Welcome to Beer Tastings, a weekly series in which Utah Beer News highlights a particularly tasty local brew. This week we pop into Fisher Brewing to taste its Kölsch. What are you drinking? Let us know!
Beer Tastings: Kölsch
Temperatures in Salt Lake hovered in the mid-40s as I sipped on a Kölsch from Fisher Brewing. Generally, this style is a warm-weather brew. But “rules” be damned; good beer is drinkable year-round.
Fisher’s offered a few kölsches — Citra Kölsch, Black Rye Kölsch, etc. — but this one is a classic. It pours a copper-yellow and I perceive a honey sweetness in the aroma, with plenty of bread/cracker notes.
The flavor is punctuated by doughy bread, yet some of the honey is present as well. And it’s finished with a pleasant herbal/hoppy character that cuts through the sweetness.
It’s a delightful way to quench your thirst on a 100-degree day or to usher in the first snowfall.
- Brewery: A. Fisher Brewing Company
- ABV: 4%
- Serving Style: Draft
- Date Tasted: November 8, 2018
- Purchase Location: A. Fisher Brewing Company
Fisher Brewing: Ubiquitous Apparel
We gave a brief rundown of The Fisher Story in a previous Tastings column.
Worth noting this time around, I believe, is how well-represented the Fisher brand is in and around Salt Lake City (and elsewhere).
Talk to anyone in the industry — or even casual observers — and they’ll mention the ubiquity of the Fisher logo.
“Fish Counting” — I just named it that right now — is a fun game my buddy Mike and I like to play at beer events.
How many articles of clothing — hats, hoodies, t-shirts, etc. — will we see sporting the familiar Fisher Brewing “fish” logo?
Spoiler: It’s always a lot.
Steve Brown, one of Fisher’s partners, oversees merchandise for the Granary District brewery. He regularly works with local vendors to produce logo gear for Fisher’s fans to purchase on-site at the brewery.
It’s more than simply ordering merchandise and pushing it out the door, however. Thought and care goes into choosing high-quality materials, attaching brand tags, and creating a pleasant display.
Just last week — while I was sipping my kölsch, in fact — Steve was building shelving to house new flannel shirts and beanies for the winter. Fisher joked on Instagram: “Brewery or clothing store?” with a pic of the new apparel.
Fortunately, the brewery does beer and merchandise equally well.
And yes, feel free to add me in your “Fish Count.” I’ve spent a fair amount on Fisher gear in the two years the brewery’s been around.
Kölsch — Fisher Brewing
Product Name: Kölsch
Product Description: The flavor is punctuated by doughy bread, yet some of the honey is present as well. And it’s finished with a pleasant herbal/hoppy character that cuts through the sweetness.
- Aroma
- Appearance
- Flavor
- Mouthfeel
Overall Impression
A copper-orange kölsch delivers aromas of crackers and a perceived honey-like sweetness. Flavors of doughy bread and herbal/floral hops make this beer an easy drinker at any time of year.
- Aroma: Crackers, some bread
- Appearance: Copper-orange with a moderate off-white head
- Flavor: Doughy bread, herbal/floral hops
- Mouthfeel: Effervescence at the front gives way to more of a creamy finish
But you don’t have to take my word for it.
Notes: The tasting notes format is adapted from a Homebrew Academy Beer Tasting Mastery course I took in 2017. Utah Beer News is not compensated in any way for beers mentioned in the Tastings series.
