Lake Superior Kayak

Denizens of Cologne , Germany (or, Koln ) may call us “ugly Americans” for brewing a variation of this light, crisp ale. In fact, German law dictates that only a few breweries in Cologne and the surrounding area can legally call their beers Kolsches. Ours is more homage than theft: Starting with a malt base containing 10 percent wheat and all German hops, we ferment it with a hybrid ale yeast and then “lager” (or mellow) it in cold temperatures. The result is a delicate, straw-blond body and medium hop that delivers a crisp hint of fresh hay in place of the cloying sweetness of a lager or the bitter notes of a pale ale. It’s the perfect capper for a day spent hiking, hunting or – yes – kayaking. It also scored higher than any other Kolsch submitted to the 2002 World Beer Championships.