Here’s the scoop on Summit’s Kölsch that will be hitting shelves in July… Label art and all…
Summit will be releasing a Kölsch this July as part of their new limited run series called the Unchained Series. The brewery will release 3 different styles a year, with very small runs of each beer. Each style is helmed by an individual brewer-they get to choose the style and are in charge of overseeing the whole process, from recipe formulation to ordering raw materials. The packaging will actually feature the brewer’s name and signature. The Kölsch is being brought to you by Brewer Mike “the Miz” Miziorko. The focus of the series is to showcase our brewers’ talent and creativity, as well as to brew some styles that may be underrepresented in this market. The Unchained Series will be available in 6-packs and on draught.
PS-the label says German Style Kölsch because the TTB said it had to be labeled as such!
I don’t wanna be a hater, but if “unchained” means “let loose”…why a kolsch? That’s not really “off the hook”…
Just saying it. I love a good kolsch, but how the heck are they “unchained”? If that’s being unchained, what is Summit chained to, exactly? Someone? Anyone? Bueller?
That is the brewers choice. I think they mean a different brewer is “let loose” from the other styles and is free to do what they want. What are you expecting?
Sweet. Ever since their Oatmeal Stout (local, draft only) I have been hoping for more of these one-off kind of things. One can only hope Summit develops a desire to be more active in their creation of specialty beers and even begin taking some risks (bigger, weirder, whatever).
I mean, it is not uncommon these days. Even Sam Adams is doing it, not to mention countless other breweries (espeically regional favorites like New Glarus with their Unplugged and Tyranena with Brewers Gone Wild). Summit makes good beer. It would be fun to see what they can produce with just a little more “go get ’em” spirit.
Like Al, I to thought Kolsch? Hugh? Then I kept reading and discovered that its the brewers choice apparently so…Im not going to dis a guy for brewing what he wants to brew. I think one could describe that as “unchained”. The style may not be extreme, but the brewer has been allowed to let loose and brew whatever he wants.
Why not a kolsch? How many good kolsch examples can you find? Lake Superior, yeah, but that’s pretty average.
Not everything has to be extreme with huge alcohol or hops that kick you in the teeth.
I applaud this.
Too often alleged beer fans flock to the big over-hopped beers and ignore a well-crafted, balanced normal strength beer.
Way to go, Summit.
Great to see more highly available, well crafted, under-represented styles out there at a nice price. Can’t wait. Hope they consider making some of these again and not just a one time thing.
I believe they have to include the “German Style” disclaimer because true Koelsch can only be brewed within the city limits of Cologne, Germany. Or perhaps even within line of sight of its cathedral, IIRC.
Anyway, I think it’s a great step for Summit and like what others have said about a ballsy beer not having to be over-hopped, etc. I’ve been thinking lately that Summit should do something like Tyranena’s “brewers gone wild” series and that’s what this sounds like, but perhaps a bit more subdued an effort in fitting with how Summit does things.
Love this! With the term unchained…would be nice to see an unfiltered version of this.
More unfiltered beers!!!!!
You really don’t want an unfiltered Kölsch. You want a bright clear beer, and the usual yeasts that are used for this style are notable for not being very flocculant on their own. Authentic German Kölsch is almost always either filtered or cold crashed to get the yeast to drop out.