Any experience with WLP 029 Kölsch?

[vera]

I brewed an AG Kőlsch on Sunday. I had made a 1.5 liter starter which I decanted and pitched around 5 pm. I've been maintaining 70 degrees. The next morning it was bubbling away, nothing crazy, but fairly consistent. Tuesday the bubbling slowed down to almost nothing. I've never experienced this slow down with any of my beers. I peeked into the keg and noticed a lot of nice Kräusen. Should I be concerned? Should I pitch more yeast? Or should I wait and take a gravity reading after 7ish days?

 

[stikks]

I`ve had great results with 029,but have been using wyeast 2565 lately.To me the
2565 takes off quicker and have fermented down to 58 degrees with it.I`ve also
had strong ferments with both (blowoff).029 seems to quit at 60 degrees,all in
all both very clean yeasts.

 

[pjj2ba]

With the amount of yeast you pitched, and the fermentation temperature, I wouldn't be surprised if the bulk of the fermentation was already done

 

[mredge73]

I used it (WLP029) for the first time on my last brew. This is the best brew that I have done in 2 years; just fantastic. And it fermented exactly like you described; I only saw a few bubbles on the second day and then it stopped. I was at FG in 3 days without violent fermentation. I am sure it is quick because it does not ferment dry; in my case 1.05 --> 1.01.

 

[badhabit]

I use 029 on all my Kolsch. It is unusual to see a ferment over 72 hours if you have a good, at least 1 qt, starter and keep in temp range 62 to 68 F. Let it sit a while at that same temp range and it will start clearing. It doesn't flock very well so you may want to cold crash but wait because below 62F the yeast gets very inactive. Also if you are planning on a psudo lager make sure that you are finished fermenting...check hydrometer and then if you bottle condition make sure that you give a few weeks at 68 to 70 F to produce carb. I think that 029 is the very best Kolsch yeast and produces a spot on Kolsch but you have to pay attention to get the most from it.

 

[vera]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't wait, and took a reading. Came in at 1.012. Desired is 1.010. I'm thinking about letting it sit at 70 degrees for 2 weeks, then bringing up the temp for a diacetyl rest for a couple of days, then transfering to secondary and cold crashing in the fridge for at least 4 weeks. Please let me know if I'm on the right track.

 

[badhabit]

Thanks everyone. I couldn't wait, and took a reading. Came in at 1.012. Desired is 1.010. I'm thinking about letting it sit at 70 degrees for 2 weeks, then bringing up the temp for a diacetyl rest for a couple of days, then transfering to secondary and cold crashing in the fridge for at least 4 weeks. Please let me know if I'm on the right track.

The D-rest is a good idea but I would not bring it above 70 F or you will pick up more esters than you want in a Kolsch. You could cool off to 65ish and D-rest but if you just leave it at 70, I don't think that the D-rest is going to work

 

[ghpeel]

There's no reason to worry about diacytl in a beer that's been at 70F for its primary. In fact, you are going to have way more esters in that beer than are appropriate for the Kolsch style. Not that it won't be good, necessarily, but that strain needs to ferment around 63-64F. The Wyeast version is good at 60F. 70F is a bit high.

 

[whitehause]

I've done a couple with 029. A very good yeast! One was fermented at 70 deg and one was at 62. The one at 62 was definitely better IMO. Remember....if the ambient temp is 70...your ferment temp is probably around 77. The lower temp will give you a little cleaner tasting Kolsch-like profile, but I'm sure yours will turn out fine. If was 75 to 80 ambient....that's another story.