All About Beer Magazine

Alaskan Brewing Co....

The distinction between top- and bottom-fermented beers is familiar to all homebrewers, but the term “hybrid” is often met with curiosity. And while many of our styles were forged by the clash of ingredients, technology, and local and outside influences, ...

If you have ever taken a wine-tasting class, chances are you have been exposed to the “Flavor Wheel.” This handy tool is meant to give tasters a common vocabulary. You might not know it, but the same thing exists in ...

Kölsch is an ale style emanating from Cologne in Germany. In Germany (and the European Community) the term is strictly legally limited to the beers from within the city environs of Cologne. Simply put, kölsch has the color of a pilsner with some of the fruity character of an ale. This is achieved with the use of top-fermenting yeasts and pale pilsner malts. The hops are accented on the finish, which classically is dry and herbal. It is a medium- to light-bodied beer and delicate in style. Most examples in the United States are brewpub draft interpretations produced during the summer months, though some commercial brewers produce a summer ale in the kölsch style....

In early April of this year, the World Beer Championships held their annual tasting of Continental European Ale styles. Maibocks were also included, as they are in season this time of year. A few tasty sessions of an eclectic assortment ...

Great European brewing nations may be famous for their tradition, but it is the array of regional specialties that really stoke the intrigue of beer drinkers. They are a touchstone for locals, a beacon to adventurers. No style better exemplifies ...

Don’t tell me anything. I can’t keep a secret. If I’ve got something good, I’ve got to share it. It’s never intentional; it just slips out in a normal, unconscious stream. This is a problem and it always bites me ...

Pop quiz time. Q: What does Kölsch beer have in common with Cheddar cheese, Parma ham, and Champagne? A: All of them are associated with particular place....

Two north German cities on opposite banks of the Rhine River are home to two distinct styles of beer: kölsch from Cologne and altbier from Düsseldorf. These are beers that predate the lager revolution of the mid-1800s. Breweries in Cologne ...