Kayak Kölsch - Lake Superior Brewing Company

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.1/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a cloudy orange/ golden color, though I expect a kolsch to be a bit clearer, and the head is decent,and white, but very short. Aroma: a bit sharp and unusual, with a good deal of citrus and a touch of sour. There's more going on in the nose, too, that I can't quite describe, but again, not what I expected.
Great hops upfront, very citrusy, with a nice, tasty finish.
Light bodied, crisp, and quite quaffable. At the end, there's a sweet/sour character that clashes a bit on the palate.
A fine enough ale, but I can't shake that they missed the mark a bit if they were brewing a kolsch.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2003 11:11:44 | More by feloniousmonk

zeff80

Missouri

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out an orange/amber color with a small, short-lived head. No lacing.

S - Smelled citrusy and grainy.

T - It was sweet and citrusy. A subtle malt and hop blend, too.

M - It was crisp and light-bodied.

D - My initial reaction to this beer was lower, but I tried a couple more and realized it was much better than my first impression.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2007 02:50:36 | More by zeff80

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Definately a simple but tasteful beer here. Great for summer. Pours a nice gold with white head. Smells sweet and light. Tastes of slightly caramel malts, not much bitterness, but a little bit of citrus. Quite pleasant. At first I wished it were a touch more crisp, but I'd say carbonation is on for the style. Comparable to just about anyone's kolsch or "summer ale." Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2006 22:03:47 | More by tempest

Bighuge

Minnesota

2.1/5  rDev -42.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

This hazy yellow beer throws a good 1 inch head that gives some decent lacing. This brew has got something wrong in the aroma. I get a menthonal like odor. Way off, especially for a Kolsch. IPA or PA might get away with it by saying it has an extreme pine odor, but not this style. Drinking this beer is like drinking diluted Pine Sol. Just not worth it. I don't think I'll waste the space in my stomach with this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2002 19:14:34 | More by Bighuge

Gusler

Arizona

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

On the pour a lightly hazy golden yellow color, the head modest in size, frothy, bright white in color and the lace a nice sheet to conceal the glass. Nose is malt, slightly sweet and buttery, crisp and clean with the start a pleasant sweet malt, top is a bit thin and the finish pleasantly hopped, the acidity mild and the aftertaste dry. A bit thin waisted for me, but I think it would make a nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2003 15:11:46 | More by Gusler

tavernjef

Minnesota

3.45/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On-Tap: Translucent goldish yellow color with a strong puffy foamed white head that stays present from the pour off the tap, lacing in lots of spots and some strings. Smell is a bit sweet and fresh of light pine and citrus and a touch of a mineral/vitamin-like note. Taste has the same qualities with a short but sustained little sweetness thats a bit citrusy, light pineyness and floral notes and a crisp light finish with a touch of the mineral/vitamin-like tinge coming through in some of the lingering. Feel is light bodied feel and has a little grab, but nothing to holding or strong. Good drinkablity and pleasurable enough from the tap but not really worth another.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2003 23:46:04 | More by tavernjef

mactrail

California

3.48/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A pleasant light beer with a hint of German character.

Nice light amber color, head dissipates more than some. Quite light bodied as you'd expect. Faint lemony taste but not much aroma. On the tart side. Malt is virtually undetectable and hops are quite modest, so I'd have to call it well balanced.

Very drinkable with a pleasing aftertaste of cereal and citrus. Clean and crisp. The better-than-lager alternative.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2010 04:08:31 | More by mactrail

ZAP

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pretty clear..Big white frothy head…mildy fruity (melons)…soft fruitiness on the aroma…nice flavor…fruity with a crisp maltiness….almost a hint of honey/vanilla to the taste…medium bodied and smooth….

Damn nice beer….refreshing, clean, a nice tasting Kolsch…seems very fresh…

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2005 02:11:21 | More by ZAP

dirtylou

Washington

3.4/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on-tap at the Gun Flint in Grand Marais, MN

cellphone notes

appearance: served in a shaker pint, pale golden body, light white crest

smell: grain, lemon, musty

taste: light caramel malt, grain, musty, lemon and honey, bready with notes of light yeast. I'm not a huge kolsch fan and this isn't one of the better ones out there

mouthfeel: light

drinkability: could be sessionable - but i find the grainy finish offputting

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2010 01:37:23 | More by dirtylou

alexgash

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Another "better on tap beer than in the bottle." Pours a light hazy golden straw with a puffy cloud white head. Smells of apple tart malt, complemented by mellow hop overtones. Taste is juicy, slightly tart apple fruitiness, but light--not verly sweet or fruity. Hops come in for balance and add a nice floral bitterness. Surprisingly not too light bodied, with refreshing carbonation and a nice spring/summer ale.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2004 02:40:10 | More by alexgash

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Popured a slighly hazy golden color with moderate white puffy head. Smell is minimal with a slight fruitiness present. Taste follows through on the smell with a mild summer fruit note present. Very nice drinkability. A nice thirst quencher. Goos session beer for a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2006 00:27:42 | More by tgbljb

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a disappointingly thin head that all but disappears, and fast. Color is a coppery dark golden color, just a few shades lighter than your average lager. A smattering of bubbles work their way up the glass slowly.

Light aroma delivers a nice maltiness, very bready, a small hint of honey in the background. An overall fresh and lively aroma.

This is as full-bodied and full-flavored a Kolsch as I've come across. Honey, wheat bread, orange marmalade, flowery hops...nice crisp body to go along with it. Interesting orange-y aftertaste that I kind of like...and a sticky finish that I'm not sure about, but it helps give this more character in any case.

Very easy to drink, very easy to like. A solid brew for summer sipping, just a little bit different than many typical summer beers, yet nothing that strange either. I'd easily have another if I had another. Thanks to mnwags for this bottle.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2007 21:53:19 | More by Metalmonk

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This brew pours a semi-cloudy golden orange color with a large creamy white head. The aroma is malty with some tangy untertones. The taste is quite pleasant. Orange with some nice tanginess. The mouthfell is medium-light bodied with ample carbonation. Overall, this is a might fine brew. It is a lot tastier than I had anticipated, and quite relaxing.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2005 21:10:26 | More by KarlHungus

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale straw color, aroma is mild but fresh. Very fleeting and delicate flavor, even for this style. But, retains mouthfeel very well. This is pretty drinkable when I'm in the mood for subtle malt thirst quenching.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2002 14:56:08 | More by ADR

morimech

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a slightly hazy golden with just a slight head that quickly disappears. Some bubbles are evident at first but after a few minutes they disappear too.

The smell is fruity sweet.

It tastes fruity sweet as well with just a little diacetyl in the background. The fruit I would describe it tasting like would be grapefruit, lemons, and white grapes. A better tasting Kolsch. It has a light mouthfeel but the lack of carbonation really hurts its drinkability. Maybe I had an old bottle but I enjoyed enough of the beer to give it another try in the summer when a beer like this would be better appreciated.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 00:04:15 | More by morimech

bditty187

Nebraska

3.43/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Slightly hazy, peachy-honey hue, smallish white head, soapy, limited spotty lace. Very timid nose with slight citrus notes, hay, frail hops… delicate malt hints. Simile palate, which is appropriate… slight citrus, spice, hay, hint of fruit, malt… nicely done, ideally restrained. Rather clean, leans towards the dry side, refreshing. Medium-light body with minimal carbonation… very fitting mouthfeel. The aftertaste is slightly tart… sweet though… minor bitterness too. In its simplicity is its elegance. This is not an “authentic” Kölsch be it would “hit the spot” on a warm summer day or for a change pace.

Thanks feloniousmonk!

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2003 10:49:55 | More by bditty187

TastyTaste

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy gold color with a small creamy white head. Smell is a very light floral hops, and even light malt scents. Taste is extremely light on the palate, never challenging, and very smooth. Lemon lime sodaesque, with some grainy heartiness. Good for summer, I am sure, even though it is February.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2005 06:27:04 | More by TastyTaste

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

12/11/04
I've decided to update this, as I had forgotten that I'd reviewed this already. I agree with much of the first review, except on this serving I found I enjoyed the sourness more than previously and also concluded that that very quality made it a nice summer drink. Thus, I've raised the scores some too.

Aroma is initially a light sweet malt that quickly turns to a more sour quality, leveling off with a hop floweriness mixed with the sourness. Darker golden color and clear. Smallish head but decent stamina. Light in overall flavor. Mix has similar qualites of the aroma, that being a base of malt surrounded by the slight sourness and a shot of bitterness from the hops. Probably a little too sour. For an ale I find it lacks enough combination of smoothness and creaminess this style often entails, containing only some smoothness. Overall an average beer. I think a little too sour and bitter for style, and that prevents it from being a nice summer ale too.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2003 06:18:05 | More by garymuchow

jera1350

Minnesota

3.98/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear gold color with a ring of dirty white foam around the outside of the glass. Leaves a few rings of lacing.

Sweet honey scent mostly. Softer scents of biscuit and bread hops.

Clean pale malt up front with some cracker flavors. The back end offers up a mild hop taste. Just a hair of honey sweetness. Very clean, crisp and refreshing.

A bit more than a light body, very crisp with a dry finish.

Very well made Kolsch right here. A great intro to craft for BMC folks too. Very sessionable brew that would be perfect for summer. Not many brewers tackle this style, but I wish they would. Glad to have a local option available.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 00:52:33 | More by jera1350

sholland119

Pennsylvania

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

Got this from beerbeagle in the favorite local beer and glass, BIF. Thanks, Randall.

Perhaps my second least favorite style as a rule, this was a darn good kolsch.

Clear golden with a thin white head and a bit of nice lacing.

Smell is lightly malty with a moderate fruity note (apricots, maybe pineapple).

Taste is a bit spicy, a bit sweet.

Mouthfeel is crisp and light. Very nicely drinkable. I enjoyed this one a lot.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 01:28:10 | More by sholland119

augustgarage

California

4.1/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a generic kolsch glass.

Maize bright clear liquid topped by a thin layer of off white foam. Superior retention, pasty lacing, thin legs.

Lovely (Pils?) malt and light winter fruit in the nose - floral and subtle.

Quite bready/toasty malt profile; apple skins, a hint of honey and butterscotch (not diacetyl), buckwheat, and sweet fermentation notes. Smooth yet crisp finish. Low hops throughout.

Creamy, very light-bodied, yet well carbonated.

Fruity, amazingly delicate malt bill...a fantastic example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2012 04:50:46 | More by augustgarage

hardy008

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours an almost perfect gold color with a 1 finger foamy white head.

Smell - Yeast, malt, and sweet fruit.

Taste - Sweet,with the taste of oranges, lemon, and malt.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied and smooth.

Drinkability - Very drinkable. I could see drinking several bottles of this. It would make a nice session beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 21:00:20 | More by hardy008

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Apricot-golden with a thin white head that lasts well, leaving minimal lacing. It is ever so slightly clouded.
S- Aroma is lightly grainy, a bit musty, not much to it.
T- Has abit of flavor, bright lemon character up front, with some pale grainy character in there. Mild finish.
M- Crisp body, light, but pretty normal for the style.
O- A fairly normal kolsch. It tastes fine and is fairly easy drinking. Not quite as clean as most in the style, but it's decent. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 04:01:20 | More by jsprain1

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.8/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

A= poursa darker oange color with no head or lacing.... kinda disapointing.
S= malty sweetness with a touch or fruityness. Not too bad just not that complex either.
T= yeasty up front with a nice fruity middle. Some apricots or peaches are in it. The finish is sweet and refreshing. A little bready and buttery.
M= low carbonation and medium body.
D= pretty decent session beer. Good summertime brew. This is the first of the style I've had and I haven't heard many good things about the style but this is ok. Not amazing or blow you away at all but a little different and refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2009 03:36:20 | More by jjanega08

Tballz420

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one pours out a crisp, clear golden color. The white head on top is small and quick to exit. The basic taste/smell is floral hops, its not bad tasting, its just a thin tasting drink. I would imagine it is pretty light too. I havent had too many of this style yet, so i may not be the best person to ask.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2003 20:37:01 | More by Tballz420