Canoe Paddle Kölsch

Bottled boring yellow. Skunk aroma plus the barest hints of rye. Meh. Nothing really good.

I find Kolsches a decent departure from the Belgian ales and the imperial stouts I most prefer. This 12 oz bottle was discovered in the pick-6 rack at the neighborhood HEB. And I point out that the label now calls this beer Canoe Paddle Kolsch for what it is worth. I lift the cap and tilt into my ABGB snifter to determine a very clear, straw yellow body with a pure white head charged by a healthy carbonation. The scent is lemon and straw. With a drink I taste a light citrus, water, grain and a noticeable sweetness. Not an objectionable beer. On a hot summer day and a bottle pulled from a tub of ice water, this could be pretty fine.

Light golden pour. Decent lace. Earthy smell. Tastes of hops and sweet grass.

$2.06 bottle, Total Wine - Short Pump. How do you follow up the best beer you've ever had? With a beer I can't imagine I'll like, that's how. Pours hazy gold with a small white head. Aroma is lemon zest, beer-tent beer. Flavor is sweet grass, corn, sugar water. It's not horrendous, but this is like corn syrup and water with some grass and grain mixed in. I would never buy this again.

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best before 6/20/2016. Pours fairly crystal clear pale golden yellow color with a 2 finger fairly dense and fluffy white head with good retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Light spotty soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a good amount of streaming carbonation retaining the cap. Aromas of lemon, pear, apple, cracker, biscuit, spicy rye, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance of bready/rye malt and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast notes; with solid strength. Taste of lemon, pear, apple, cracker, biscuit, spicy rye, herbal, grass, light pepper, and yeast earthiness. Light-moderate herbal/spicy bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of cracker, biscuit, spicy rye, pepper, and herbal/grassy earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Nice robustness and balance of bready/rye malt and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Moderate dryness from carbonation and bitterness as well. Medium-high carbonation and light-medium body; with a very smooth, crisp, and lightly grainy/sticky balanced mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with zero warming present after the finish as expected of 5%. Overall this is a nice Kolsch style. All around good robustness and balance of bready/rye malt and light-moderate earthy hop/fruity yeast flavors; and very smooth, crisp, clean, and refreshing to drink. A nicely enjoyable offering.