You hear “Cologne” and you think “Kölsch. Also known as Braustelle Helios, this week’s Thursday Tap™ is a keg version of Freigeist Ottekolong, an unfiltered kölsch, fermented with brettanomyces from Gasthaus-Brauerei Braustell. Peter Esser and Sebastian Sauer, the brewers at Braustelle, don’t always brew according to the Reinheitsgebot. As a result, their special Freigeist Bierkultur line of brews (“freigeist” means “free thinking”) run the gamut from smoky to sour to malty to floral.
This new brewery in town not only brews this kölsch (unfiltered, so they can’t legally call it kölsch) but also other updated versions of old German styles, even an Altbier. Sacrilege!
At only 4.8% this refreshing (and rare) brew is perfect for the dog days of summer.