German-style kölsch is an ideal summer beer

THE GENERAL public may scarcely have heard of it yet, but kölsch, one of the great summer beers, is definitely a coming style. American craft brewers are getting into it -- at least 30 of them already brew a kölsch, though not all call it by that name. But if it weren't for our craft breweries, we'd have very little chance indeed to taste this style of beer, because German examples are rarely exported.

By Charles Perry

June 11, 2008