A Coffee Kölsch Inspired by Two Cultures
A Coffee Kölsch Inspired by Two Cultures
Some collaborations are exciting. This one is personal.
A few months ago, I met Kevin, owner of Alibi Ale Works. As we talked, he handed me one of his house-brewed Kölsches.
I immediately smiled.
You see, I was born in Cologne (Köln), Germany—the city where Kölsch beer originated. For anyone from Cologne, a Kölsch is more than a style of beer. It is part of the city's identity, history, and culture.
Finding a Kölsch brewed with care in the Sierra Nevada was unexpected. As we talked about beer, brewing, and flavor, an idea started taking shape:
What if we combined the beer of my hometown with coffee from my mother's home country?
From Cologne to Indonesia
My father is German. My mother is Indonesian.
Those two cultures have shaped much of who I am, and in many ways they have also shaped Segara Coffee.
Every coffee we source comes from Indonesia, a country with extraordinary coffee-growing regions, rich agricultural traditions, and remarkable diversity of flavor. Indonesia is not only where our coffees are grown—it is also where much of the inspiration behind Segara originates.
As Kevin and I continued talking, we realized there was an opportunity to bring those two worlds together in a way neither of us had seen before.
A traditional German Kölsch.
Coffee from Indonesia.
One glass.
Creating a Coffee Kölsch
The idea sounded simple.
The execution was not.
Our goal was never to create a beer that tasted overwhelmingly like coffee. We wanted to create a true Kölsch first and foremost: crisp, refreshing, approachable, and highly drinkable.
The coffee needed to complement the beer rather than dominate it.
Over multiple tasting sessions, we experimented with different coffees, different ratios, and different approaches. Some versions pushed the coffee too far forward. Others lost the coffee character almost entirely.
Like many collaborative projects, progress came through small adjustments and plenty of conversation. Each iteration brought us closer to the balance we were looking for.
Eventually, we found it.
The result is a traditional German-style Kölsch with a subtle Indonesian coffee character woven into the beer. It still drinks like a Kölsch. It simply tells a slightly different story.
Why This Collaboration Matters
At Segara, coffee has always been about more than coffee.
Coffee creates conversations. It brings people together. It creates opportunities to share stories, traditions, and perspectives that might not otherwise meet.
This collaboration is a perfect example.
A brewery inspired by German brewing traditions.
Coffee sourced from Indonesia.
A drink that reflects both sides of my cultural heritage.
What began as a simple conversation became something far more meaningful—a project that celebrates craftsmanship, curiosity, and the unexpected connections that happen when people share what they love.
Join Us for the Release
We are excited to share the Coffee Kölsch with our community at Alibi Ale Works in Truckee.
The beer will be released on Sunday, June 14, as Germany plays its first World Cup match. We'll also be offering complimentary Segara coffee tastings beginning at 12 PM.
Whether you're a craft beer enthusiast, coffee lover, soccer fan, or simply curious, we'd love to raise a glass with you.
Coffee Kölsch Release
📍 Alibi Ale Works, Truckee
📅 Sunday, June 14
⏰ From 12 PM onward
Prost.
— Esther
Founder, Segara Coffee