Clock Tower Kölsch

Kölsch, the beer representing the German city of Cologne, and something you don't want to order in neighbouring Dusseldorf (but that's a long story).  Kölsch is a unique beer style, a sweet, golden lager that is meant to be consumed in large quantities out of tall, skinny 10 oz glasses.  I had a glass and a coaster (which you use to count how many you have in a kölsch hall) I was only missing one German city, and a man with a rack of beers.  In Europe kölsch would only be brewed in Cologne, but in North America we can be more liberal with the naming of beer styles and the Ottawa brewpub chain The Clocktower makes their own version that is a decent re-creation of the German original.

Kölsch should be sweet, golden and sessionable, and Clock Tower's version ticks most of those boxes.  It pours that perfect golden colour, more orange than most sweet light beers, which is proper kölsch.  It moves on from a light intro to a nice malty sweet middle that trails off into a slightly watery finish. Regardless of the slight watery letdown, this embodies the proper spirit of kölsch, a perfectly sweet, sessionable lager that refreshes and has very little hint of hops.  I have struggled with some of Clock Tower's beers in the past, but this one is of their better ones.  It still could be a bit more balanced, but it has the sweetness and smoothness of a proper kölsch, so I recommend it for something to drink in a longer session and if you are looking for something a little more rounded than a light beer.

It's available at their brew pubs on draught in Ottawa as well as in bottles for off sale.

Alc 4.4% IBU 25

Rating: 3.5 Steins

What you need to know

Brewpubs
Glebe
575 Bank St,
Ottawa ON

New Edinburgh
422 MacKay St
Ottawa, ON

Byward Market
89 Clarence St
Ottawa ON

Westboro
418 Richmond Road
Ottawa, ON

Website
Clocktower.ca

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheClocktowerBrewPub

Twitter
@The_Clocktower