Cerebral Brewing Rain Shadow
What the brewers say
“Kölsch hopped with Hallertau Mittelfruh, Tettnang, and Sterling.”
What our panel thought
“Brilliantly clean with malt, hops, and fruity esters in a delectable balance. Nice crispy apple and pear aroma with a tinge of floral honey. Clean with a cheeky hint of bitterness to finish. Pin-pricking carbonation cleanses the palate for a refreshingly clear rush of fruit-tinged, crackery goodness. A great beer for any occasion that captures significant flavor despite the very light body. Finishes with a soft and dry mouthfeel that begs for another sip. Very agreeable.”
What our editors thought
“Impeccably light grain aroma with sunny, bouncy apple esters, a bit of lustrous Italian leather, mint lemonade, and just a hint of brioche. Very light and high-key, but not as dry as one would expect, while a satisfying full malt braces those dulcet high notes. Pulls in the lightest hit of herbal and citrus-pith hops as it finishes, subtly and effortlessly drying it. The net effect is light and easy to drink, accomplishing that rare feat in a beer that’s interesting as a small sample but also enjoyable at pint five or six.”
