Black Abbey-Edley's "Edley's Best Beer" Kolsch

I have determined that this is a kolsch style lager. How did I determine that? Well, through no help of the can, I'll tell you that. And the idea that the Black Abbey website might be help had to be thrown out the door. I just picked this beer up, and it's not listed as a seasonal or special beer - I even checked the usual stable of beers. Maybe it's been sitting on the store shelf for too long.

The deep gold beer has a little haze to it, and the head fizzles to a blotchy, yet complete, covering on top of the beer. A kolsch is unlikely to leave a lot of lacing, and there doesn't seem like there will be any here today. The aroma is thick baked bread and very little else. Aside from that, there isn't much to say. It looks a lot like a beer. It's not bright and flashy like the crappy fake beer they use on TV, but it looks pretty good.

First sip is very well balanced with a thick bread and sweetness, but the end is tart and bitter. It's like riding a see-saw that goes in slow motion. So, I guess "balanced" in this context is that it is purposefully out of balance, but it unbalanced in a very... balanced way. Look, it tastes good. I don't have to use your fancy words to say stuff like that!

Tip-in is bread and light citrus with gentle carbonation tingle. The middle evolves into a little too much scrape on top of the mouth while the bread and citrus are thick and smooth in the center. The finish brings light spice with bitterness (and no hint of the tart I tasted in the sip) that hangs on with bread for the trail-off.

Bottom Line: I am liking kolsch beers more and more.

3.75/5