Late last year, I went on a 10-day trip across Europe. I saw incredible sights, ate delicious food and drank some amazing beer. Since returning, I have fought a constant craving for the golden, crisp and refreshing beer that I drank on my trip.
Germany or Switzerland have some of the most strict brewing laws in the world. This means that brewers are only able to make beer with specific ingredients, and are not allowed to add any preservatives (much like the big wigs we see around here). The result is quite possibly the smoothest beer you could ever imagine. But this also makes it very difficult to ship that beer across the ocean to Canada.
While it’s hard to find blonde (or golden) ales that match the ones found in Germany or Switzerland, I managed to locate a few that come pretty darn close.
Front Porch by Calabogie Brewing Co.
(4.7% ABV – 32 IBU)
In case you haven’t noticed by now, I am a huge fan of Calabogie Brewing Co. I have yet to encounter a beer brewed there that I don’t like. No matter the style, they have mastered it in Calabogie. This is certainly the case for their kölsch-style Front Porch brew. In fact, while I was in Switzerland, enjoying some delicious Rugenbrau, I couldn’t help but think of this very beer from back home. Needless to say, Front Porch is definitely worth a try if you’re looking for a European-inspired golden ale. You will have to make the drive to Calabogie to get your hands on it, but trust me when I tell you it’s worth the trip.
Revivale by Lost Craft Beer
(4.8% ABV – 19 IBU)
The first thing that drew me to this beer was its simple packaging. The clean, crisp design of the can represents the beer you’ll find inside. Revivale sells itself as a German-inspired ale, and it certainly lives up to that description. It’s smooth, refreshing and very similar to the beer I found myself drinking on the Rhine River in Germany. There is a nice balance of fruit and malt tones, but it’s not over powering on either end of those notes. You can find it at the LCBO, and it’s definitely worth a try.
Gateway Kölsch by Sawdust City
(5% ABV – 20 IBU)
If you haven’t tried Sawdust City’s beer yet, I strongly recommend it. They have a number of great brews, including their Lone Pine IPA. But one thing they do really well is make a delicious kölsch. While many breweries have tried to perfect this popular style originally found in Koln Germany, Sawdust City has achieved that. Gateway is a smooth, light and easy-drinking ale, with a lot to offer in the flavour department. It definitely had visions of Germany dancing in my head, which is why I had to include it in this list.
Kölsch-Style Ale by Brown Van Brewing
(4.8% ABV – 23 IBU)
Like the name suggests, this ale is modelled after the popular German beer that I was looking for. As far as kölsch beer goes, Brown Van definitely strikes gold with this delicious brew. Brown Van Brewing is one of Ottawa’s newer beer companies, and is currently under contract with Kichesippi Beer Co., which is where their beer is brewed. If you’re looking to give it a try, you can find this beer at the LCBO.
Crafted in the Capital 