Harpoon Captain Kölsch is a German-style Kölsch brewed by Harpoon Brewery, and for the purposes of this craft beer review, the lager was served in a pilsener glass from a bottle.
Appearance
The pour is unexpectedly dark; its ruddy amber hue shows a thin head of white foam that dissipates rapidly. The glass doesn’t show any lace or residue.
Aroma
Aroma is soft and sweet with a scent of caramel and backed by a touch of noble hops.
Check Out the Latest News Article
Check Out the Latest News Article
Flavor
The palate is nicely balanced. At first, it seems a bit hoppier than the norm but the malt asserts itself as the beer warms. Bready malt imparts a mild caramel flavor that transitions to a mild hoppy finish of lemon and pine. The finish has an underlying honey sweetness.
Mouthfeel
Mouthfeel falls within expectations for the style with a light body and moderate carbonation.
Overall
Curious appearance aside, the Harpoon Captain Kölsch is a nice representation of the style for which it’s named. Brewed on behalf of Trader Joe’s, it’s low ABV makes for a good candidate as a session beer or just a light brew in which to start your evening.
