Kölsch beers available in Southern California

Where to find the German gold Listed in order of preference are the kölsches available in the greater L.A. market in May. Later in the season, you might see others such as Shiner Kölsch from Shiner Beers and Mammoth Brewing Gold. Island Brewing in Carpinteria makes a kölsch called Island Blonde, sold in markets in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. And at San Diego area retailers, you can find Poway-based Lightning Brewery’s Kölsch Style Ale.Reissdorf Kölsch. This import, made by the biggest brewer in Cologne , is pale gold, with faint glints of green. It has a well-structured yeasty-fruity nose. On the palate: creamy, grassy carbonation with a sprightly note of hops at the end. A satisfying mouthful with a light touch. At Beverage Warehouse, Mar Vista, (310) 306-2822, www.beveragewarehouse.com; Cap ‘n Cork Jr. Market, Los Angeles (Los Feliz), (323) 665-1260; Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, (949) 650-8463, www.hitimewine.net; and Wine Expo, Santa Monica (310) 828-4428. About $4.50 (22 ounces). Pyramid Breweries Curve Ball Kölsch. A seasonal beer (available March through September) from a brewery-alehouse chain based in Washington state, it has a pretty gold color and the most persistent head of the beers tasted. The nose is mild, sweet and a little herbal; the beer is clean and crisp on the palate with a note of berries. Well-made, attractive and summery. At Beverages & More, for local store check www.bevmo.com; and Hi-Time Wine Cellars. About $8 to $8.50 per six-pack.Great Beer Hollywood Blonde Kölsch. From a Chatsworth one-beer brewer, this is a lively and appealing beer with medium gold color that’s similar to the Reissdorf but a little less focused. It has a yeasty nose and turns herbaceous on the palate, with a toasty note at the finish. At Beverage Warehouse and Hi-Time Wine Cellars. About $7 per six-pack.Ballast Point Brewing Yellowtail Pale Ale. A kölsch-style beer from San Diego with a honey gold color and a big head that quickly turns into a lacy foam. The nose suggests a Belgian wheat ale, yeasty with a sweet funk. It’s heavier and maltier than other beers in this tasting. At Beverages & More; Hi-Time Wine Cellars; and Red Carpet Liquor, Glendale, (818) 247-5544, www.redcarpetwine.com. About $4 (22 ounces), $8.50 per six-pack.Alaskan Brewing Summer Ale. In the glass, it’s honey gold with very little head. The floral nose suggests jasmine with a faint suggestion of decay. It’s sweetish, with a light-bodied finish. At Beverages & More and Hi-Time Wine Cellars. About $7.50 to $9 per six-pack. -- Charles Perry