Genesee Ruby Red Kolsch

I bought Genesee's Ruby Red Kolsch initially out of respect for my hometown's legendary brewery. While Genesee is making some incredible beer right now, this fruited offering did not initially appeal to me. Fruited summer ales like shandies/radlers for example, are something I typically avoid drinking. I understand why people like them, they just have not clicked for me. I can actually only think of two summer radler/shandies I have enjoyed over the years. One was a Peach Radler from Niagara Brewing Company just across the Canadian Border. The other was Boulevard's Lemon Ginger Radler. While I may enjoy these beers, the tap list would have to be bare bones for me to actually order them.

I find that the fruited radler/shandy is just too much of a departure from what I want in a beer. Sure, they are easy to drink but the fruit flavoring usually tastes a bit too artificial and drowns out the part of the beer I want to taste the most, the actual beer! This is why this beer surprised me so much. Genesee's Ruby Red Kolsch definitely reminds me more of the shandy style than a kolsch ale. The strong grapefruit presence does take over the beer but in this case it worked for me. For a style like this I would normally complain about the grapefruit flavor. However, the grapefruit does not taste artificial, it's delicious actually. Then again, with the beer Genesee has been making and I should not have been so surprised.

As I work through my second 12-pack(which is priced under 10 dollars) of Ruby Red Kolsch, I feel fairly certain I have found a beer that I will drink regularly over the coming months. The grapefruit is the star of the show here and its presence works beautifully in both the aroma and in the taste. The flavor in particular reminds of eating a juicy grapefruit with a touch of sugar sprinkled on it. Basically I equate that flavor to a semi-healthy breakfast. Now, I am not saying you should have this beer for breakfast, I am just saying that I personally will not be able to eat grapefruit again without thinking of it. I also got a touch of bread, honey sweetness, cereal grains and grassy hops in the flavor as well.

Ruby Red Kolsch is not a complex beer, it is a simple summer crusher meant for refreshment on a hot day. The kolsch ale does take a back seat to the grapefruit, but there is just the right amount of it here. The end result is a light, easy to drink, super affordable and extremely refreshing beer. Try it and see for yourself!


Overall rating: 3.75/5



Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!

Zero Gravity Keller

I have spent the last few blogs talking about stouts. The main reason for that is winter weather will not seem to leave NY, so I went ahead and used that as a reason to deplete my stash of stouts. Like many of you, I am now officially sick of the endless winter weather. So for this blog, I am going to start dreaming of warmer weather and a beer I fully intend to drink until/when it arrives.

Zero Gravity's Keller is a take on a style that as of late seems to be reemerging and we all are better for it.   In case you are unaware of the style, Kellerbier is an unpasteurized & unfiltered lager, that is rich in vitamins & cloudy in appearance all because of the leftover yeast. So, if you think like I do, you are even more excited about this style because it is both delicious & has nutritional value. Zero Gravity's take on the style impressed me so much that it has been consistently taking up Real Estate in my refrigerator.

Keller won me over with its aroma of toasted bread, herbal hops, grass, and a nice fruitiness. Keller is dry hopped with Mandarina Bavaria hops which adds that wonderful fruitiness to the beer. Unfortunately, this tends to fade from both the aroma and the taste rather quickly. I have bought three 6-packs from the batch canned on 2/28/18 & there is definitely a drop off in the hop profile the older it gets. So to enjoy this beer at its best, check the date at the bottom of the can before you buy it. When it's fresh, it absolutely fantastic! That delightful fruitiness I mentioned earlier blends nicely with the flavors of pilsner malt, corn, grass, a peppery spiciness before a refreshing, crisp, dry finish. Aside from time causing Keller to fade a bit, there is also a slight vegetal note to it. It is not strong enough by any means to make drinking this beer less enjoyable, but nevertheless I would prefer it was not there.

Lagers are making a big comeback with a lot of craft breweries and I am very excited about it. With the cold weather lingering way longer than it should, I could not seem to step away from stouts. Now, I am getting to a point where I am ready to drink some flavorful, crisp & clean lagers while doing outdoor activities. Zero Gravity's Keller is a beautiful session beer. It will also work nicely as a lawnmower/yard work beer. Its flavorful, refreshing, sessionable and deserves a spot in your refrigerator or beach cooler.

Overall rating: 4.5/5 (remember the fresher, the better)


Rating Scale:
1. Repugnant and undrinkable
2. Acceptable but forgettable
3. Good, worth a purchase
4. Excellent, a step above the norm
5. Truly Exceptional. Drop everything, BUY IT NOW!

To discuss this blog or all things beer like my Facebook page

Look for me on Instagram & Untappd and Twitter @ACraftyLook

For more beer reviews check out: http://www.acraftylook.com

Thanks for reading. Sláinte!