Karnival Kolsch - Stoudts Brewing Co.

Franz4

Ohio

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

12 oz bottle best by 8/9/11

A-Light golden, nearly yellow, translucent with a decent white bubbly head that settled relatively quickly.

S- subdued lemon followed by straw, and then an even more subtle spiciness to it.

T- straw and white grapefruit flavor, spiciness continues to be there but I'm not able to identify it

M- initial blast of residual carbonation balances out nicely. Very dry and clean, very little aftertaste.

O- I'm enjoying this beer and it could be a good one for the summer months when you want something refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 00:50:06 | More by Franz4

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

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

WVRadar

West Virginia

4.4/5  rDev +16.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very clear, sparkling straw to pale gold body, capped by a thin fizzy white head. Lots of bubbles racing to the surface. Moderate lacing. Pleasant malty aroma with a hint of fresh bread. Very tasty, sweet, crisp and smooth. Did not detect much of a hops presence. Mouthfeel is light, oily and soft. Certainly an upgrade over the everyday American lager, I really like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 00:45:50 | More by WVRadar

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

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

A: bright gold with a white head. reasonable retention. brilliant clarity.

S: all aromas are mild and difficult to identify. low pilsner maltiness. faint aroma from a german hop varietal. sulfur characteristics are obviously present as well.

T: sweet maltiness is pleasantly balanced by a noble hop varietal that makes itself much more present on the palate than in the nose. a delicate fruit is notable as well. strawberry and pear.

M: very smooth, very rounded. light body with a medium carbonation.

D: refreshingly light. some subtle hop, and fruit flavors. overall a tasty nice summer beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2011 01:09:06 | More by Jimmys

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

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up some of these because it is currently #7 on BA for the style. Here goes...

A: Poured a fizzy yellow color, with tons of bubbles shooting up from the bottom. After a very assertive pour, I managed to summon up a pretty substantial 1 - 1.5 finger cloud white head. Tons of lacing stuck to the side of the glass, even as I siphoned down the brew.

S: Faint, yet still present scent of sweet bread and German malt... alongside a nice fruity, hop presence.

T: Remarkably sweet, crisp, malty taste, with a mild bitter hop character that I totally wasn't expecting. The dry finish doesn't linger. Satisfying and refreshing!

M: Medium bodied, with prickly carbonation that I felt was perfect and allowed me to experience more of the complex sweetness. I was pleasantly surprised that this didn't turn out to be the bubble fest that I thought it might have been upon first pour.

O: Highly drinkable for sure. I could see myself popping a few of these around the pool in the summertime. Hey, that's what this was created for right?

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 00:30:07 | More by Chaney

schoolboy

Ohio

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

I think I could drink about 20 of these. They taste good and they are extremely drinkable. I rated it as if the old drinkability were in place of "overall." This shines in drinkability as this style should.

It is perhaps a bit too light, as the style should be. The smell is good - again, a bit lighter than my preference. But it's a well made beer and one you could drink again and again.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 23:12:41 | More by schoolboy

Khazadum

Illinois

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

Get to use my stange for the first time! This is so exciting... Can't wait :D

A- Clear pale yellow body like a well hydrated urine. Tons of carbonation, many many streams and individual explosions of carbon dioxide. Generates a tightly packed styrofoam-esque cap and mini bubble collection of pure white. No discoloration or support from the beverage. Pretty lacing. Definitely didn't expect the numerous layers to develop like it did.

S- Clean, fresh, and sharp. The hops are spicy. Very refreshing nose on this one. The malt is very faint coming off of it. Some... mild biscuit? Definitely this grape character that starts to come out with warming. Love it.

T- Opens very malty. Throughout it has that biscuit, bread power. Some spiciness of the hops on the late stages, but this one is just clean malt power through and through. Finishes up faint soft, spongy bread center.

Some changes as it got warmer. I feel like there is a fantastic sweet flavor that bursts in the middle. Caramel maybe... Its transient and short-lived. Not there on every drink, but it definitely gives a wine-like power when it exists. Wish it happened on every drink and the score would have been much better.

M- Nice mild body, refreshing feeling. The carbonation is light and tingly rather than a burning passion. Minor stickiness. Like this one. Great beer to start my evening.

I think I'm a fan. Nothing amazing, but surely a beer I need to work into my rotation somehow in the future. Cleans up and delivers a good amount of flavor without being overbearing. Truly easy to drink like it should be. I want to say Kolsch but it seems too simple to be that... the Stange and then it to be kolsch screams too easy to guess. Ahh, hell. I don't know for sure. Pilsner?! Nah...

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2011 05:01:21 | More by Khazadum

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

A lot of American breweries take "Kolsch" (Kölsch is actually a appellation restricted to the breweries in and around Cologne) too far, either using too much malt or too many hops, leaving a beer that's either just too big for the style, or out of balance in some way. Stoudt's is pretty much right on.

They've got the yellow-golden color right, along with the bright-white head; and the proper amount of malt, yeast fruitiness, and noble hops in the nose. That's probably the hardest part to achieve because you don't want too much malt, and certainly not too many hops, AND you've got to get that little bit of fruitiness in as well without letting it get too bright.

The flavor follow suit, and it's important that it's well rounded and balanced in the same way that the aroma is. The malt should be supple and slightly grainy-sweet, but attenuated; and the hops need to be judiciously used for both bitterness and flavor. Too much flavor throws off the balance, and too much bitterness takes it into another style.

In general it's on the mid-upper range of the style, but if they'd gone any lighter I'd imagine today's consumers would grumble, thinking it too light (don't let them know it has less alcohol than Bud). A touch more carbonation might help to give it a little more refreshing crispness, but it's still quite good as it is. Overall, they've done a very good job with a very specifically defined style (keeping it from becoming a Blonde ale or a fruity Euro "lager"). Best of all, it's probably fresh! Prost!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2011 14:45:01 | More by NeroFiddled

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

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

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle to pilsner glass.
Pours a crystal clear pale straw color. White fluffy head lasts a long time and laced well. Smell is grainy and yeasty with a a bit of lemon. Palate is clean and balanced. Cracker malts and bready yeast are balanced with a touch of floral hops. Mild bitterness with a spot-on dry mouthfeel. Very easy drinking and true to form kolsch.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 02:59:33 | More by JunkYardJake

victory4me

Pennsylvania

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

Poured into a standard shaker.

Pours a clear straw yellow with a two finger head which dissipates quickly. Floral aroma of noble hops, hints of lemon and a slightly metallic characteristic. Very typical of the style.

Washes over the tastebuds very nicely. A subtle, hop presence that is just strong enough to make itself known. Citrusy and light. Extremely refreshing and easy to drink. A nice prickly mouthfeel from the carbonation and the hops. I could drink many of these in a sitting and wouldn't have to think very hard about it.

A really nice surprise from Stoudts. A great intro beer for your BMC friends. Very refreshing and enjoyable. A perfect representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2011 02:21:51 | More by victory4me

Buggies

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a straw yellow. Crystal clear too. Quite pretty to look at. Aroma is quite nice also. Sweet malt aroma with citrus. Little bit of corn and straw there too.

Tastes great. Citrus mostly. Slight sweetness in the background. Nice crispness from the carbonation. Bitterness is spot on I think. It rides through the finish cutting away some of the sweet citrus notes.

I'm a big fan of Stoudts. So, to me this is another example of a good beer from a great brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 03:15:48 | More by Buggies

Phelps

Arizona

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

Poured from a bottle received from hopead101 in the Blind Beers BIF. This one was poured into a tulip.

It's a beautiful bright dandelion yellow with the slightest hint haziness amidst moderate effervescence. A bubbly one-finger head of pure white fizzles away rapidly, leaving a small ring.

Subtle aroma. Saltines, a tiny bit of sourdough, some apples and a hint of spicy German hops.

The flavor mimics the aroma: cracker-like malt balanced by a very mild fruit sweetness and spicy hops. The finish is crisp, dry and refreshing. The absence of flavor between sips encourages me to go back for another.

Light-bodied, yet full of perky carbonation that prickles the tongue and causes the beer to foam up as it moves about.

This was a refreshing change of pace from the heavier stuff I've been drinking lately. A solid, drinkable kolsch, perfect for knocking back several of during a day at the course.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2011 03:11:27 | More by Phelps

foogerd

New York

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

My first Kolsch!

A- Pale yellow with a slightly hazy body, some white head that left over some lacing.

S- Sweet honeyed malts, some spicy hops.

T- Malty metal like breads, odd but the metal doesnt seem to bother me at all. Nice bitter oily hoppy finish.

M- Highly carbonated.

D- Perfect full flavored beer to session, real solid brew to quaff.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2011 05:21:28 | More by foogerd

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bought a sixer of this stuff, definitely buy a sixer. The first glass is gone before you know it, designed for drinking in number under 5%. Forget strict definitions of a session beer, taste this it's a session beer. Pours a pale bright golden color beautiful appearance, bright thick white head dwindles down with large bubbles leaves behind a nice collar of lacing. Aroma is semi fruity, pale cereal malts light biscuit tones. Mineral water with herbal/grassy hop additions highlighted very close to a German Kolsch, probably better than half of the versions we get just due to the fact that this is so fresh. Best by 7/19/11 on the neck label it has to have been brewed recently. Flavor semi fruity notes amongst the cereal/grains herbal hops. Nothing complex but simplicity can rock your world especially in this type of style, I can't wait for Victory to bottle their Kolsch. These PA breweries do German styles so well. I gave a bottle to my cousin for helping me out with the little ones, I guess next time my local beer store opens up I'm going to have to grab another sixer. They only got one case in. If worse comes to worse I'll got to Vecenie's and grab a case of it at wholesale pricing. Mouthfeel is light bodied ample sturdy carbonation dead on nails the style. My kind of drinking beer, it gives you hop burps and feels as like it was brewed in Koln at a small local brewery.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 03:44:10 | More by WVbeergeek

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

"Everything being a constant carnival, there is no carnival left."

--Victor Hugo

Haystack yellow with corn silk edges and a crown of sheep's wool white. Lots of farm references there. The head has a cottony texture that looks good as it fades, all the while leaving small chunklets of sticky lace on the sides of the glass.

The aroma has the musky, grassy, spicy quality of German nobles. Probably Saaz and at least one or two others. Malt makes very little olfactory impact, which is par for the style course. Hints of skunk (which is odd given the brown glass bottle) aren't too much of a negative.

If Karnival Kolsch is truly a spring seasonal then this bottle has held up remarkably well. It's still pretty hoppy and the finish is crisp and tight. Tastes like it was brewed no more than a few months ago.

The flavor profile is fairly simple, as expected, but that doesn't make it bad beer. On the contrary. There's a pleasant backdrop of cereal grains and bread crusts, then come top notes of bitter grasses and a wee twist of lemon peel. If this bottle is 8-10 months old then Stoudts has made a brewing deal with the devil.

The mouthfeel is quality through and through. Plenty of size for the ABV, good lift and creaminess, dialed-in carbonation. Check, check... and check.

Stoudts Karnival Kolsch is an outstanding lawnmower-type ale. It has an abundance of flavor and isn't as simple as it first appears. The brewery should seriously think about a year-round release. Hey, those of us in the Midwest need snowblower beers too.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 12:05:03 | More by BuckeyeNation

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

smokeypeat

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle. Light golden color with relatively small head, and a small amount of lace. Aroma has some lemon, touch of honey, light pepper. Nice smooth easy drinking beer. Light hop presence up front, but it's absolutely dominated by a clean crisp finish. One of my new go-to beers on grass cutting day.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2010 20:25:46 | More by smokeypeat

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

redzone3120

Delaware

4.35/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear golden yellow with a slight shade of amber. Very clear with a good amount of carbonation visible. Has a white head, about 1 finger high that dissipates to a light ring around the edge.

S - Great smell, I cannot put my finger on the aromas but its not too bitter and not fruity like other summer styles. Glad it kept the Kolsch style!

T - Great taste, just like it smells. Not bitter at all and doesn't have any odd extras like lemon and stuff. Just a true to form, great tasting beer.

M - Good mounthfeel, the bubble dissipate quickly but it washes down with little aftertaste.

D - Totally drinkable, could have more than one in a sitting. Would go great with a lot of foods and isn't too heavy. Great summer time brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2010 02:49:40 | More by redzone3120

Morey

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This hard to find and somewhat rare style of an ale poured pale yellow in color with brilliant clarity with lots of bubbles floating up towards a fairly thin white head. Some lace is sticking to the glass, but it's minimal.

Smell is clean crisp and fresh. Nothing in your face, but nice.

Taste...this has to be one of the most refreshing beers that I've ever had. There's a nice bitey hop-carbonation combo that greets you at the door which mellows quickly for a clean smooth finish.

Mouthfeel is thin and slick with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is top notch. I can't think of many better session/summer brews than this one right here.

Morey's Bottom Line: A great beer from a great brewery. Perfect for summer BBQ'S.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 21:26:56 | More by Morey

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