Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company Lug-Tread Lagered Ale Kölsch at 5.2% ABV | 21 IBU (C$4.70 at NLC Stavanger, 600 ml, bottle date 31-Aug-2016, acquired 6-Oct-2016, reviewed 8-Oct-2016)
Appearance: clear straw with one fat finger of fizzy white head diminishing to a persistent cap, moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: pale crackery malt, bready yeast, light citrus and floral. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, mild bitter. (7/10) Light body, lively carbonation, crisp clean finish. (3/5)
Clean, crisp and easy-drinking. It’s not going to challenge you, by any means, but it’s one you can easily session. The style is classic Kölsch, top-fermented with an ale yeast, but cold conditioned (“lagered”), making it a true hybrid style. The brewer says this one is done with (among others) pilsner and acidulated malts, in addition to wheat and carafoam. I’m not certain I’ve had one done with acidulated malt before, and I’m tempted to attribute at least some of the crispness in the finish to that, though I wouldn’t go so far as to call it actually tart. Pleasant enough, if a little pedestrian, and certainly one that wouldn’t be unwelcome under an umbrella on a hot day. (13/20)
6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
