Früh Kölsch
Cölner Hofbräu Früh
Story by:
Bev Blackwood
Kölsch
Year-Round
Germany
Judges Ratings 91
Aroma: 22 / 24
Flavor: 36 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10
Overall Impression: 18 / 20
Description
Only beer that is brewed in Cologne, Germany can be called an authentic Kölsch beer and Früh is one of the most popular Kölsch beers, dating back to 1904, This top-fermented ale dates back over 100 years and is brewed in accordance with the German Purity Law, from the family recipe by Peter Josef Früh.
Früh Kölsch is famous for its delicate flavors of fresh malt & vanilla and aromas of floral hops and toasted biscuit. This light bodied ale is crisp, clean, and refreshing with a pleasant spiciness and fine carbonation. A very drinkable beer with an unsurpassed balance. Pale gold in color with a dense foamy head.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 4.80%
IBUs:
Served at: (40 – 42º F)
Hops:
Malts:
Judges Review
By John C. Tull
Judges Ratings 91
Aroma: 22 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 36 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 9 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 18 / 20 / 20
Früh Kölsch by Cölner Hofbräu Früh was judged as Kölsch, Style 5B per the BJCP 2021 Style Guidelines.
A light grainy sweetness is evident along with a very subtle, nondescript fruity quality right away. There are no hop qualities that stand out in the aroma. The color is dark straw, not quite gold, and this beer is exceptionally bright/clear. A persistent head lingers across the surface and along the edges of the glass.
The flavor is slightly bready and grainy with hints of mild fruitiness, which are, again, nondescript and subtle. Hops lend a mild bitterness that balances nicely with the grain flavors. This beer is soft on the palate and not quite creamy. There is a tiny hint of age sneaking into this particular example of the beer, which indicates that the fragile qualities of a Kölsch are being worked on a bit. The body is medium, and carbonation lends a very light carbonic bite towards the finish.
Overall, this is a great example of a Kölsch, despite the progress of time beginning to leave its mark. The formulation of this beer is very much to the tradition of this beer style, subtle but refreshing and enjoyable from start to finish.
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