Beer of the Week: Kostka-Busser

In August, we shared news that Culture Brewing had brought on new owners, Tony and Jenna Dellamano. The married couple, who, like their beer biz, call Solana Beach home, came aboard with some ambitious plans for the 11-year-old company, including getting its beers into distribution. That mission has since been accomplished, with several accounts established and more to come. And getting more retail locations onboard should be a bit easier following some big brewing competition wins under the new regime. The most recent is the garnering of a Great American Beer Festival gold medal in the Contemporary Gose category for Culture’s lime, yuzu and Meyer lemon-infused 3 Citrus Gose. That high-profile award is big news, but one that’s about as impressive but may have flown under most beer enthusiasts’ radar is an honor bestowed on this week’s featured beer by the National Honey Board (NHB), Kostka-Busser. I know what you’re thinking. Who even knew there was a National Honey Board? But consider this. Most people don’t know there’s a national Brewers Association, state-level California Craft Brewers Association or county-focused San Diego Brewers Guild (despite my best efforts). Need proof the NHB is legit? They hold an annual brewing competition in which they judge beers brewed with, you guessed it, honey. Not only that, but big-name winners from this year’s event include the likes of Deschutes Brewery, Arizona Wilderness Brewing and our own Culture, which nearly swept the Historical Beer category with a gold and a silver. But this isn’t where the story ends. The beer that nabbed gold was also named Best of Show for this year’s competition. That a-lister was Kostka-Busser, a local take on a German-style Kottbusser named for longtime Culture brewer Aleks Kostka. Once again, I feel as though I can read your mind. What’s a Kottbusser? Traditionally brewed with wheat, oats and honey, this style of beer was outlawed for many years under the German Beer Purity Law (AKA: Reinheitsgebot), because of the use of those aforementioned ingredients, leading to its plunge into obscurity. But some ambitious brewers have brought it back, aiming to introduce today’s beer-drinkers to its charms. Culture’s is certainly charming, and if you need proof, take a look at those Honey Beer Competition standings…or head to the company’s tasting rooms in Solana Beach and Encinitas.

Our Kottbusser, AKA: Kostka-Busser, is a style of beer most beer drinkers aren’t familiar with, but quickly became a crowd favorite due to the fact that it is one of our easiest-drinking beers. Most people are shocked that this smooth and deceptively light beer comes in at a whopping 8% ABV (alcohol-by-volume). Kostka-Busser doesn’t drink super boozy nor lingers on the palate for too long. The combination of barley, wheat and oats allows for the honey to really shine, while providing a pleasant mouthfeel and softness to the beer. We used orange-blossom honey from Pearson Ranch, since their farm sits right in the ‘orange belt’ of California. (Get yourself some Pearson Ranch honey if you haven’t already and be sure to enjoy some Kostka-Busser at the same time.) Everyone knows that every single ingredient used in a recipe is important, but carefully selecting the right honey for a Kottbusser is, without a doubt, a priority. The honey was added during whirlpool so that the flavor and aroma wouldn’t be lost in the final product, and also to avoid making the beer too sweet. Brewing Kostka-Busser always leads to being sticky at the end of the day, but let me tell you, it’s totally worth it.”

Aleks Kostka, Brewer, Culture Brewing

Culture Brewing’s tasting rooms are located at 111 South Cedros Avenue in Solana Beach, and 629 South Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas