JUNCTION CRAFT BREWING ~ TRACKLAYER'S KÖLSCH

Poured from a bottle Tracklayer’s Kölsch poured a clear effervescent pale straw blonde with a good sized, lingering frothy white head. As the foam receded, nice lacing lined the glass. The aroma was somewhat grassy with notes of pale cereals, light florals, light malts (German Best Maltz) and some very subtle orchard fruit (pear and apple?). The flavour had lots of bready grainy malts along with grass and a light fruitiness. The finish is crisp and dry and had a lingering hop bitterness (Tetnanger hops). The body was average and the carbonation was moderate too. This beer is a little hoppier than those found in Köln, but a very nice example of the style.

5% from Toronto 48 IBU

CREEMORE SPRINGS ~ KÖLSCH

Sampled from a tin this beer poured a clear golden yellow with a moderate foamy white head. The head did’t last very long but did leave some scant lacing. A moderate level of carbonation was noticeable. The nose was comprised of crackery cereals, mild earthiness, dry grass and light floral hops. The flavour follows the nose, with lots of grains and a mild bitterness, and grassy and floral flavours. The finish is dry, lightly bitter and crisp. The body is medium light and the carbonation is lively. Overall a simple, clean and well balanced session beer.

4.7% from Creemore, Ontario

LOST CTAFT ~ REVIVALE KÖLSCH

Lost Craft Beer is a new brewery in Toronto, presently being brewed on contract by the Cool Brewing Company. Sampled from a tin, the beer poured a clear light golden yellow with a head of small white bubbles. The nose is very mild with hints of grains and yeast. The flavour is quite mellow and refreshing. It has light hops and grainy malts with a slight sweetness. The finish is smooth and the mouth feel is light bodied. A decent Kölsch and a good lawnmower beer on a hot day, but nothing really special. The beer is well branded and marketed. The matte finish white tin stands out at the liquor store and their slogan ‘4 for the 6’ gives a nod to TO.’s Drake. The founder, Shehan DeSilva’s, focus is to have the beer served at some of the cities trendiest nightclubs and restaurants.

4.8% from Toronto IBU 19

Picture courtesy: LOST CRAFT INSTAGRAM

GATEWAY KOLSCH ~ SAWDUST CITY

This beer is a Kölsch styled beer (lagered-ale). This style originate in Koln Germany. Sawdust City ages their Kölsch a little longer than the style would call for, to mellow out the flavours and make this an easy drinking sessionale beer. I wonder if the “Gateway” in the name is the gateway to introduce people into craft beers. Sampled on draft this beer poured a clear light golden yellow with a puffy white head. The nose was very mild with hints of straw and citrus. Taste too was very mild. There was a pleasant crisp pilsner like quality, a little sweetness, a hint of noble hops and a crisp finish. The bitterness was very low, the body was light and the carbonation was medium high. This is a simple, very quaffable easy drinking summer beer.

WATER: Pure Muskoka Water
BARLEY/MALT: Canadian 2-row barley, wheat
HOPS: magnum, spalt
YEAST: California ale

20 IBU 5% from Gravenhurst, Ontario