Keller Kölsch

Keller Kölsch comes from Greensboro, NC, where its brewed at Natty Greene's Brewing Company, a little brewpub located in downtown. According to the chalkboard at the bar, the Double K contains a modest 4.9% alcohol. It's a faintly hazy dull gold ale--nicely carbonated and topped with a sharp white head. It has an earthy, grainy nose that is nicely replicated in the flavour. I enjoyed a pint on tap fresh from the brewery. A pretty beer, though it has a tiny bit of sediment at the bottom.

The mouthfeel lacks the crispness that I wanted to see and it was quite thin. However, the flavour pops pretty nicely and left me reasonably satisfied.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

Hogtown Ale

Hogtown Ale comes from Hogtown Brewers, out of Toronto, Ontario. It's a Kölsch-style ale that comes in a pretty snazzy 473mL can emblazoned with "Toronto's Neighbourhood Beer" around the top--a pretty bold statement, since there are a lot of neighbourhoods in this town. It contains 5% alcohol and pours a clear, pale, buttery golden colour.  It's crowned with a shock of white head and contains considerable carbonation.

I've had my eye on this stuff for a while and sampled it in a few different barrooms around town, but I had never managed to draw up a review until I saw it in the provincial liquor store the other day. It has a fresh, summery aroma with notes of grain and a faint whiff of toastiness, too. For a pale, golden brew, there's a good deal of flavour hanging out in this stuff. It is, at times, grainy, toasty, and, at the finish, respectably bitter. Additionally, there's a subtle butterscotch streak running through the middle, giving it an understated sweetness.

A really nice beer, I'm sure I'll be revisiting it from time to time.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

CCBC-Capitol Kolsch

 Capitol City Brewing Co.'s Capitol Kolsch arrived a pale straw colour, clear, and topped with a thin white head. It featured a grainy aroma with just a hint of toasty malt. The flavour ran from faintly sweet to a bitter-tinged finish. Though I only had a sample-sized glass, I could tell that this was an extremely sessionable brew. It was crisp, clean, mild and easy-drinking.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10. 

Gaffel Kölsch

Like all kölsch beers, Gaffel hails from Cologne, Germany.  It comes in a 500mL bottle and weighs in at 4.8% alcohol.  Gaffel pours a bright golden colour.  It's very clear, has lots of carbonation and it topped by a substantial white head.  With each sip, Gaffel leaves behind curtains of lace.

It has a slightly metallic aroma that features notes of sweet corn and a bitter kick.  The flavour is mild--nicely balanced between a gentle bitterness and a bready, malty sweetness.  It's a mild little brew, quite refreshing and drinkable.  Perhaps a touch too sweet for my taste, but still nice.  Definitely worth buying.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.