Tasting Notes: North Shore Brewers 2025 Q2 Kellerbier

As much as I prefer the written word, the digital world is moving more toward video all the time. Over the years I have very lightly dabbled in video production. I have no patience for video editing. With that in mind, I went on Facebook Live on Big Brew Day thinking that might be an easier pivot to video when I brewed this batch. 

The tl;dw about the brew is I designed a Helles-recipe that borrowed slightly from my cream ale recipe, the beer got two weeks in primary fermentation before being racked to a keg for keg-conditioning and lagering. 

I was happy to pick up a fresh crowler of Notch Zwickel directly from the brewery for my side-by-side. 

Aroma

Homebrew: Doughy bread, low floral hop, very clean  

Zwickel: Slightly hoppier - rustic, almost metallic 

Appearance 

Homebrew: Gold, hint of haze. Thin, foamy white head a little disappointing. Probably not enough pressure in keg, it poured a little slow off the tap  

Zwickel: Color the same, clearer, huge foamy head. 

Flavor 

Homebrew: Malt-forward, med high bready notes, like French bread. Med low hop bitterness and flavor, slightly more than the Helles base-style. Vaguely yeasty, but fermentation is otherwise quite clean.

Zwickel: Leans into hop flavor and bitterness a little more. That could be the lighter body influencing the balance. Malt flavor lighter and slightly less intense  

Mouthfeel 

Homebrew: Medium body, medium low carb. This is a serving problem more than anything. This beer was keg conditioned. The issue was lack of pressure in the keg. Finish clean. 

Zwickel: Feels lighter and crisper. Med light body and medium carbonation. I like the finish more as well. 

Overall 

I wish the carbonation on the homebrew didn’t slip like it has. The carbonation was higher when I brought when the beer was first tapped. After pouring this half litre, I turned up the CO2 in my keezer. In this test my beer just feels a little flabbier than the commercial beer. The beers did get more similar with each sip. Both are supremely drinkable.

I loved how this batch came out. This beer is a keeper. Notice I didn’t say recipe. That was intentional. This style is more about process than recipe. I would easily recreate this process to make a Kellerbier with a different base style. I could also very well brew this recipe again with this exact process.  

Wish I had a better picture from the meeting

I did brew this beer for my homebrew club's in-club competition back in June. With summer approaching the number of beers entered was less than usual. With how broad the style is defined, the beers did run the gamut a bit. For once, I was able to pick my beer out right away. 

My beer finished in 2nd place by one vote again. Almost exactly the same result as my Australian Sparkling Ale. I think this should have won. If I still have some left, and it is still tasting fresh, I may just enter it into Jamboree.