbled lacing at the edge of the glass. Slight chill haze. Gold in color.
S) The aroma is faint but there are notes of heather, grain and caramel.
T) fruity tones up front - apple, orange. Light caramel maltyness. Finishes with a noticeable hop bite.
M) Creamy. Light bodied.
D) A decent brew. I might considered drinking two in a row.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 00:18:23 | More by u2carew

CJfromPhilly

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours from the 12 oz. bottle a macro-like pale straw yellow with a foamy one finger head that settles into a collar of medium thickness. Carbonation is very active...there's a ton of bubbles rising. Aroma is slightly citrusy...there's a hint of lemon going on. 1st sip is light, crisp, and tart with more of the lemon peel thing going on. There is a bitterness on the background which comes more from the lemon than any hops notes. Mouthfeel is light & lager-like. Overall, this is an OK beer, but nothing that rocks my world. Would go nice with something off the grill on a hot summer weekend afternoon, but not something i'd put on my "must have" list.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 23:18:07 | More by CJfromPhilly

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on 2012-07-06 in Columbia, PA

A - Clear, straw-yellow with a pillowy 3-finger white head and mild lacing.

S - Bready malt, a touch of grass and not much else.

T - Bready malt then some citrus, grass and a nice bittering finish that sticks around. Not very complex but pleasant.

M - Light-medium body and medium carbonation. A bit thin/watery but refreshing.

O - A nice summer refresher with enough flavors to be interesting.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 22:26:04 | More by Tucquan

Jenkster4

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a hazy pale yellow with about three fingers worth of head.
Nice carbonation, and overall not a bad looking brew.

Nose: Getting some herbal notes, hay, tad bit of spice, and a very slight hop presence.

Taste: Clean and refreshing. You get most of the the aspects that you pick off the nose. Nice lemon zing after it sets for a minute. Pretty good summer beer.

Mouth: Like I said before this is a clean and easy brew.

Overall: This one is not bad. Nice summer brew, nothing fancy but sometimes that is A-OK. I'd buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2011 18:49:27 | More by Jenkster4

ummswimmin

New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I poured this into a tulip style glass. I like the light, straw color. The foam is thin with light carbonation.

Off the top I get some lemon and pilsner smell. There is just a little smell of malt.

This tastes very light with a little fruitiness. The pilsner flavors continue in the taste as well.

It is a good summer brew. This is my first kolsch in a couple years and it is nice to get back to this.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2011 01:56:02 | More by ummswimmin

VoiceOfTheSoul

Pennsylvania

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Pinocchio's in Media, PA in the summer.

A Pale gold one finger white head, stays well.

S Grassy, biscuity.

T Grassy, light cirtus, bitter, slight pine, slighty sweet.

M Light, bit creamy, good carbonation.

D Easy, light, but not perfect.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2010 19:30:17 | More by VoiceOfTheSoul

burkyburk

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was my first Kolsch beer.

This beer has a smooth and refreshing taste with a very faint bitter bite. Highly drinkable. I had it outside on a patio with bratwurst, it was wonderful in the spring sun. I can see myself drinking this beer again in the hot summer months.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 19:56:12 | More by burkyburk

Pencible

Virginia

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured a clear bright gold with some white head. It smelled like earthy wheat and floral and lemon hops, with some bready yeast. It tasted like floral hops with sour grassy and lemony hops, and some bready yeast and earthy malt. It was watery with some carbonation, and had a sour aftertaste. Overall this was a decent beer that seemed like a good example of the style, but was too sour for my tastes. If I want a sour beer, I prefer a wild ale that's more bold. Regardless, this brew was a bit dirty, but otherwise easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 18:01:23 | More by Pencible

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.53/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed on 4/22/2010. Bottle. Pours a clear yellow with a thick white head. Aroma of sweet fruits, cereal grain, honey, sweet malt. Flavor is sweet upfront with a malty, bready finish. Easy drinking, tasty Kolsch. Slightly on the sweet side but that's it's only flaw.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 20:33:29 | More by LilBeerDoctor