Westphal Kölsch by Berlinetta Brewing is being evaluated as a traditional Kölsch (Category 5B, 2015 BJCP Style Guidelines). It poured a light gold color that sat underneath a fleeting, bone-white head of foam. True to style, it was also brilliantly clear.

It also sports an appropriate aroma for style, albeit too clean in the fermentation arena with no esters being perceived. This allows the light grainy, cereal, hay-like malt to come forward and be supported by the delicate floral hops with a hint of black pepper.

In the flavor, there's a mid-low level of hop bitterness that is slightly unchecked by the lower level of malt expression (hay, cereal, grain). No fruity esters were detected while the beer finished dry due to solid attenuation. The light body and above-average carbonation further aid the quaffability of the beer, ultimately making it extremely easy to drink

Overall, Westphal Kölsch from Berlinetta is a solid offering and one of the better American-produced variants that I've had the privilege of tasting. For me, having a smidgen of ester production to help counteract the stronger-than-anticipated bitterness would push their beer higher in its range.