Stoudts Brewing Company is a microbrewery from Adamstown, Penn. Their brewmaster, Carol Stoudt, is the first female brewmaster since prohibition according to their website. That’s pretty cool. They produce several beers including their seasonal Karnival Kolsch which is up for review today.
Karnival Kolsch pours a straw gold with a very slight haze. The head stood just over a finger tall at its height but it quickly dissipated. There seems to be a fair amount of carbonation rushing to the head. The aroma is one of malt, a touch of fruit, and slight hops.
The first sip offers a unique malt taste, and I mean this in a good way. There is a touch of herbal, earthy hops, some cracker, and a slight hint of fruit. It is light-bodied with a fair amount of carbonation. Karnival Kolsch finishes dry and crisp which makes you wanting another sip. There is a slight amount of lacing on the glass as it drinks. The taste stays consistent throughout the process which can be an issue with microbrews at times.
Overall, this is a decent beer. There is nothing remarkable about it but it is a very drinkable brew. It is very similar to a lager I think. This is the kind of beer you can make a session out of and it is light enough to have a bunch in a row. At 4.8% ABV it won’t hurt if you drink responsibly either. It really does drink fast. It would be very refreshing on a hot summer day no matter where you are. I just wish it stood out more but it is a good beer that almost any beer fan can drink.