Krispy Kölsch: Brewing Our 2026 Collaboration Beer

Cold, Crisp, and Ready for Ski Run

Every year, Tahoe Brewfest brews an official beer, made just for cheers-ing at the event. For 2026, that beer is Krispy Kölsch, a one-time batch made with Cold Water Brewery, the same brewery where Tahoe Brewfest got its start. This tradition is three years old and Krispy Kölsch is the third beer to come out of it.

Emily Werman, Cold Water's head brewer, led the day, walking the group through every step of the process. Mallory Mahon and Aimi Xistra came from the Tahoe Brewfest side. Greg Kiskinen, who sits on the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe board, has brewed every one of these collaboration beers so far. Duncan Kincheloe joined from Caesars Republic, one of the event's title sponsors.

"The brew day with Boys and Girls Club is such a great opportunity to give people a look into the brewing world," Emily said. "I always love sharing my passions with the community and making a great beer for Brewfest."

None of them are brewers by trade, so this is the one day a year the team gets to help build, from start to finish, the beer their VIP guests will get to enjoy at the festival. Before anything went into a kettle, the group sat down together and talked through what they wanted: what style, what it should taste like, what would actually make sense in someone's hand at Brewfest. That's how they landed on a traditional German Kölsch: light and crisp, and easy to drink on a hot day.

From there, Emily walked everyone through the entire process as it happened, mashing, boiling, hopping, explaining what each step was doing to the beer and why. It's a level of hands-on access most people never get with the beer they drink, and it's part of what makes this brew day something Brewfest's team and partners look forward to each year.

"I always look forward to our brew day with Cold Water, they are such great hosts and supporters of the club," Greg said. "It also gets me excited for the event knowing it's just around the corner."

By the end of the day, the beer had a name. Krispy Kölsch, 5.3% ABV. A German-style Kölsch, light and crisp, brewed on Cold Water's main system.

Krispy Kölsch pours first in the VIP Chill Zone on August 29th. It won't be alone: Cold Water is also brewing a run of small-batch, VIP-only beers this summer with Alibi Ale Works, South Lake Brewing Co., South of North Brewing Co., Tahoe Brew House, FiftyFifty Brewing Co., and more on their new nano system. After the festival, Krispy Kölsch sticks around back at Cold Water Brewery, with a portion of every pour going to the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Brewfest returns to Ski Run Blvd on August 29th for its 9th year. VIP tickets, which get you into the Chill Zone for Krispy Kölsch and the rest of this year's collaboration beers, are available now at tahoebrewfest.com.