Guest Video Review by Tom The Beer Whisperer
I was in the mood for a Kolsch, I must tell you. Kolsch, when done right, is a wonderful style of beer really, one of the few German styles that gets anywhere close to being an ale. Kolsch is warm fermented with ale yeast and then cold-aged like a lager, the latter process smoothing it out and removing some of the fruity esters. Here in America, we have cream ale that is quite similar, although is usually brewed with adjuncts that are strictly verboten in Germany.
As I said, I was in the mood for a Kolsch. Luckily, I had one on hand, a half-liter bottle of Urban Chestnut BAP Kolsch Ale I got from good old Tom the Beer Whisperer Mulvihill (see Tom’s video take on this beer above). Here’s what the brewery says about the beer on the label:
BAP has a double meaning. It’s UCBC’s interpretation of the classic bier style from the city of Koln…Kolsch..and it’s the name of the most famous rock band that calls Koln its home. The bier (not the band) is a warm-fermented golden ale, that is then cold-conditioned, taking on many characterizes of a lager.
Urban Chestnut BAP Kolsch Ale has an alcohol content of 4.9% by volume with 27 IBUS. It is release number 14 in the Urban Chestnut Reverence Series, and was sold as part of their Sweet-Tart variety pack.
Urban Chestnut BAP Kolsch Ale pours to a pale yellow color and a thin white creamy head when poured into a Kolsch glass. The nose offers crisp bready malt, is softly white wine vinous and offers a hint of grassy hops. Taking a sip, the beer is wonderfully fresh biscuity malty up front with gentle suggestions of fruit and a long dry grassy-herbal bitter hop finish. It’s crisp, clean (mostly) and really exactly what I am looking for in a Kolsch.
Urban Chestnut is 2 for 2 with this textbook Kolsch. It’s simply amazing, and I look forward to trying more of their beers in the future.
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