Day 131, May 11 / Stoudt’s Karnival Kolsch

Day 131  /  May 11, 2011

Stoudt’s Karnival Kolsch

Stoudt’s Brewing Company / Adamstown, PA

A

NG

P

G

VG

O

Yes, the Farmhouse Beer Run is over.  Just like that, no pomp, no circumstance, just over.  Sorry, HHH, I didn’t get to a Biere de Garde this time, so I’ll try to get one later in the year.

Stoudt’s Brewing Company is located in Adamstown, PA, just outside of Reading, PA.  A good friend who grew up in nearby Wyomissing, PA had told me about Stoudt’s.  We visited for the first time back in the late 1980’s, for one of their great weekend beer fests.  They had an authentic Oompah band, a roasted pig marched around the festival hall, followed by owner Ed Stoudt in his lederhosen playing a tuba, and German ladies in chicken hats.  And beer – wonderful, fresh beer, brewed on site.  At this time, the only place you could get Stoudt’s beer was at Stoudt’s – either on tap during a festival, or to go in capped champagne bottles.  Every time we’d visit, we’d leave with several bottles to share with friends.

Over the years, we’d visit Stoudt’s several times, bringing friends from DC, and meeting friends and their family from my hometown of Syracuse.  Maybe we’ll do so again this summer.

These days, Stoudt’s has a full size craft brewery, and distributes several beers (in 12 oz. bottles) throughout the Mid-Atlantic and a little bit beyond.

The Karnival Kolsch is a relatively new addition to their Seasonal lineup, released for a few months in the spring.  It’s a pale yellow beer, light, crisp and refreshing – a good summer beer.

If you’ve got a spare weekend, check out Stoudt’s event calendar and visit for either one of their Beer Festivals or an Oktoberfest – you’ll have a great time!