What Is Kölsch Beer And How Is It Different From A Pilsner?

If you were to look at a glass of Kölsch next to a glass of pilsner, each one appearing almost identical in its amount of bubbles and golden hue, you might assume they're the same. While these two beer styles are often mistaken for one another, they stand opposed in their origins and flavors. Kölsch and pilsner are great choices for sipping on a summer day, with their light flavor profiles and frothy, foamy tops. However, the fundamental difference is that Kölsch is an ale, whereas pilsner is a lager. 

But what makes a lager a lager and an ale an ale? A few key differences include the yeast used in the fermentation process and the temperatures at which they're fermented and conditioned. Ales use top-fermenting yeast at higher temperatures, while lagers use bottom-fermenting yeast at lower temperatures. Because Kölsch uses top-fermenting yeast, it is technically an ale. However, it is conditioned in cool temperatures, similar to the lagering process, which calls for batches of beer to be stored in cold temperatures for weeks (or months). This gives Kölsch a lighter, more lager-like color and a similar (but not identical) taste. 

To start with, Kölsch's unique combination of brewing methods makes it a hybrid between an ale and a lager. The beer's use of ale yeast gives it a fruity taste similar to other ales but with the lightness and drinkability of a pilsner. Essentially, Kölsch is an ale dressed up like a lager but with a unique and complex taste that pairs just as well with a creamy lobster roll as a light and refreshing green bean and tomato panzanella salad.

Even so, Kölsch is often compared to pilsner, – one of the most popular beers globally. Pilsners often have a crisp, hoppy taste that is clean and refreshing. Kölsch is similarly easy to drink, with a light color and bubbly consistency. Invented as a German response to the Czech-originating pilsner, Kölsch is smoother and less dry than its Czech counterpart. That is perhaps the key to understanding what makes Kölsch such a special and singular beer, even if it often plays second fiddle to the popular pilsner.

Kölsch is a relatively new form of beer, especially in the context of the long and storied past of German beers. Kölsch is a product of the 19th century as pilsners (originating from the Czech Republic) began surging in popularity across Europe. Until Kölsch appeared on the scene, German beers tended to be darker and richer in taste, but several German states developed lighter brews in response to the light and frothy pilsner invasion. For its part, Cologne created what would be known as Kölsch, though the name was not used for that specific beer until 1918.

Kölsch was lighter than most German beers and didn't become popular in Germany until the second half of the 20th century. The beer wasn't standardized until 1986 when brewers in Cologne converged to create a standard method for brewing Kölsch. In 1997, the European Union gave Kölsch PGI, or protected geographical indication, status, which guaranteed Cologne exclusivity in brewing Kölsch beers – pilsner is not PGI-protected. Of course, like other PGI-protected products, such as Champagne, the United States does not necessarily have to abide by such labeling practices for Kölsch beers. So, you can find American-brewed Kölsch-style beers. However, the real thing only comes directly from Cologne. Even so, you might want to try a Kölsch (or Kölsch-style beer) and compare it to your run-of-the-mill pilsner to see what makes it stand out.