Though Cologne, Germany has been top-fermenting beers since the Middle Ages, the style known as Kölsch emerged during the late 1800s to combat the spate of bottom-fermented lagers being produced in the region. These clean, crisp and delicate beers are renowned for their subtlety. Despite technically being lagers, Kölsch beers are rather unusual among the lager family for being top-fermented rather than bottom-fermented. Top fermentation is usually reserved for ales, but this spritzy and delightful style bucks that trend in a major way.

Top fermentation occurs at a very high temperature, and the yeast drifts to the top of the fermentation tank during this process. In contrast, bottom fermentation uses far lower temperatures and the yeast remains at the bottom of the tank during brewing.

Kölsch Beer Characteristics

Pouring a crystal clear white or pale gold with a fleeting, delicate white head, these beers glitter beautifully in their glasses. Subtlety is the name of the game in this style, as its aroma can feature ultra-light malt notes, gentle whispers of fruit (apple, cherry or pear) and low levels of spicy hops.

In flavor, Kölsch beers are exemplars of balance. Soft, grainy-sweet malt leads the way followed by an often imperceptible sweetness and ending with a gently drying subtle crispness that leads connoisseurs to want to imbibe more and more of this style.

Cape May Brewing Co. in Cape May, New Jersey has announced that its popular Honey Porter will soon be released in 12-ounce cans for the first time. Full details are below.

Cape May, NJ -- Cape May Brewing Company is excited to announce that Honey Porter will be distributed in 12-ounce cans for the first time this month, alongside its continued distribution in draft year-round. Honey Porter is a 5.4% ABV brown porter that is deceptively smooth, easy to drink, and features a light body with a hint of sweetness.

“Honey Porter is a beer that got its start when I was homebrewing in my Brooklyn bathtub, and the recipe as a whole hasn’t changed much since,” says Cape May Brewing Company CEO Ryan Krill. “We pride ourselves in providing the same experiences people know and love every time they take a sip or open a can, and the same is certainly true for this beer.”

Honey Porter has been a staple of Cape May Brewing Company’s lineup since the company’s inception, and has strong roots in South Jersey. 

“We are thrilled to be working with Cape May Brewery on the new can launch of their Honey Porter made with Jersey Fresh honey,” says New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher. 

Using local honey was key in Honey Porter being the first beer in New Jersey to carry the Jersey Fresh designation.

Ciderboys in Stevens Point, Wisconsin has announced a new fall seasonal called Grape Stomp. Full details are below.

STEVENS POINT, WI – Ciderboys Hard Cider rolls out the barrel for Grape Stomp. Their latest limited-release flavor will be available starting in October. This moderately-sweet fall treat perfectly balances the flavor of concord grapes with tart hard apple cider. The reason behind limited “one-off releases,” explains Ciderboys Marketing Director Julie Birrenkott, “is that it keeps everyone in the Ciderboys family excited – from our cidermakers to our wholesalers, retailers, and, especially, our customers. There’s nothing better than the anticipation of a new ‘Fruitful Pairing’ to remind everyone why Ciderboys is so special.”

The Ciderboys team believes concord grape is their next great pairing. Birrenkott divulges, “We listen to our customers and listen to our team when it comes to new flavors. Then, our cidermakers develop the recipes and we taste-test them. We make sure to find the one that makes our entire staff go crazy. Because if we can’t wait to buy it, then we know our customers will be just as excited.”

Walker Brothers High Gravity Craft Kombucha in Nashville, Tennessee has announced plans to distribute in the state of Georgia. Full details are below.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – Walker Brothers High Gravity craft kombucha is now available in Georgia through the brand’s recent partnership with family owned and operated distributor Atlanta Beverage Company. All Walker Brothers kombucha is made using a craft brewing process with organic, Direct Trade tea, and flavored with organic, freshly-pressed juice. It is open-fermented and unpasteurized—intentional practices that promote naturally developed good-for-your-gut probiotics. This is the fourth major market expansion in 2021 for Walker Brothers, following North Carolina, New York City, and Philadelphia, the first for the brand outside of its home state of Tennessee.

Mother Earth Brew Co. in Vista, California has announced the release of an annual fresh hop beer called Wet Hop Dreams. Full details are below.

Vista, CA & Nampa, ID – Mother Earth is welcoming back its one of its original annual releases in Wet Hop Dreams, this time featuring PNW all-star hop varietal, Sabro. Keeping with the tradition of selecting a single fresh hop varietal each year, Mother Earth’s legacy brew comes in at a very drinkable 6.7%, with Sabro taking center stage in front of an appropriately muted malt bill of just Pale 2-Row and wheat malts.

A relatively new player in the hop arena when compared to some of its other popular IPA counterparts like Citra and Mosaic, Sabro is known for imparting distinct tangerine, coconut, tropical fruit, and stone fruit aromas, with hints of cedar, mint, and cream, attributes that Mother Earth strove to highlight this year.

“We’ve been experimenting with this varietal a bit in our Project X Series and were really impressed with the results. Some hops can be tricky to work with on their own but we felt that Sabro had a lot of unique flavor and aroma qualities that needed to be explored without the influence of other hops. Of course, when you have the opportunity to get them fresh, you can really capture the true essence of the hop.”

 – Chris Baker, Director of Brewing Operations - Mother Earth

Monday Night Brewing in Atlanta, Georgia has announced that its popular peanut butter cup imperial stout, Stranger Danger, will return this weekend. Full details are below.

Trick or treat? 

Treat: Stranger Danger, Beer Connoisseur’s #3 Best Overall Beer in the US from 2019, returns to our Atlanta taprooms this Friday, 10/15. Our decadent double mash Imperial Milk Stout was aged in bourbon barrels and conditioned on a mountain of peanut butter cups. 

Trick: Getting Stranger Danger, one of our most beloved brews, before it sells out. 

Molson Coors has partnered with The Coca-Cola Company to bring Topo Chico Hard Seltzer to Canada. Full details are below.

• One year after the successful launch of Topo Chico Hard Seltzer in the United States, Molson Coors Beverage Company (TAP) has signed an exclusive agreement with The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to manufacture, market, and distribute Topo Chico Hard Seltzer in Canada.
• The product is scheduled to launch in the summer of 2022.
• Topo Chico Hard Seltzer occupies the No. 3 slot as a new item in the general malt beverages category and garnered a 2.4% share of the U.S. market according to IRI's multi-outlet and convenience store data.
• This success has led to the national expansion of the brand across the United States, which will take place in January of 2022.