The city of Cologne, Germany is home to the Kölsch, one of the more obscure ales in the world. This blonde ale is traditionally fermented with a unique yeast strain at a lower temperature than other ales, and then lagered for an additional period of time, resulting in a very smooth brew. Reminiscent of many German lagers, it is often produced in the U.S. as a warm weather seasonal and is a great gateway beer for those venturing away from a light, domestic lager. Some of my regional favorites include Schlafly Kölsch and Goose Island Summertime, while Kölsches from Sünner and Reissdorf are tops on my list of German picks. It’s hot. Crack open a Kölsch!
This article appears in August 2014.