Avondale Streetcar Kolsch — A Cold German Classic in a Hot Alabama Summer

The Review

The case for Kolsch in Alabama is simple: it is July, it is 97 degrees, there is no shade, and you need a beer that is cold, clean, and refreshing without sacrificing the craft beer credibility that took you years to build among your friend group.

Streetcar Kolsch delivers on all counts.

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Named for Avondale’s streetcar history — this neighborhood was once a thriving destination connected to downtown Birmingham by rail — it pours pale straw-gold, brilliantly clear, with a fine white head. The nose is light grain, faint white bread, and a delicate floral hop note. The palate is clean and dry with the characteristic soft fruitiness of Kolsch yeast underneath, finishing crisp with just a whisper of bitterness.

At 4.3% it’s genuinely sessionable, which in a brewery lineup that includes a 9.2% tripel and a 6.8% West Coast IPA makes it the responsible choice. A relative term. You’ll have three.

Avondale’s historic building and outdoor concert stage make this the ideal summer afternoon setting, and Streetcar Kolsch is the ideal summer afternoon beer. The neighborhood Miss Fancy built deserves nothing less.

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