- Recipe Type
- All Grain
- Yeast
- Split - WLP029 & WY2565
- Yeast Starter
- 1600mL
- Additional Yeast or Yeast Starter
- See below
- Batch Size (Gallons)
- 11
- Original Gravity
- 1.048
- Final Gravity
- 1.010
- Boiling Time (Minutes)
- 90
- IBU
- 25
- Color
- 4 SRM
- Primary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp)
- 62-64F for 10 days
- Secondary Fermentation (# of Days & Temp)
- 43F for 3 weeks
- Tasting Notes
- See below
Of course, perfect is relative to preference. This recipe has done well in competition as well as with BMC drinkers, advanced brewers, and connoisseurs alike.
This is for an 11 gallon batch, using 85-90% efficiency. Adjust for your efficiency and batch size if necessary.
Grain:
14 lb German Pils malt
1 lb white wheat malt
1 lb German Munich malt (light)
**(NOTE: Text in Red is updated information 07-12-2015)
Option 1: (This is the method I used with floor malted undermodified Pils malt):
Step Mash:
Strike @ 131F, ramp to 149F over 25 minutes.
Hold at 149F for 30 mins.
Ramp to 152F for 15 mins.
Ramp to 155F for 30 minutes.
Slowly ramp to (and mash out at) 168F for 10 minutes.
Using fully modified Pils malt:
Strike at 140F and hold for 20 minutes
Step up to 152F for 30 minutes
Step up to 158F for 10 minutes
Mash out at 168F for 10 minutes
Fly sparge with 170F water. Acidify sparge water to prevent sparge runoff from exceeding 5.8 pH.
Option 2:
Infusion Mash:
Single infusion at 151-152 is recommended. Mash out at 168-170F for 10 mins.
Boil:
90 minute boil. Scrape off hot break before boil begins (as you're lautering). Add first hop addition at the 60 minute mark.
.75 oz. Hallertau 3.9%aa 60 min
1 oz. Saaz 5.5%aa 60 min
.5 oz. Hallertau 30 min
.5 oz. Saaz 30 min
Irish moss 15 min
Whirlpool and chill to 65F. Important: try to keep the fermentation temperature around the low 60's F! I've had the best results at 62F.
I split into two carboys, one with White Labs 029 Ger Ale/Kolsch and other with Wyeast 2565 Kolsch. Both turned out great. The WY version fermented a bit cleaner, but that's not necessarily favorable if you prefer more German Ale character in your Kölsch. Also, the WY strain took a few more weeks to clear up (flocculate) than the WL strain, so plan accordingly.
Partial mash option: (thanks, toastermm)
Type: Partial Mash
Batch Size: 5.5 Gallons
Boil Size: 7.5 gallons
Efficiency: 70%
Fermentables:
4.76 lb Pilsner Liquid Extract
Partial mash with:
2 lb Pilsner grain (2 row)
0.5 lb white wheat malt
0.25 lb German Munich malt (light)
Boil:
90 minute boil. Scrape off hot break before boil begins. Add first hop addition at the 60 minute mark.
0.5 oz. Hallertau 3.9%aa 60 min
0.5 oz. Saaz 5.5%aa 60 min
0.25 oz. Hallertau 30 min
0.25 oz. Saaz 30 min
0.25 tsp Irish moss 15 min
1 Pkgs Wyeast Kolsh Yeast #2565
Steep crushed grains 45-60 minutes before boil at ~145-150 degrees in steeping bag.
Some Pics:
Appearance:
Golden, brilliantly clear with white head about 3/4" thick that diminishes slowly, with lacing that lasts.
Aroma:
Predominantly malty, but some noble hop aroma is also present. Very slight yeast character detected in the nose, which is pleasant.
Flavor:
Very well balanced. Adequate malt presence, complimented with noble hop flavor and aroma. Crisp, somewhat dry finish preceded by some yeast character. Very clean, drinkable, and appropriate alcohol content.
I've had good Kölsch beers from Germany, and this stands right there with them. Local enthusiasts and brew club members agree.
Cheers,
TB
Some additional feedback:
This is for an 11 gallon batch, using 85-90% efficiency. Adjust for your efficiency and batch size if necessary.
Grain:
14 lb German Pils malt
1 lb white wheat malt
1 lb German Munich malt (light)
**(NOTE: Text in Red is updated information 07-12-2015)
Option 1: (This is the method I used with floor malted undermodified Pils malt):
Step Mash:
Strike @ 131F, ramp to 149F over 25 minutes.
Hold at 149F for 30 mins.
Ramp to 152F for 15 mins.
Ramp to 155F for 30 minutes.
Slowly ramp to (and mash out at) 168F for 10 minutes.
Using fully modified Pils malt:
Strike at 140F and hold for 20 minutes
Step up to 152F for 30 minutes
Step up to 158F for 10 minutes
Mash out at 168F for 10 minutes
Fly sparge with 170F water. Acidify sparge water to prevent sparge runoff from exceeding 5.8 pH.
Option 2:
Infusion Mash:
Single infusion at 151-152 is recommended. Mash out at 168-170F for 10 mins.
Boil:
90 minute boil. Scrape off hot break before boil begins (as you're lautering). Add first hop addition at the 60 minute mark.
.75 oz. Hallertau 3.9%aa 60 min
1 oz. Saaz 5.5%aa 60 min
.5 oz. Hallertau 30 min
.5 oz. Saaz 30 min
Irish moss 15 min
Whirlpool and chill to 65F. Important: try to keep the fermentation temperature around the low 60's F! I've had the best results at 62F.
I split into two carboys, one with White Labs 029 Ger Ale/Kolsch and other with Wyeast 2565 Kolsch. Both turned out great. The WY version fermented a bit cleaner, but that's not necessarily favorable if you prefer more German Ale character in your Kölsch. Also, the WY strain took a few more weeks to clear up (flocculate) than the WL strain, so plan accordingly.
Partial mash option: (thanks, toastermm)
Type: Partial Mash
Batch Size: 5.5 Gallons
Boil Size: 7.5 gallons
Efficiency: 70%
Fermentables:
4.76 lb Pilsner Liquid Extract
Partial mash with:
2 lb Pilsner grain (2 row)
0.5 lb white wheat malt
0.25 lb German Munich malt (light)
Boil:
90 minute boil. Scrape off hot break before boil begins. Add first hop addition at the 60 minute mark.
0.5 oz. Hallertau 3.9%aa 60 min
0.5 oz. Saaz 5.5%aa 60 min
0.25 oz. Hallertau 30 min
0.25 oz. Saaz 30 min
0.25 tsp Irish moss 15 min
1 Pkgs Wyeast Kolsh Yeast #2565
Steep crushed grains 45-60 minutes before boil at ~145-150 degrees in steeping bag.
Some Pics:
Appearance:
Golden, brilliantly clear with white head about 3/4" thick that diminishes slowly, with lacing that lasts.
Aroma:
Predominantly malty, but some noble hop aroma is also present. Very slight yeast character detected in the nose, which is pleasant.
Flavor:
Very well balanced. Adequate malt presence, complimented with noble hop flavor and aroma. Crisp, somewhat dry finish preceded by some yeast character. Very clean, drinkable, and appropriate alcohol content.
I've had good Kölsch beers from Germany, and this stands right there with them. Local enthusiasts and brew club members agree.
Cheers,
TB
Some additional feedback:
Tiber, thanks for the recipe. I just won first place in Wootown Brewer's competition "Barley Legal 2" for light hybrid ale with this recipe!
Tiber, I had to check back in and give you a kudos on this excellent brew! I brewed the first batch for the Kegs for the Cure cancer benefit, and it was a hit. There were six other home brewers at the event, and this was the easy crowd favorite. After a couple weeks of lagering, this beer was super clear. I followed your directions on scraping off hot break and did some other clarifying work (vorlauf, lagering). Very fine beer. Thanks for the recipe--I was damn glad I bought enough ingredients for a second batch after the event!