Gaffel Kolsch has shown up in the LCBO after, my guess, a 15 year absence. I used to get this up in the Ottawa Valley when the LCBO used to do things like stock beer preferred by local communities. My part of the Ottawa valley had an army base which included a lot of former residents at German posts. I picked it up because Ontario's famed Beau's has asked me to share what knowledge I have with some of their staff. As you know, I like to help.

My idea is to have a series of sessions after work on Friday in my backyard using the old "compare and contrast" approach. Beau's flagship beer is a kolsch-like thing and so the first compare and contrast I am thinking of is to try it next to a Gaffel to see if there are commonalities. So I've stocked some away. Then I think I will move to a common helles, then a Czech pilsner and on through a few beers that are seemingly similar but then not as close as you might think if you had one of each in hand.

Does this make sense? I see this taking a number of months and, heck, could go on forever if it makes sense. What other sorts of methods could I use? I was thinking that I will lean heavily on the methodology in The Naked Pint but am happy to take on any ideas. Any thoughts on what you would do?