The Best Places To Buy Kolsch Beer

If you're looking to buy Kolsch beer, you've got a few options. First, you can try local liquor stores or specialty beer retailers in your area. These stores often carry a variety of craft beers, including Kolsch-style ales. Alternatively, you can opt for online retailers, which offer a convenient way to purchase Kolsch beer. Some popular online platforms for beer delivery include Drizly, Total Wine & More, Almanac Beer Co., and Half Time Beverage. These websites offer a range of Kolsch beers, from different breweries, in various package sizes. Keep in mind that some retailers may have age restrictions and require you to create an account or provide identification to ensure you are of legal drinking age.

Online beer retailers

If you're looking to buy Kolsch beer online, there are several retailers that can help you out.

Total Wine & More

Total Wine & More offers a wide range of Kolsch beers, including both domestic and international options. Their website provides detailed descriptions of each beer, including the taste, aroma, and even food pairing suggestions. They offer Kolsch beers from Germany, Oregon, California, Texas, Colorado, South Carolina, North Carolina, and more. You can explore their selection and make purchases directly through their website.

Drizly

Drizly is another online retailer that offers a selection of Kolsch beers. They provide information about the unique characteristics of Kolsch beer, highlighting its German origins, crisp taste, and delicate nature. Drizly allows you to find liquor stores near you that offer delivery or pickup options for Kolsch beer. You can check their website to see if their services are available in your town.

Best Day Brewing

Best Day Brewing offers a unique twist on the traditional Kolsch beer by providing a non-alcoholic version. Their Kolsch beer is described as light, crisp, and easy drinking, with a nice toasty malt character. They also offer free shipping for orders over $50. You can explore their website to learn more about their product and make purchases.

Half Time Beverage

Half Time Beverage features Gaffel Kolsch beer, which is produced by the well-known Kolsch brewery, Gaffel Becker (Privatbrauerei). This beer is described as pale, faintly fruity, with a crisp, hoppy finish. You can find out more about this product and make purchases through their website.

Local liquor stores

If you're looking to buy Kölsch beer from your local liquor stores, there are a few options available to you. Firstly, it is important to note that Kölsch beer is a German beer style that is crisp, light, and refreshing, making it perfect for warm summer days. It pairs well with food, especially sauerkraut, bratwurst, apricot cakes, and nutty cheeses.

To find local liquor stores that sell Kölsch beer, you can try using online services such as Drizly, which allows you to check if they deliver to your area. Simply enter your address on their website, and they will show you the availability and pricing of Kölsch beer from local stores. You can also try GotoLiquorStore, which follows a similar process by partnering with local stores to fulfil orders.

Additionally, there are specific brands of Kölsch beer that you can look for in your local liquor stores. For example, Gaffel Kölsch is a well-known brewery that produces a medium-coloured, slightly hoppy Kölsch beer with an ABV of 4.8%. You can also look for Reissdorf Kölsch, Fruh Kölsch, Coastal Empire Tybee Island Blonde, Jekyll Big Creek Kölsch, and Wild Heaven Put Me in Kölsch, among others. These beers are often available in cans or bottles and can be found in local liquor stores or through online retailers.

When visiting your local liquor store, you can ask the staff about their selection of Kölsch beers. They may be able to guide you towards specific brands or even recommend similar alternatives if Kölsch beer is not available. It is always a good idea to explore different options and discover new favourites.

Lastly, some local liquor stores may have websites or social media pages where they list their current inventory. You can check these online resources to see if they carry Kölsch beer or any other craft beer options that may interest you. By combining online searches, local store visits, and recommendations, you should be able to find a steady supply of Kölsch beer to enjoy.

US states with stock

Kolsch beer is a hybrid style of beer that combines the smoothness of a lager with the floral qualities of an ale. It is a pale, highly attenuated, hoppy, bright (i.e., filtered and not cloudy) top-fermenting beer. While Kolsch beer originates from Cologne, Germany, and is protected by a geographical indication within the European Union, it has become increasingly popular in the United States. Many American craft brewers have embraced the Kolsch style of beers, offering their interpretations of this refreshing and crisp beverage. Here is a list of US states where you can find Kolsch beer:

California

Devil's Canyon Beer Kitty Kolsch is a light-bodied and effervescent interpretation of the classic German beer. It has a fresh aroma with a gently hopped, dry finish. Another option is Dokkaebier Rice Kolsch, a light and fruity beer with a refreshing hop bitterness.

Colorado

Prost Kolsch offers a complex yet delicate flavour profile with a muted touch of fruit and an elegant dry finish.

Georgia

Total Wine & More in Kennesaw, GA, offers various Kolsch beers, including Reissdorf Kolsch, Gaffel Kolsch, and Fruh Kolsch.

Massachusetts

Devil's Purse Handline Kolsch from Devil's Purse Brewing in South Dennis, MA, offers notes of lemon with a crisp and sweet taste.

Missouri

A classic golden ale that pours a bright, straw colour, this Kolsch uses a centuries-old yeast strain from a famous Kolsch brewer in Koln, Germany.

North Carolina

3 Bones Kolsch from Aviator is a smooth drinking blonde ale perfect for those who want to fire their cannons and hit their target! It is brewed with high-quality barley and hops.

Oregon

This Kolsch beer pours a beautiful copper colour and has a rolling sweet, honey aroma. It is brewed with traditional Rogue Farms ingredients, including Hopyard and Wild Flower Honey.

South Carolina

Inspired by the German Kolsch style, this golden-coloured brew has an earthy, grassy aroma with notes of light fruit, straw, and biscuit malt. It offers a well-balanced taste with bready yeast, crisp fruit, and grassy hops.

Texas

Texas Beer Wild Texas Kolsch is a refreshing Kolsch with hints of lemon zest and subtle German Nobility and Diamant hops. Galveston Island Causeway Kolsch is another option, brewed with imported German malt and tettnang hops.

German origin

The Kölsch beer style has its roots firmly in Germany, specifically the city of Cologne (or Köln, in German). In fact, since 1997, the term "Kölsch" has been protected by a geographical indication within the European Union, meaning that any beer marketed as Kölsch must be brewed within 50 km of Cologne.

Kölsch is a hybrid beer, combining the qualities of both ales and lagers. It is fermented with ale yeast, but then conditioned at cold temperatures, like a lager. This process is known as cold conditioning, and it was made possible by the advent of refrigeration. The result is a light, crisp, and refreshing beer with a vinous character and a slightly dry, crisp finish. It is often described as having a subtle fruitiness and spice, with a clean, pale lager-like finish.

Kölsch is typically served in a tall, thin, cylindrical 200-millilitre glass called a Stange. In Cologne, it is traditional for the server, or Köbes, to carry eleven or twelve Stangen in a Kranz, a circular tray resembling a crown or wreath. When a drinker's glass is empty, the Köbes will immediately replace it with a full one, marking a tick on a coaster. If the drinker doesn't want another, they place the coaster on top of the empty glass.

While Kölsch is a German beer style with a long history in Cologne, it has also gained popularity beyond Germany, including in the American craft beer scene. Many American breweries now produce Kölsch-style beers, and some American craft brewers have put their own spin on the traditional style. For example, Honey Kölsch from Oregon-based Rogue Ales is brewed with honey from the brewery's farms, adding notes of toast, wildflower, and honey to the traditional Kölsch flavour profile.

Kolsch food pairings

Kolsch is a German-style beer that is crisp, light, and refreshing, making it a perfect summer drink. Its delicate and vinous character pairs well with a variety of foods, especially those with a light and crisp profile. Here are some ideal food pairings for Kolsch beer:

Traditional German Sausages and Kraut

The crisp and refreshing nature of Kolsch beer makes it an excellent choice to cut through the richness of traditional German sausages, such as bratwurst. When paired with sauerkraut, the beer's refreshing quality helps balance the dish's savoury and tangy flavours.

Fried Calamari

For a contemporary American twist, Kolsch beer pairs surprisingly well with fried calamari. The light and crisp beer serves as a refreshing contrast to the dish's buttery, creamy, and peppery notes. The mild fruity esters in the beer also complement the briny characteristics of the fried calamari.

Nutty Cheeses

Kolsch beer's crisp and delicate profile makes it a great match for nutty cheeses. The beer's vinous character and slight dryness can enhance the nutty flavours of cheeses like a mild white cheddar. The acidity in the cheese can also brighten the effervescent quality of the beer, creating a harmonious pairing.

Apricot Cakes and Lighter Desserts

For a sweeter pairing, Kolsch beer goes well with apricot cakes or other lighter desserts. The beer's light and fruity notes complement the apricot flavour, while its crisp and dry finish provides a refreshing contrast to the sweetness of the dessert.

Fish Tacos

Kolsch beer is also a great choice for those who enjoy fish tacos. Its light and crisp profile pairs well with the fresh flavours of fish tacos, creating a refreshing and satisfying combination.

Frequently asked questions