Old Irving Della 4Pk

Old Irving Della 4Pk is a German-style Kölsch ale from Chicago's Old Irving Brewing Co., sold in a 4-pack at 5.2% ABV. This light-bodied, highly drinkable ale earned a Silver Medal at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival in the German-Style Kölsch category — one of the most competitive style categories in American craft brewing.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.2%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: German-Style Kölsch  |  Brewery: Old Irving Brewing Co.  |  IBU: 23  |  SRM: 3

Production & Heritage

Old Irving Brewing Co. is a microbrewery rooted in Chicago's Old Irving Park neighborhood. Della is built on a grain bill of high-quality Pilsner malt with a touch of Vienna malt, lending the beer its pale straw color (SRM 3) and subtle bready backbone. The hop profile leans into European nobility: Zuper Saazer, Hallertau Mittelfrüh, and Tettnang deliver gentle floral and herbal character at a restrained 23 IBUs. A clean fermentation profile keeps the focus squarely on the style's hallmark crispness and clarity. Production is handled at Great Central Brewing in Chicago, IL.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Floral, grassy noble hop aromatics lead, followed by light cracker-like malt and a faint whisper of stone fruit. The nose is delicate and inviting, true to Kölsch tradition.

Taste: The entry is clean and cracker-crisp, with Pilsner malt providing a fresh-baked baguette quality on the front palate. Mid-palate, subtle herbaceous spice from the triple noble hop blend emerges alongside a gentle stone fruit sweetness. The Vienna malt addition rounds out the body without adding heaviness, keeping the beer light and precise.

Finish: Dry and refreshing, with a clean snap that invites the next sip. Lingering floral hop notes fade gracefully, leaving minimal bitterness and a satisfying crispness on the tongue.

How to Drink Della

Della is best served cold, ideally around 40–45°F, in a traditional Stange glass or a clean pint glass to showcase its pale clarity. Its light body and low bitterness make it a natural session beer on warm afternoons. For cocktail-adjacent serves, try a Radler — Della's cracker-dry profile pairs beautifully with fresh lemonade. A Shandy with ginger beer plays well off the stone fruit sweetness. And a simple Michelada works here because the clean Kölsch base lets lime, hot sauce, and Worcestershire come through without competing malt heaviness.

Best For

• Introducing craft-curious drinkers to German-style ales without overwhelming bitterness
• Backyard cookouts and warm-weather gatherings where sessionability matters
• Pairing with lighter fare at dinner — salads, seafood, and grilled chicken
• Gifting to a beer enthusiast who appreciates award-winning, style-authentic brewing

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Della taste like? Della tastes crisp and cracker-dry with subtle bready malt, gentle floral and herbaceous hop spice, and a delicate kiss of stone fruit sweetness. The finish is dry, clean, and highly refreshing.

How does Della compare to Reissdorf Kölsch? Reissdorf is brewed in Cologne, Germany — the birthplace of the Kölsch style — and delivers a slightly more mineral, straightforward malt character. Della, as an American interpretation, leans a bit more into its triple noble hop bill, bringing additional floral and herbal complexity while maintaining the style's signature lightness and drinkability.

Is Della good for beginners? Della is an excellent entry point into craft beer because its 5.2% ABV, low 23 IBUs, and clean flavor profile make it approachable for anyone accustomed to light lagers. The Kölsch style bridges the gap between pale lagers and ales, making it familiar yet more flavorful.

Where is Della made? Della is brewed for Old Irving Brewing Co. at Great Central Brewing in Chicago, Illinois. Old Irving Brewing is a microbrewery based in the Old Irving Park neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side.

What foods pair well with Della? Grilled white fish or shrimp complement the beer's light body and floral hop notes. Soft pretzels with mustard echo the bready Pilsner malt backbone. Goat cheese salads work well against the crisp dryness. Sushi and lighter Japanese cuisine pair naturally with the clean finish. Lemon-herb roasted chicken mirrors the subtle stone fruit and herbal qualities.

What sizes does Della come in? Della is available in a 4-pack format, which is the standard retail offering from Old Irving Brewing for this beer.

Is Della worth the price? Della positions as a craft Kölsch in the accessible tier of the Chicago craft beer market, and its 2021 GABF Silver Medal validates that it competes at a national level. For a style-authentic, award-winning Kölsch at a neighborhood-brewery price point, it represents strong value.

Why Della?

Earning a Silver Medal at the 2021 Great American Beer Festival puts Della in rare company — the German-Style Kölsch category attracts hundreds of entries from breweries nationwide, and medaling requires technical precision and stylistic fidelity. The deliberate use of three noble hop varieties (Zuper Saazer, Hallertau Mittelfrüh, and Tettnang) gives Della a layered floral and spice dimension that many Kölsch-style ales lack. At 5.2% ABV and 23 IBUs, it delivers genuine flavor without sacrificing the style's defining drinkability. For anyone seeking a clean, crisp, award-recognized Kölsch brewed in Chicago, Della stands as one of the city's strongest examples of the style.