Karnival Kolsch - Stoudts Brewing Co.

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The first nice hot spring day, time to try a nice koslch.

A: Pours a huge fizzy 2.5 finger head that is full of large bubbles and pasty white colored, supplemented by many bubbles floating to the top. It's a brilliantly clear golden yellow color. The head leaves a very slight lacing on the sides.

N: A nice toasty slightly malty sweet lager aroma. Very much so lager, and nice smelling too. Some light wheat and even a touch of banana.

T: Starts with a really nice crisp lager taste. Some light toasty malts, slightly sweet lager malts and definite nice lager flavor. Light, crisp and refreshing. SOme light wheat, very light citrus and banana. A little juicy and fruity too. A nice fresh grassy and slight citrus fresh hop flavor and slight bitterness comes through. A nice one too.

M: Medium body and it feels like it has some viscosity to it. Good carbonation.

F: Semi crisp on the finish, not as much as I expected though. Slightly dry too, but not that much. A slight bitter hop presence comes through on the finish, a nice grassy spicy hop flavor. More lingering lager malts and slight fruit too. A nice long finish for being a crisp clean lager koslch.

Reminds me a lot of my fav lager, Pretty Thing's American Darling, just slightly less hoppy. I really liked this one and it would be delicious on a hot summer's day.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2010 21:41:55 | More by jlindros

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle into a stange.

Pours a clear gold, with 3 fingers of foamy bright-white head. This retains with rich cap of froth, which leaves behind a spotty cascade of lacing that quickly slides down the sides of the glass. The aroma is fresh in the nose, with a bright smelling pop of lemon zest, citrus peel, light spice, grassy hops, and some toasted malt sweetness underneath. Fruit and hops really push to the front of the nose here.

The taste is equal parts sweet grains and fruit, with some bitter citrus and lightly spicy hops giving this some zip on the tongue. Finishes bitter and dry with some lingering spiciness. The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied, with a mellow and soft creaminess to the carbonation, which keeps this very easygoing on the palate and very quaffable.

This was very good for the style, and while it maybe lacked some of the vinous and yeasty fruit character that I normally like in the nose, it more than made up for it with a surprisingly complex flavor profile and super easy drinkibility. Just really quaffable and tasty stuff here, just in time for the summer season.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2010 16:58:43 | More by Kegatron

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled on tap at Kraftwork.

Pours a golden yellowish ripe banana color with lighter golden yellow hues when held to a light source and a 1.5 finger frothy white head with good retention, slowly fading into a lasting cap that leaves sheets of soapy lacing behind.

Pedestrian aroma with subtle hops and hints of peppery spice, light fruit and bready yeast.

Surprisingly chewy, full body with a nice crisp earthy hop presence up front along with some peppery spice that flows into a creamy mid palate with hints of grass, straw, light fruit notes and bready yeast. The dry hops linger throughout over the bready yeast, subtle malt and apple, banana and pear fruit notes into a dry finish. Much more complex and flavorful than expected. Quite a nice surprise. Recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2010 09:23:20 | More by corby112

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

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Closed for Business in Charleston, SC.

Pours a clear golden color with a one-finger white head. The head recedes into a thin layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of equal parts robust light malts and grassy/leafy hops. As the beer warms the malt aromas gain hints of bread.

Tastes similar to how it smells. Smooth light malt flavors that have just the right levels of sweetness kick things off. Midway through the sip leafy hop flavors make an appearance and carry through to a crisp and mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with smooth carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have another.

Overall this was a very well done example of the style, all the elements are there and in good working order. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2010 03:38:02 | More by glid02

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A crystal clarity with a pale golden yellow coloring is topped off by a bubbly head that was spongy with a bright white shine. Short lived was the head leaving only a faint smidge of a reminder of its presence in the way of lace. A very light effervesce shows though the window clarity of the drink that was rapid in speed, moderately spaced but starts to whimper out after a short time like a weezing old man.

S: Pale grains and lemon cake appear for aroma. Bread with a bit of sour musky citrus. Not particularly as clean or refined as its German counterparts grain wise. Also the hopping is a bit assertive, good if you like the American bastardization take on foreign styles, not much so if you’re a purist. Mixed feelings here, brings something extra to the table but feel reluctant to rate per style so going midway in my rating here.

T: The flavor was pale lemon hops and pale grains, lightly dry with a soft flowery scent of noble hops with a finish of musky citrus and a bit of dry fruitiness. Again the hopping is a bit more assertive of style. There is a light bread notes, a bit of acidity with a show of some fruity nature. Crisp and clean flavor with a delicate dryness reaches just the right balance before a extra helping of hops move in for the kill and finish.

M: Light bodied, fit per style, with a smooth slippery texture and a good bubbly presence of carbonation. Dry lemon citrus flowers fade off the tongue upon the swallow with a bit of sour musky fruit.

O: Overall a decent flavor with an added measure of hops making for a light drinking affair, maybe not as clean malt wise or as crisp as its german counterparts, but again this a tough act to measure up to. I consumed this at 99F and found it refreshing, drinking almost like a pale ale at times.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 22:38:31 | More by beerthulhu

plaid75

New York

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a medium straw hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured a light lemon zest and a subtle grassy hop.

The taste was well balanced with a soft malt and moderate noble hop.
The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a good kolsch.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2010 20:33:13 | More by plaid75

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

My heavy-handed pour resulted in a massive two-plus fingers of eggshell-white head with very good retention. Nose smelled very pleasantly of Noble hops, probably Saaz, and my mouth began to water.

I am a self-avowed hophead but it was not until my FerMentor, Lew Bryson, explained to me about certain types of lagers as being hops-forward that I had any truck with Kolsch. I still say that the best Kolsch I ever had was made by Bryan (DJ Lil Guy) Selders when he was still with Neversink B.C. in Reading, PA before becoming Sam Calagione's right-hand man.

Color was a beautiful pale lemon-yellow and if that makes me a sissy in Greg Koch's eyes, so be it. Mouthfeel was full, almost creamy and the soft grassy hops were delicious in the mouth. The finish was semi-dry and very refreshing. This would be a most welcome summer beer, especially after doing lawn work. Plus, the sticky lacing was beautiful.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 21:43:32 | More by woodychandler

Brad007

Vermont

3.85/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice golden color with a two-finger head that fades easily, leaving some lacing on the glass. Nice presentation.

Aroma is full of lemon zest and bready malt. Two dominant aromas here. Slight hint of hops as well.

Taste is crisp and full of bready malt with a slight hint of butter. Hops add a bit more flavor in the form of a slight grassiness.

Carbonation is a bit high here and affects the mouthfeel. Goes down a bit rough at first. Otherwise, nothing offensive.

Very nice for the style. Not the best I've had but it's nailed the drinkability part and would make a good substitute for a cheap macro for a lawnmower beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 03:54:27 | More by Brad007

mactrail

California

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice example of a Kölsch. Rich flavor, perfumey, tangy mouthfeel. Light golden with a slight haze in the glass. Excellent sudsy head.

Resiny flavor is quite pervasive. Crisp and clean with a lager character. A hint of biscuits and yeast. Pleasant carbonation that lasts really well. Overall, a refreshing quaff.

From the 12 oz bottle purchased at the Foodery in Philadelphia.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 02:34:52 | More by mactrail

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

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Karnival Kolsch pours a clear golden with fine clarity and some bone white fizzling head. Aroma of some hops and pale malts backing. In the flavor, nice crisp green hop presence, giving a nice herbal spiciness to the beer. Base beer is of crystal malts and a nice even grainyness. Grassy and slightly citric hops are there the whole way through. Mouthfeel is clean and light. Overall, a nice kolsch brewed to style. Refreshing and would be a good summer beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2011 04:51:40 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a golden yellow color with a vividly clear consistency. There was a half inch of white, foamy/creamy, long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A very underplayed aroma of bready malts and citrus.

T: Tasted of malts, with a hint of lemon. Not the most dynamic or powerful of kolsch flavors I've ever tried.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Light-bodied.

D: Drinkable, in spite of its deficencies.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2010 12:10:14 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean golden yellow, with a white head. In the aroma, a faint small malt and a hint of tart earthiness. In the taste, small faint tartness, earthy, and a dry malt. A small bite and light bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry to clean aftertaste. Nice earthy presence, clean and light.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 13:29:39 | More by OWSLEY069

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

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to mughugger for this bottle -12os poured fridge temp into my stange.

A - A clear golden straw w/ 2 fingers of soapy cap, confetti-like lace clings and the retention is good. The Kölsch has visible carbonation streaming upward steadily

S - A very malty nose w/ mild chalky note and slight hint of hops w/ mild german yeast which adds a light sulfur note to the aroma

M - The feel is light w/ high carbonation and slightly creamy malt texture as a result w/ a nice hop presence. The yeast gives a hint of spice to the fell in the finish w/ mineral-like effect but it doesn't usurp the malt and the sweetness is very mild throughout

T - A very toasty malt entry with a spicy yeast accent and nice mineral like flavors in the peripheral. The flavor has a mild creamy cereal-like maltiness. The taste is crisp like a pils w/ mild hopping which is more herbal and malt keeps pace w/ subtle nutty tinges and hints of sweetness. The hops give the Kölsch a spicy finish augmented by the mild sulfur note of the yeast

D - I was really impressed with this - what a quenching German Style ale -- crisp and refreshing, flavorful - a well brewed Kölsch
Kudos to Stoudts!

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2010 14:15:25 | More by Slatetank

kylehay2004

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: half finger bright white head on a cloudypale golden body. Thick lacing.

S: musty malt, lemon custard, a touch spicey

T: very clean tasting with pale malts grains and a nice yeast character. The sweetness is again lemon custard late into the finish.

M: light body and moderate to high carbonation.

Overall: A very nice Kolsch. Flavorful, no off putting notes and nice body to this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 01:15:33 | More by kylehay2004

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

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I picked up a single of this yesterday, the first time I'd seen it.

Pouring a light straw yellow with a dense, frothy, white head that lasts forever, leaving sheets of lace, this is near perfection for a Kolsch. The nose is excellent as well. Light and bready with a little cracker-like malt character, there's also a gentle, suffuse, hop character,lightly lemony. Not as grassy the way a pilsner is, this is a subtle classic. There's a touch of fruitiness as well. Ridiculously clean, this is a great lager.
The palate opens light with a little pils malt character and a very delicate hop character. Beautifully balanced, the light fruitiness marries perfectly with the hop and the malt character. Moderate lemon hop character is present, this beer dries out on the finish with an astounding finish, light, delicate and lingering. The last beer that impressed me this much was the Aktien Hell, this is a fabulously crafted beer

**Edit 23 April 2012**
I finally found this again. Best by July 2012. I only have to add that there's a faint sulfur note on the nose, and the lemon hop character on the nose comes into the palate as well. Excellent stuff, though I'm dropping my overall from 5 (I'd given it a 5 for drinkability) to 4.5

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 00:40:09 | More by DefenCorps

nickfl

Florida

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one and a half fingers of white foam on top of a slightly hazy, golden body. The head settles rapidly and leaves very nice lace.

S - An aroma of light, sweet malt and spicy, herbal European hops.

T - Sweet malt up front with some herbal hops and a touch of bitterness. Flavors of hay and honey in the middle with a bitter finish that is grassy, but balanced by a moderately strong malt flavor.

M - Slightly thick malt, moderate carbonatiion, and a lightly sweet finish.

D - Not bad, it is a good example of the style and while it won't win any points for complexity it is very refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 01:24:04 | More by nickfl

smakawhat

Maryland

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a Gaffel Kolsch stange glass.

A lemony light color off the pour, creates a very nice solid white and foamy head that has some very solid staying power. Body color is a light to dull lemon yellow, some fast rising cola carbonation, cloudy and hazy. Some faint tiger stripe lacing is apparent after drinking a little bit.

Nose has a slight spritzy lemon, some very slight diacetyl that's light, a sense of crisp hop, and some dry white bread. Other than this minor diacetyl it's fairly solid.

Palate brings a noticeable muted hop and lemon brightness. Richly fills with sweet malts and crisp effervescence. Slight chew on the finish, a very good quenching punch.

Overall pretty darn good for another American producing Kolsch nose and appearances aside. Keepum coming!

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 22:11:51 | More by smakawhat

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

tdm168

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - bright yellow with a thin cap of pure white, foamy head that has decent retention

S - lemony, grassy, faint bread, some yeast

T - very bready, biscuity, doughy, lemon, faint apple, a hint of caramel, mild grass, very faint bitterness in the finish

M - light to medium bodied, crisp, well carbonated

This is a really nice beer. The taste may in fact deserve higher than 3.5. The initial taste is very bready and malty, but as the drink progresses it becomes more Kolsch-like with some lemony, grassy notes. This is a beer that I could sit down with and really work my way through. I wouldn't mind having some of these on hand for those high-volume nights.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 21:38:05 | More by tdm168

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle served in a stange-type glass.

L - clear golden yellow color with a fluffy white head that left good lacing.
S - grassy hops smell is very much like a German pilsner.
T - very good balance of bitter hops and sweet malt with a slightly sweet yet dry finish.
F - lighter bodied, crisp and refreshing.
D - goes down very easy.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2010 22:22:07 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Picked this up from the House of 1,000 beers mix and match price $1.65

A - Even though it's a touch old it still poured a clear, clean bright hay colored yellow with a 1/2 inch of rocky white head.

S - Smells of mild wheat, a touch of floral hops, and some dough.

T - It's a bit floral with some wheat and grass making way to the palate giving it a yeasty kind of lemon taste but the finish is clean.

M - Light to medium a good bodied summer beer.

Overall it's a good Kolsch but I can find more crisp and balanced versions of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 17:34:32 | More by DrDemento456