Reissdorf Kölsch

Brewed by Privat-Brauerei Heinrich Reissdorf
Style: Kölsch
Cologne, Germany

Serve in Kölsch/Altbier

Draught at TJ’s: Aroma of pale malts and slight vegetables. Poured pale yellow/gold in color with no head whatsoever. Clear. Sparkling. Flavor is slightly sweet. Tastes of grains, pale malts, and slight vegetables. Light body. Thin texture. Average carbonation. No real finish to speak of.

On tap at Rec Billiards with Chris/Karen/Sauter. A good Kolsch is very difficult to find, but this one was great. Creamy, good flavor, just right.

Outside of Cologne though, one can only find two Kolsch that are exported, one of them the Reissdorf Kolsch which I am tickled pink to be able to try on draft. The only let-down I suffer is that it is served to me in “Westernized” 12oz Reissdorf Kolsch flutes.

She arrived draft-fresh in her 12oz official Western Reissdorf Kolsch Stange a light clear straw with a dominant cottony white head which lazily retreats into a soft blanket, a little rumpled from wear. I wait a couple minutes for her keg-chill to wane a bit, and then I raise the glass to my nose to see just what all this national pride fuss is all about. Crisp, light, and zesty, she snaps her fingers to grab my attention and doesn’t once let go. Complicated by no means, but very enjoyably clean-cut and straightforward with summer hay, sweet cereal grains, and freshly baked white breads that must be sitting next to an orchard of lemon trees drooping under their blossomed bounty. There is a touch of sugar-coated lemon drops in the background which compliment her soft white breads and bountiful fields of grains. I haven’t taken my first quaff yet, but I can see why the proud denizens of Cologne would enjoy their Stange in refreshingly cool quantities. With eager hands and quivering lips we meet, and love is born. She gently caresses, spreading her soft grains and gently chewy white breads across my tastebuds while a spritz of lemon playfully teases the back of my tongue. Hm… I may have found a rival for Weisse/Wit beers when it comes to refreshingly tasty quaffability. My Reissdorf Kolsch speaks volumes about her simple sensibilities by hiding nothing and so, with each soft quaff, I am soothed by fields of hay and sweet cereal grains while the bakers shop down the road is taking fresh loaves out of the oven while his lemon trees strain under their ripe bounty. Picture perfect.

I don’t drink beer for the quantity but the quality, and I find it very disheartening that the fine brewers and exporters of Reissdorf Kolsch felt they had to “super size” their traditional 5oz Stange glasses for the gluttonous Western masses. I didn’t let that interfere with my enjoyment of the Reissdorf Kolsch in the least. Their smaller serving glasses make total sense once you have tasted a Kolsch. You want it cool, fresh, and brimming over when it reaches your eager hands and quivering lips. It’s magic, I say, magic.

Pours a gold color with a light white head. Decent lacing. Definite odors of malt, grass, and a metallic hint. Light bodied, goes down pretty easy. Nothing special.

Had on tap served in an appropriate glass. Typical colors and typical kolsch grainy flavors and a hint of metallic tinge.

On tap at the Flying Saucer in KC. Pours a crystal clear, pale yellow body with lots of rising carbonation. Pillow soft, white, finger width head that dissipates slowly and leaves a moderate lacing. Aroma smells pretty typical. A sweeter lager-like smell. Slightly grainy pale malts, honey, some fruit, and just a touch of grassy hops. Similar lager-like flavor. Semi-sweet malts, a light honey crispness, a bit of fruit, and a slightly dry grass to finish this off. Short and sweet, pale honey aftertaste. Light bodied, crisp, and refreshing. Overall, for a Kölsch this is tasty, but the style doesn’t give it too much to offer. Nonetheless, a quaffable and decent tasting beer.

Pours a light gold with a small amount of head that disappears very quickly. Light bodied. On the aroma I get some malt and hops. Really not much else. On the palate I get subtle malts in there along with a hint of wheat. I am not sure if this is more true to the kolsch style but I am definitely not a fan.

Tap @ PIB... Poured a faint golden with a white head (looked watered down). Crisp, cracker malts and earthy sweetness on the nose. Crisp, dry and refreshing palate. Pilsner-like malts and candy sugars with a nicely balanced, but mild hop profile.