Light and fragrant, Samuel Adams® East West Kölsch has a floral and herbal character that balances the refreshing German Kölsch style. A classic Kölsch is less bitter than a pilsner with a slightly fruity and sweet biscuit note. For our version we wanted to create a bright fresh flavor by using Alsatian Strisselspalt hops for a subtle lemon and grassy hop note. We added another layer of flavor by aging the beer on a bed of Jasmine Sambac, a fragrant night blooming flower from Southeast Asia. The jasmine creates a delicate floral aroma and flavor for a wonderfully complex and refreshing brew.
HISTORY:
The Kölsch style originated in Köln (Cologne) Germany and is still their local specialty. This bright golden beer is served in small narrow glasses called "stanges" and brought out automatically until you place your coaster on top of your glass. Breweries in Cologne are the official brewers of the style but others have paid homage with a Kölsch style beer. The distinct character of the brew comes from its unique process where its fermented warm at ale temperatures to develop delicate fruit notes, then aged cold at lager-like temperatures to develop a dry, crisp finish.
The process of making Kölsch is similar to that of the neighboring Altbier from Düsseldorf that also combines top fermenting yeast and warm temperatures with cold storage. The difference between the two beers is only in Altbier’s slightly darker malts and more bittering hops. Each beer is close to the identity of each of these rival cities so it best not to order the wrong one in the wrong city or face some gentle ridiculing.
BREWING:
To create this classic beer we followed the tradition of using a top fermenting ale yeast to develop delicate fruit notes and a soft rounded mouth feel, but then stored cold at lager-like temperatures to help develop a dry, crisp finish.
For our take on the Kölsch style we used Strisselspalt hops from Alsace, France. These little known hops have a bright lemony, grassy hop flavor. These hops are derived from nearby Bavarian Noble hops and grow in the Alsace region that borders Germany.
To add to the bright fresh flavor of the hops we brewed with Jasmine Sambac. In a process similar to dry hopping, we age the beer on a bed of these fragrant blossoms. Jasmine Sambac is a prized night blooming flower that grows across Southeast Asia. The jasmine adds the perfect delicate floral aroma and flavor to the fruity notes from the fermentation and subtle lemon from the hops. The result is a light, crisp, and aromatic brew that’s wonderfully complex and refreshing.
PROFILE:
Flavor: Slightly fruity, light biscuit notes, with lemon citrus from the Alsatian hops.
Color: Pale Golden
Original Gravity: 11.2° Plato
Alcohol: 5.01% ABV, 3.93% ABW
Calories/12 oz.: 147
Malt Varieties: Harrington, Metcalfe, and Copeland pale malts, wheat, Bohemian pils malt
Hop Varieties: Spalt Spalter and Strisselspalt hops
Special Ingredients: Jasmine Sambac
Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams ale yeast
First Brewed: 201
