Kolsch Recipe?

[simon04]

I've decided to give a Kolsch brew a try - just to be different.....

Could anyone point me in the direction of a nice recipe please? :

 

[zgoda]

Pilsner, Vienna, maybe pinch of wheat malt, German hops to 27-30 IBU, kolsch yeast, and lagering. Boring beer, almost lager.

 

[Jimmy321]

I've made some good Kolsch with 90% lager malt and 10% wheat malt, also tried without the wheat malt and it too was a good result. I used Perle hops with about 27IBU with no aroma hops, tried a 20l batch with 5g Perle last 5 mins of boil but it's a coin flip to which was best.

I fermented with Danstar Widsor, I know it's not a proper Kolsch yeast but it works.

Fermented at about 18°C to a few points off final gravity then raised to 20°c for a few days, crashed to 5°C for a day then added gelatine finings then kegged and lagered for 6 weeks.

It takes about a week for it to settle and pour clear in the keg as I find Windsor yeast is difficult to get to drop, I bottled some and it clears bright given time.

 

[keith1664]

I kegged one today and had a quick taster and it seems my most promising to date. No Vienna, Munich or wheat this time just 100% Dingemans Pilsner Malt, Saaz at 60 and 5 Minutes and fermented with WLP029 at 17°C. Obviously it needs a bit of lagering but it's the closest I've come to a commercial Kölsch so far.

 

[simon04]

Thanks for the input.

I'm hoping to make use of the winter weather for lagering!

 

[Wetroads]

Hmmm Kolsch! Not a lager fan, but that kept me very happy in Bonn. Let us know how you get on...

 

[simon04]

Delayed reply on my part... but here's what I'm thinking....


Batch Size 15.000 L
Boil Time 90.000 min
OG 1.045 FG 1.011
ABV 4.4% Bitterness 26.7 IBU (Tinseth)
Color 9.7 ebc (Morey)
Fermentables Total grain: 3.200

Pale Malt (2 Row) UK 2.750 kg
Pale Wheat Malt 300.000 g
Munich Malt - 10L 150.000 g

Hops
Name Alpha Amount Use Time Form IBU
Saaz (USA) 3.85% 30.000 g Boil 90.000 min Pellet 19.3
Saaz (USA) 3.85% 15.000 g Boil 15.000 min Pellet 4.5
Saaz (USA) 3.85% 5.000 g Boil 60.000 min Pellet 3.0
Misc
Name Type Use Amount Time
Irish Moss Fining Boil 5.000 mL 15.000 min
Yeast
Name Type Form Amount Stage
Safale S-04 Ale Dry 11.000 g Primary

 

[anthonyUK]

Kolsch is just lager brewed with a top fermenting yeast at lowish temps to avoid excess esters so look for any lager recipe that takes your fancy and use a neutral ale yeast. Ferment low at 15°-16°c ish.

 

[simon04]

Kolsch is just lager brewed with a top fermenting yeast at lowish temps to avoid excess esters so look for any lager recipe that takes your fancy and use a neutral ale yeast. Ferment low at 15°-16°c ish.

Good point - I fancy the Pilsner Urquell clone too, which also has Saaz - might be a good option?? :drink:

 

[simon04]

Just one more idea...... Any thoughts please??


Batch Size 20.043 L Boil Size 17.043 L
OG 1.046 FG 1.011
ABV 4.5% Bitterness 26.7 IBU (Tinseth)

Total grain: 4.360 kg

Pale Malt (2 Row) UK 3.850 kg
Pale Wheat Maltn 250.000 g
Vienna Malt Grain 160.000 g
Munich Malt - 10L 100.000 g

Saaz (USA) 25.000 g Boil 20.000 min
Saaz (USA) 25.000 g Boil 5.000 min
Northern Brewer 20.000 g Boil 90.000 min

 

[simon04]

In the end, I more-or-less went for the above... minus the wheat.

 

[zgoda]

Most kolsch breweries from Cologne don't use wheat at all, it's usually only pilsner malt, sometimes Munich or Vienna in small quantity.