Anyone that has read my reviews on a regular basis knows this: I am adamant that the only fair way to judge a beer is by style. I think that that is a distinction lost on most of the raters at the major beer related websites (Beeradvocate, Ratebeer, Untappd), but it’s a truth. How can you rate an imperial stout against an IPA? A double bock vis a vis a pilsner? A Belgian tripel as opposed to an English mild? Answer: you can’t.
Still and all, those lines do occasionally get blurred by a beer that doesn’t fit neatly into any one particular slot, or at least, could be looked at as more than one. Case in point: Ballast Point Tart Peach Kolsch, an entry in the brewery’s Discovery Series of specialty beers. Is it a Kolsch? A fruit beer? A “sour”?
Actually, the first one of those I’m happy to throw out is “sour”. That’s mainly a generic term made up by American beer geeks and brewers to accommodate a wide range of brews that have undergone a lactobacillic fermentation to provide a sour finish. Proper sour styles include Berliner Weisse, Lambic (though not all), and Flanders Red and Brown ales.
Is Ballast Point Tart Peach Kolsch a Kolsch then? The name would so indicate, but the sourness and peach fruit obscure what is a soft, drinkable ale with a light fruitiness. To me, then, this is really a fruit beer. Your mileage may vary. I, however, will judge it as such.
Ballast point says:
Our
Tart Peach Kölsch is a fresh take on one of our very first beers. The juicy
aroma and flavor of ripe peach complements the subtle fruitiness from the
Kölsch yeast in this bright, refreshing ale. Add a tickle of tartness to
round out the senses, and you get a new brew that’s interestingly
delightful.
Ballast Point Tart Peach Kolsch has an alcohol content of 5.2% by volume with 20 IBUs. I paid $6 for a 23-ounce mug at Taco Mac and the beer runs $9.99 a six-pack in cans at Total Wine.
My mug of Ballast Point Tart Peach Kolsch arrived a light orange peach in color with a light cap of foam and soft peach fruit in the nose. Taking a sip, the beer is light with crisp malt and lots of juicy peach flavor. It finishes with a tart sour and rather refreshing finish.
As I said before, this is much more a fruit beer for me, but that’s not a bad thing. The peach and sourness are delightful together, and the beer is perfectly suited to the hot weather we’re having here in the Peach State.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft