Saranac Kolsch

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Aroma is malty and slightly yeasty, not strong. Pours a typical straw yellow, OK head. Flavor is yeasty and malty, nothing special. Texture has about average viscosity and fizz. If nothing special, still refreshing and pleasing.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Sampled on 10/18/2012. This Kolsch pours a medium yellow gold color from a 12oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head with decent lacing and nice lacing. The aroma is fruity and sweet, a hint of honey and some citrus. A light to medium bodied Kolsch. The malts are fruity and sweet, a little cereal. The hops are floral and earthy. Decent carbonation. Crisp and clean. Light and refreshing. Decent summer beer. Easy drinking. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

It pours a solid golden with a thin white head and some surrounding lacing. An aroma of tart malts, orange and citrus, bitterness, and pepper and spice. The mouthfeel is smooth and rich. Flavors of caramel malts, hops, orange/citrus, bitterness, and spices. Good .. refreshing after a hot day..

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I received this as part of the Saranac Summer Sampler which I got at Staples Corner Liquors in Gambrills, MD. I've had several Saranac products before, but had never tried the Kolsch, so I was curious to see how this one stacked up versus the other products offered from this brewery.

The beer is a clear, medium golden color. When poured it has a very white head that is about a finger thick, but quickly dissolves within a minute or two of being poured. The aroma is pretty impressive. As it sits in the glass on the table, about 2 feet from my nose, I am able to smell a nice combination of grainy and malty aroma. There's even a sweet hint in the aroma as well.

The flavor and mouthfeel were surprising good as well. The first sip from the glass gives me this very smooth drinking beer that really hits the spot on a hot summer day. It is like a fresh grain field in a glass with a hint of hops on the back end. I will say it's a little on the dry side, but it's still a great summer drink.

I must be honest and say that Kolsch style beers are not a style that I drink a lot of, but this Saranac offering really turned me on to the style and I look forward to trying some other Kolsch style beers in the future. Give this one a try if you get a chance.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Saranac's Kolsch has a beautiful golden color and a thick white head. It has a lovely light aroma with some fruity esters that reminds me of pineapple. The flavor is well rounded with some light grains, mellow doughy yeast and fruity hops that add just a little bitterness. On the palate there is a nice carbonation with a light body and clean dry finish. I liked this refreshing offering from the summertime sampler and I could see myself looking for it by itself in a six pack over so.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

This had been sitting in the fridge since the 4th of July. I wish I had tried it sooner. A solid bubbly white head of foam sits on top of a darkish golden clear fluid. The head retention lasts for a solid 3 minutes before melting, leaving a glint of thin lace at the end. A malty nose is most noticeable with a slight hint of spice. The flavor is shockingly smooth and buttery (almost like it was nitrogenated) and not as grainy as I was expecting. Malt, however was key to this Kolsch, with a nice low hop character to boot. I detected some caramel overtones in both the nose and mouthfeel with a distantly dry finish. The only thing I know about the style is that it's a brew that comes from Cologne. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised as I was expecting Saranac Kolsch to be a dud. It wasn't. This is a very tasty interpretation. EIN PROSIT KOLN!!!!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Intense dark gold color, thick off white head with some massive lacing. Solid aroma of caramel malt, bread, along with a faint bitterness. Heavy and creamy mouth feel (especially for this style), nice bitterness. Gets tacky at the finish, but it still drinks well. Malty and tasty, lots of caramel with a lightly roasted taste and a nutty sweetness. Mild flavoring hops really balance this brew. This is heartier, darker, and more filling than the other Kolsch's I've had so it does seem a bit off style, but damn it's still a good brew. This summer sampler from Saranac has gotten off to a good start.

Aroma: 2 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Clean ubiquitous pale yellow american lager appearance. Refined, nearly sweet aroma. Good fizzy carbonation greets the tongue on the first taste, not overwhelming. Sweet aroma immediately increases. Slightly bitter and more stronger than a pale yellow. Fruit hints are combining in the nose and on the taste buds. Finish is at first relatively mild bitter hops/malt but the sensation is short lived. No definable Saranac residual flavors. Surpizingly I have not tasted many koelsch, this is better than flying dog tire bite and Schell Zommerfest.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 5

Fancy name for what tastes like an amber lager. Slightly amber in color. Small head that vanishes quickly. Tastes bland and watery. Part of a summer sampler that wasn't that impressive.

Aroma: 4 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 4 | Overall: 4

This is a really ordinary beer. It was relatively true to the original German Kolsch style, however, there isn't anything really special about those either. I thought this was the weakest of the sampler. Tasted like a sharper and drier Bud in my opinion.