Description
4.8%abv
Another fine top fermented beer from the Cologne region,
Owned by Dusseldorf brewing giants and owners of Schlosser Alt, Brau und Brunnen, this beer has its origins in a different sort of Beer, for this reason it is often smirked at by traditionalists of Cologne who complain of the distance of the brewers. However since the 1960s Kuppers, which comes from the word Kufer, or Cooper (barrel maker) has been producing a wonderful spritzy, fruity Kölsch bier.
Küppers was for many years a lager brewery near Düsseldorf, but the owning family opened a brewery in Cologne in the 1960's and moved into Kölsch production, taking the then unusually far-sighted step of marketing this local speciality ale far outside its traditional heartland.
Typically for the style, it is a delicate golden colour with a lovely white head and a honeyed hoppy aroma from both hops and hop extract being used.
The palate is dry and citric-fruity at first taste, slightly salty with lime-like hints and maltiness far back. It is certainly a dry beer, but at the same time has an appealing mildness that adds to its drinkability.
A style distinctive to Köln (Cologne). The name Kölsch is, like champagne, Appellation Controlée, protected by law so that only beers brewed in and around Köln can bear the name. The anglicised spelling is sometimes given as Koelsch.
The appearance is like a Pilsner: pale straw-coloured and clear. The taste is delicate and refreshing, less bitter than a Pilsner, gently fruitier and a little sweeter, often with a delightful biscuityness. A pale barley malt is used, sometimes with wheat added. The result is a refreshing cool beer (served at about 8°C), ideal for summer afternoons or perhaps with white fish. Many people would mistake it for a lager, and foreign brewers who attempt a brew in this style often describe it, incorrectly, as a lager. In fact, Kölsch is a warm fermenting beer — a survivor of the days before lager, though it is now given a period of lagering and is paler in colour than it used to be, following the demand of modern drinkers for lighter beers.
Küppers Kölsch is straw-coloured with a fairly fine but rapidly thinning head, and has a nose of light lagery malt, talcum powder and a hint of apples, the latter reminiscent of a dry cider. On the palate it is quite lively yet manages to remain smooth - gentle flavours are of dryish honey, apples, oranges, bitter zesty notes and vanilla. A sharp touch to the fruit flavour becomes apparent too. Finish is light, with crab-apple and lemon notes fading into a gentle cidery aftertaste. This is a refreshing beer with the combination of lager and ale characteristics typical of the style.
This beer would pair well with german cuisine, salads, seafood, fish and pork dishes.
50cl bottle.
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