BJCP 2021 / 5B
Kölsch
A delicate, bright, clean ale with a restrained fruity edge.
- Drink fresh
- standard strength
- pale color
- top fermented
- lagered
Serve: 40 to 44F, Stange (tall narrow cylinder)
OG1.120
1.044 to 1.050FG1.030
1.007 to 1.011IBU120
18 to 30SRM40
3.5 to 5ABV14%
4.4 to 5.2%Taste it in order
Aroma
12 pts- Soft grain and bread
- A whisper of fruit, like pear or apple, from the yeast
- Low floral hop
- Vague
- Fruity
- Better
- Light malt with a hint of fruit
- Best
- Low bready grain aroma, very low pear and apple fruitiness, faint floral hop, clean
Appearance
3 pts- Pale straw to gold
- Brilliantly clear from cold lagering
- White head, moderate retention
- Vague
- Gold
- Better
- Pale gold and bright
- Best
- Pale straw to gold, brilliant clarity, delicate white head
Flavor
20 pts- Soft bready malt with delicate fruit
- Gentle hop bitterness that supports it
- Dry, slightly crisp finish
- Vague
- Delicate
- Better
- Soft malt with a touch of fruit
- Best
- Low soft bready malt, very low pome fruit, low floral hop, moderate bitterness, clean dry finish
Mouthfeel
5 pts- Medium-light body
- Medium to medium-high carbonation
- Smooth
- Vague
- Smooth
- Better
- Medium-light and smooth
- Best
- Medium-light body, smooth, medium to medium-high carbonation
Overall Impression
10 ptsLifts it
- Subtlety
- Clean finish
Drops it
- Heavy fruit
- Cloying sweetness
- Strong hop
Writing tip
Say how subtle it is. Example: 'Soft grain with a whisper of pear, clean dry finish. The restraint suits the style.'
Pour these
- Früh KölschCölner Hofbräu FrühDelicate fruit and a clean dry finish
- Gaffel KölschPrivatbrauerei GaffelA bit more hop snap
- Reissdorf KölschBrauerei Heinrich ReissdorfSoft malt, gently fruity
Often confused with
- 5D German PilsGerman Pils is bolder in hop and crisper, with no fruit
- 18A Blonde AleBlonde Ale is maltier and shows more ale yeast
Fine here
- Estery: Light pear and apple notes define the style
- DMS: A trace is tolerated
Ruinous here
- Diacetyl: Butter
- Sulfur: Eggy notes that linger
- Oxidized: Stale cardboard
Style names, numbers and vital statistics follow the BJCP 2021 beer guidelines. Descriptions and example choices are our own. Check a beer is still made before you hunt for it.