History of the Kolsch -- Beer History

[@DudesBrews]

Great video love a kolsch in fact I’m brewing some this weekend 👍🏻🍻

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Nice! Let me know how it goes!

[@jcoughlin325]

* Kolsch-style...unless you're in Cologne.

[@heywoodjablome5630]

I recommend a traditional yeast for the style. Wyeast Kölsch II is superb.

[@denniskatinas]

Kolsch is also culture, watch some old German video’s on Kolsch and you’ll get it.

[@denniskatinas]

I’d like to add, very good video.

[@pff7042]

I drank my very first Kolsch beer last night. Reissdorf Kölsch. It was delicious.

[@pimhoff]

I did the eurail thing in the late 1970s. My mother had me look up a cousin of hers in Cologne. I was asked by the husband (who spoke no English) whether I wanted to go to a beer or wine bar. One look at him indicated that beer was the correct choice. You can imagine my surprise when the beer was served in what looked like a test tube, as I thought all German beer must be in enormous steins. The father slammed his down and by magic another was on the table. They started marking the coasters and we were off to fully living Cologne beer culture. My memory was that the marks overlapped each other on the coaster before we finished. Such a unique way of drinking beer. I am going back to Germany in June in part to visit my mother’s home town. The main reason I would revisit Cologne is for the Kolsch experience.

[@Bareego]

Well done video. As someone who grew up in Germany I'd like to add just a few more things. The pronunciation of the umlaut o of Koelsch is like you pronounce "fur". Also the same goes for the Koebes, and you also stress both syllables, so it's Koe-bes, not like Kobes. When you go into one of the old traditional pubs in Cologne and get a Stange of Koelsch, after you finished it the Koebes will replace your empty glass with a full one without asking and put a mark on your coaster. Once you've had enough you put the coaster on top of your glass. There is a very old and strong rivalry between Cologne and Duesseldorf, both with their own beer styles, the Koelsch and the Alt, and both are worth visiting. Especially in Duesseldorf it is easy to do a big pub crawl as there's a small area with MANY pubs all together.

[@Luigi-uj5ml]

It happened to me in the large buffet at Kraslice station (German: Graslitz): the waitress kept bringing me glasses of excellent local beer. Then when I was fed up, I didn't drain the glass completely and so the "assembly line" stopped.

[@markrose53]

Love the concept here and great delivery on the Kolsch style. Detail but not too much. Anxiously await more.

[@deanzaZZR]

The first beer I had when visiting Germany was a Kölsch as my girlfriend at that time was studying at Cologne University. I've been chasing that experience ever since but can never quite find it (fresh) here in the US. Thanks for the history lesson!

[@DarwinsBeerReviews]

Having been to Koln, I do miss it! The culture of how kolsch is served is fantastic. In Koln, when you order a stange of kolsch, they knick your coaster with a pencil so when you want to pay, they know how much to charge you. And they will KEEP serving you more unless you tell them to stop.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

On my bucket list of places to go. Cheers!

[@tonyball4412]

That is so true about how "knick your coaster" been there done that. Cheers!

[@nickcentrone1679]

You put the coaster on top of your glass for them to stop serving you

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Do enjoy a kolsch??

[@bringyourempties]

Oh yes we do!

[@toastbrotlf2000]

Yup, really nice in the summer

[@RatamahattaSepultura]

@@toastbrotlf2000 yes it was a surprise. A good surprise

[@JRClaybrook1]

My favorite easy going, relaxed, unpretentious beer!

[@broda769]

One of my favorites

[@bumpy-isms]

Love these beer history videos. I brewed a kolsch style and named it after my dog Kobe. My wife then picked me up a book about kolsch in which I found out the waiters that serve kolsch in cologne are known as Kobe's. I was on the money without even knowing Cheers Ryan

[@ZacharyHuff585]

The glass I give greatest promotion is the tulip.

[@CrazyAboutVinylRecords]

The big difference is that brewers in Germany know how to make real beer and have centuries of experience and tradition behind them. Craft brewers here in the U.S. only know how to make grapefruit juice that masquerades as beer.

[@heywoodjablome5630]

I have a local brewery that makes a Kölsch-style ale. Now that they have become part of a larger brewing consortium, there is a closer pub brewery that sells it too. It's incredibly moreish and subtly delicious. The beer was created here by the brewer after he fell in love with the style during a holiday in Köln. A visitor from Köln remarked to the brewer that the beer was authentically flavoured.

[@mitchmason8386]

I love Kölsch! I’m a Homebrewer and find myself throwing together a Kölsch style brew more than any other style.

[@HerbertDuckshort]

I was based near Cologne in the 80s in the RAF. Kuppers Kolsch was the “go to” beer. Excellent stuff.

[@michaelvos6421]

Kolsch is my “go to” brew in my home brewery. Several batches a year. Heading to Koln, next spring to visit my son and family. Anxious to sample the varieties, there and learn the differences. “Beer is the answer, it doesn’t matter the question” …

[@mitchmason8386]

One of my favorites by far!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Too right! Cheers!

[@TCPUDPATM]

Just got to Köln and I’m here for a quick history lesson so I can enjoy the ale just a little more. Great video!

[@StoneyardVineyards]

Prost I thought I was watching the history channel , great job friend

[@wesbgreer]

Definitely my favorite beer. Been #1 for at least a decade. Great video, liked and subscribed. Keep up the good work!

[@sommmeguy]

Ever had a Kolsch? Having one now. I never intend to stop. I loved your video almost as much. Zum Wohl!

[@beerguide37]

Our oldest brewery in Edmonton, Alley Kat, makes Scona Gold Kölsch. It's such a wonderful beer it won beer of the year across Canada in 2015. One of my faves 😁🍻

[@ji3946]

The yeast in Weissbier is very different than what is normally in Kolsch 6:44 to 7:09

[@billthebard805]

We make a Kolsch year round at Antigua Brewing Company in San Luis Obispo California. We love it here on the central coast!

[@joelediger1728]

Here in Germany Kölsch is mostly made fun of and called water because of its taste being very light. For my own part I do enjoy it from time to time for its rich taste (also you don’t notice one or two Kölsch)

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

... being very light*.

[@Lyon194]

Arguably my favorite type of beer. First I ever brewed. Wonderful video!

[@EudaemoniusMarkII]

Hey Ryan, great video. You nailed the culture of Koln, and the wonderful atmosphere that does along with being there. The Hussle of pubs and drinking of tiny glasses really is pleasure along with the easy to drink beer! Nice job!

[@Bonsoirmonamie]

Looked this up as I drank my first ever Kölsch, “My Best Friends Girl” by the Establishment brewing company out of Calgary, Alberta Canada. I have no frame of reference for it for Kölsch beers but just in general it’s friggin good fellas. Very delicious. This is my new favourite anytime beer, gonna have to try some more out

[@joelzedler38]

Just finished my first Kolsch, brewed in Darwin by One Mile Brewing Co. The 4:21 Kolsch gets it's label from the common finishing time for many public employees and is 4.8%. Great stuff!

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

... its* label (it's = it is)

[@johnmurphy8189]

I enjoyed this video and I love the Kolsch beer. Reissdorf and Fruh are my favorites.

[@bringyourempties]

Sweet timing with our Kölsch 101, we should pair them in a playlist so everyone can get a clean full recap of what's a Kölsch. Thanks a lot for sharing this!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Too right, let's make it happen. That was a great style overview video you guys had last week. Cheers!

[@bringyourempties]

@@BeerByTheNumbers Keep it up!

[@mikecrabtree8200]

Tried my first Kolsch beer today, had no idea what to expect. And am very happy with what I got. A new favorite to the list.

[@kenpliska2252]

Great Video! Kolsch is a great easy drinking style that many breweries seem to ignore.

[@talkingwhiskey1507]

I am learning a lot about beer from your channel. I’m not a big beer drinker but you are differently bringing me to the beer side. I have set up a show at a local small craft brewery called Hoopy Trout. People come from all over the east coast for this guys beer. We should be filming his show at the end of this month. Great history in this video. You have a great channel.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Thanks for the kind words! Glad you find the info useful. Cheers!

[@kiwijase1]

Love a Kolsch and a great informative video thanks 👌

[@AceTeale]

Kolsch one of the good beers no fussing about clean and fresh no hiding with this style.... and as usual another great Video..... well done

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Thanks so much! Cheers!

[@edgarfack858]

Fantastic stuff, tastes like being “down there”

[@mjo4496]

Kolsch has become my favorite lighter style or "session" beer as well. I just had a new one by Black Flag Brewing and it's a very good example!

[@robertguay3773]

I am making a Kolsch right now. never had it before and it sounded interesting.

[@duffycop]

Funny fact, there was a time were it was illegal to brew a Kölsch outside Cologne. Another funmy fact, there's an old debate/fight between Cologne and Dusseldorf about which is better beer of Kölsch and Altbier local beers respectively. And the last one, it's pronounced Kelsh, just translate to German and playback the pronunciation. Great video! I learned a lot!

[@jacob_swaggerz]

Kolsch is my favourite style of German beer. 4-pines Brewery in Australia does a kolsch that is absolutely amazing.

[@doctorstravelogyandfoodology]

great video...even iam also a great fan of beer which is smooth ...i dont go for brands...lovely video... subscribed ur channel...see u soon ...stay connected...

[@TheFlutecart]

I'm fortunate to live in Central Texas, Altstadt brewery in Fredricksburg makes a great Kolsch. 15 packs at Bucky's.

[@irishgroundhogbrewer3066]

Love the historical beer content. I love kolsch in fact I made one a few years ago and it was great. I think getting back to the more simplistic styles of beer will be the next “big thing”. You can’t beat a low abv, clear, crisp beer. Cheers Ryan great vid 👍🍺🍻

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

I agree, session beers will make a comeback. Cheers!

[@AnonYmous-jp8uu]

I've started trying Kolsch style craft beers locally and love the Blowing Rock Clementine Kolsch, and Hillman Brewing Kolsch

[@Sbjweyk]

Greetings from cologne

[@ottoomen5076]

I requested this video and you made it and it great! Thanks so much. It's just what I was hopping for!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@SpiderFromMars81]

Grest video! Entertaining and informative. I’m quickly becoming a big fan of the Kolsch style and am fortunate to have easy access to two stellar breweries that focus on German style beers here in my hometown of Chicago, those being Dovetail and Metropolitan. If you yet to try it, I highly recommend you get your hands on the fantastic Dovetsil Kolsch! Cheers from arguably America’s best beer city! 🍻

[@scottstevens1919]

Love the kolsch! Altstadt’s from Fredericksburg, Tx makes a delicious pint.

[@thebeerhistorypodcast968]

Great history lesson Ryan! I can't tell you how thirsty for a kolsch I am right now!

[@anonexp]

that's it, my next brew will be kölsch. wanted to try something lager-esque and seems like a perfect entry after 2 years of ale brewing

[@natedizzy]

Kölsch is even better now knowing the history behind it 🙌 🍻🍺

[@muleface65]

Best style in the world! I brew a Kolsch-style ale at our pub, C.H. Evans Brewing/Albany Pump Station. All floor-malted German pils. Czech hops for my own flair, but so, so good.

[@dadisphat6426]

Great video . I appreciate your research. I’m going to Cologne during Oktoberfest and am looking forward to drinking some kolsch. In Texas we have karbach Lovestreet kolsch which is great!

[@rossgerard521]

You should try the Kolsch Crew beer tour in the city. They go to for Flagship Kolsch breweries or where the Kolsch is freshess and explain all about the local customs and the beer while enjoying a Kolsch at each stop.

[@dadisphat6426]

Ross Gerard I’ll check them out . Thanks for the tip!

[@AlejandroRuizVelascoAguilar]

You don't go to Cologne for Oktoberfest, is Karneval what people celebrate there

[@mdallas]

Great video and love the style and am so glad I can usually find a local version fresh near me. I wish we had more German versions available to try in the states beyond Reisdorf and Gaffel which are very good though.

[@thomasmedeiros5722]

If you are on Cape Cod or South East Coast of Massachusetts Devils Purse Brewing Co. has a fantastic Kolsch Style Ale. It’s called Handline. Devil’s Purse is brewed in South Dennis, MA. It’s brewed year round.

[@matiasd5216]

I love your videos because I'm a history nerd and a beer fan. Your videos are a great way to combine those two passions. Great channel. There is a great brewery here in Argentina, Antares. They are the only ones labeling anything as "kölsch" and it didn't make me want to look for other beers from the style.

[@paultowsley4875]

I love these "history of" videos! Keep up the great work.

[@einundsiebenziger5488]

2:58 - London and Cologne were important cities during the times of the Roman Empire. Munich was not since it didn't even exist back then. It was founded about 700 years after the RE had collapsed. Today, also thanks to the obnoxious Oktoberfest, Munich is known as the beer capital of Germany.

[@averagejoe716]

As always, great job on the video. Definitely makes me want to go and grab a few Kolschs and have a good time, haha. Cheers, dude!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@santiagokaderian544]

5:15 it does not seem to be only an advocacy group. They get into the contemporary logistics, market and production. Cheers from Argentina.

[@eg6199]

Awesome job!

[@gregmorris2022]

I brew Kölsch constantly. Also, so awesome you put Hoppin’ Frog on the map for Ohio.

[@poisonpotato1]

Do kolsches go bad easily or quickly? Every kolsch I've had from my local brewery in a bottle has been terrible but their draft has been amazing

[@silasdow]

Even in Germany Kölsch from the tap tastes different. Some brands are considered better from the tap than from the bottle

[@MAGACOPP]

@@silasdow Tap is always better.

[@MrSipi1988]

Only the conditioning is done in lager temperature or even the fermentation too? I read at few places that it is fermented with ale yeast but in lager temperature that is why the fermentation is slower.

[@thejusr796]

Can u explain all diffrent types of beer

[@americanturkeyburger4997]

I love Madtree brewery. They make a Kolsch style beer called LIFT and i think the smell , taste and color really make this beer special

[@patrickwolf5796]

Absolutely great channel. The content is always interesting and informative. I am not a big fan of the Kolsch style but, I believe it's because the many imports I've tried were almost or past their expiration date. Many places to get the real stuff don't turn it over fast enough and you end up with an off putting favor profile not intended by the brewers. I would love to try a fresh one sometime. The hundreds of microbreweries around my state often try to produce this style but they are almost always flat and not refreshing as the style is supposed to be. I'm hoping to travel to Germany soon and cannot wait to taste what the imported beers lack versus the fresh ones available in this mecca of beer. Cross your fingers I get the opportunity to do this. Overall Kolsch beer doesn't seem to travel well and the american take off always leaves me disappointed.

[@murderinc.hunting7686]

Man I really learn a lot from your videos. Keep it up man. I'm a feind for weird knowledge

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers! Glad you enjoy it!

[@DrHansBrewery]

What an awsome video Ryan. Yeas I have a hade a lot of Kolsch beer. I know Ryan watched it but if you guys haven't watch it I have a Kølsch video on my channel and more to come in my Kølsch playlist. Cheers!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

I'll have to check it out and steal your recipe :)

[@bradleyferrell2119]

Brewer's Alley in Frederick, Maryland has really good Kolsch that they brew year round.

[@estoware]

Mühlen Kölsch is my absolute favorite!

[@T6767676767676767]

I enjoy a good Kolsch ever now and a gain good one .........................CHEERS

[@travistackett4847]

I'm not sure where you are located but, if possible, you should check out public house brewing company in st james Missouri. Really well made classic styles

[@EyeDriveATruck]

10:16 schtyle

[@thesaint8400]

What's your schtoyle?

[@briandriver3915]

Guinness extra stout is my all time favorite

[@MultiDaan12345]

1:50 Not to be picky here, but the second beer is a Leffe and the third beer is a La Chouffe. Both beers are Belgian, not German. So you know.

[@Dylans503]

Also the last beer is a Belgian Heverlee. And the first beer is Spanish. lol!

[@LifeIsBrewtiful]

Damn... I was working on a very similar video but you killed it! Great stuff dude

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

The more beer history videos the better! Cheers!

[@williamhumphrey1084]

Very nice video!

[@ksmith9887]

You should do another style history

[@andreasgernandt2946]

My favourite Bier Kölsch

[@FirstLast-qf1df]

10:51 Wtf is "reesdorf"?

[@Steeler-wg5zo]

best tasting Kölsch, Reissdorf! When drinking all the other Kolsch you're just too lazy to run to the water-crane.

[@mainerbass]

Very informative video. I think it would take something as catastrophic as a major war, or god forbid, prohibition again, for styles to become strictly regional. The hazies took a bit of time to gain ground, but they are all over the globe now; the Brut IPA was not too far behind. I personally love the romance, and the history of truly regional styles. Cheers!

[@MagicDMagicianTarot]

best beer style, in my opinion

[@Euragone68]

Alaskan Kolsch got me hooked! All I'm going to say...

[@steffins3203]

Kolsch!!! 👍 🍺🍻

[@somi8451]

The last recommended beer was NO Kölsch. Kölsch has to be brewed within Cologne city limits. All others are "Kölsch Style" beers....Greeting from a cologne girl 😉😉

[@Teufelsnachbar667]

For me as a german the first map with the favourit beers in different german regions made me cringe a little. Its much muuuuuch more complicated than that. If you travel 40 minutes north of Cologne and order a kölsch in Düsseldorf you can call yourself lucky if you escape with your life. You have to order a Altbier. If you travel a nother 40 minutes to Dortmund and you order a Krombacher Beer ( like the map suggests) in Schalke or Dortmund you just ordered the Beer of their arch nemesis. You would order a Veltins in Schalke, but DONT order that in Dormund. So yeah, beer is highly political in germany.

[@distlledbrewedreviewed]

Simply the best.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Thanks so much! Cheers!

[@wilhelmtaylor9863]

Your next task will be to pronounce "Kölsch". I'm from that region and appreciate this video very much. Next, ask for "ein Alt".

[@DB-rw5vu]

Stone Corral brewing makes a great Kölsch.

[@JZH10000]

@11:34 Kentucky, Tennessee, Utah, and south Dakota are all whiskey brands, west Virginia says Moonshine, and Oklahoma just says texas sux lmao

[@josephmacaluso1353]

I had Gaffel in Cologne and it was very hoppy almost northern German pils like .

[@nichmeinProblem]

Reichsdorf or Früh are way better. Kölsch should not be bitter.

[@gregatit]

A regional favorite is by Flying Bison called Buffalo Kolsch

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

Yepa Mixed Beer Style According to the BJCP Style Guidelines... I Have Smashed The Like Button! Cheers Buddy!

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

Cheers Billy!

[@aleflippy1997]

Well, I'll probably disappoint you but it's actually one of my LEAST favourite beer style out there. I actually find it almost too simple (which is actually something I find in most German brews, safe for doppelbocks and hefeweizens). I also find it kinda annoying that they serve it in small 0.2l glasses instead of the usual 0.25 or 0.33 that we find here in Belgium. I do have a lot of respect for it's history however. And I'll add that you did cover the subject very well.

[@mikekilian5403]

Kolsch is my most favorite style. My only problem is that I've never been to Germany to try them. I have home brewed this beer style more than any other and it was enjoyed by many of my friends and family. The only part of this is that to my mind, you must use a good German or like Pilsner malt. Domestic 2 row just does not work to my taste buds. Also German hops and yeast are a must.

[@BeerAusRev]

We are getting lots more Kolsch style craft beers in Australia, but it is still not as good as the German original.

[@JoseFuentes-dt4mv]

My favorite Kolsch is from Ninkasi.

[@BeerByTheNumbers]

I've heard great things about that brewery. Cheers!

[@johohn2651]

London was founded 47 AC, Munich was mentiond the first time in 1158. Please do some research. Sorry, I am german from Cologne.

[@anthonykaiser974]

Stange is pronounced "stahngeh" and the name "Köbes" is Kölsch for Jakob."