Liquid yeast for Kolsch

[Morrey]

I just bought a Kolsch kit that supplies grains, DME, LME and a yeast dry pack. HOWEVER, the directions state they recommend using a liquid yeast instead of the dry pack.

I understand, due to shelf life and storage they cannot supply liquid yeast in their kit. So using liquid yeast is a new project for me. I plan to visit my LHBS next week to buy equipment and products to cultivate a liquid yeast starter.

I need a flask, DME, yeast nutrients, airlock and stopper to start. Do I need to add hops to the starter as I have read????

Most importantly, what yeast do I need for this Kolsch???

THANKS to all!!!

 

[dmtaylor]

WLP029 or Wyeast 2565 are the Kolsch strains. Personally I like WLP029 better as it ferments clean and clears faster. 2565 is a very finicky strain that is temperature sensitive and takes about 6 weeks or longer to clear.

Also I can tell you that depending on the dry yeast, you'll likely get very similar results with a clean dry ale yeast (such as US-05).

 

[Gavin C]

No hops in a starter.

If you're buying kit get a big flask. No smaller than 2L and I'd recommend 5L

WLP029 is what I've used for a Kolsch. Turned out OK

A walkthrough on starters is in my sig below if you're looking for pointers.

 

[MaxStout]

Kolsch has a very unique, delicate flavor that cannot be duplicated with dry yeast. Use either WLP029 or WY2565. I have only used the Wyeast strain, but have had very good results each time. Though it is an ale, the beer will benefit by a period of lagering after it has finished, or at least cold-crash it a few days before packaging. This will give you a brighter beer.

 

[unionrdr]

In my experiences, WL029 also gives a lager-like balance with that bit of crispness on the back.

 

[ScrewyBrewer]

I prefer using White Labs WLP029 - German Ale/Kölsch Yeast™ pitched at lager yeast rates and fermented cool at 60F. Using an ale yeast other than a Kölsch yeast will produce a nice beer, but it won't be similar to the Kölsch style.

For my most recent batch I pitched two fresh White Labs pure pitch packages without bothering to make a starter at all and was able to get 81% attenuation. My recipe used Pilsner and a bit of Vienna grains, @Morrey are your extracts Pilsner or extra light?

 

[BrianDorry55]

I have a great Kolsch recipe that I brew variations of more than any other beer on my rotation. I use Wyeast 2565 and have always had excellent results. I ferment in the 55-60 degree range with no issues and have had a few times where I let it get too cold and it still kicked the wort's ass at 50-52 degree ambient temp in my fermenting fridge. An earlier poster also suggested that Wyeast 2565 takes a long time to finish and to clear up...once again, I haven't had this issue at all. I don't think I've ever had my kolsch in primary for more than two and a half weeks and after cold crashing it for a couple days my end product is also beautifully cleared up in the glass. I can't speak for the White Labs Kolsch yeast as I haven't used it...but I have had excellent results with the Wyeast's product...oh and I've never made a starter with this yeast either. It's a low gravity beer and one smack pack has always fermented to or beyond my target final gravity in two weeks or less. It's my favorite yeast because of how perfectly it works for my system...I wish I could use it for everything but haven't had the best results (flavor-wise) when I try to use it for non-Kolsch recipes.

 

[Morrey]

I prefer using White Labs WLP029 - German Ale/Kölsch Yeast™ pitched at lager yeast rates and fermented cool at 60F. Using an ale yeast other than a Kölsch yeast will produce a nice beer, but it won't be similar to the Kölsch style.

For my most recent batch I pitched two fresh White Labs pure pitch packages without bothering to make a starter at all and was able to get 81% attenuation. My recipe used Pilsner and a bit of Vienna grains, @Morrey are your extracts Pilsner or extra light?

ScrewyBrewer, the Kolsch kit I am trying is a Brewer's best with both DME and LME. The LME is a Pilsen light unhopped, the DME is a Bavarian Wheat. It also contains a grain kit, hops and a yeast dry pack.

I called my favorite LHBS which is 90 miles away and he reserved me the only WLP029 he had in stock. He said the exp date is July so all looks good there for me to pick up next week. He also told me he would help guide me to the best and most simple way to do a starter culture as I have never used liquid yeast before.

One aspect of my particular brewing style is that I rack from secondary into corny kegs and stabilize under refrigeration for a couple of days so I get a cold crash effect before applying gas to slowly carbonate. I know there are tons of methods, this one has worked for me.

Maybe after the Kolsch I am going to naturally carb a Pale Ale right in the Corny with priming sugar. That will also be the first time I have tried that method as well.

 

[IslandLizard]

Here's a good BYO writeup on Kölsch beer.

How much of that wheat malt did they supply? That Bavarian Wheat Extract powder you got is 60% wheat / 40% barley. Reason I'm asking, you want to limit the wheat contribution. A little is fine, like 5% of total malts.

Read up on the several threads on how to make yeast starters, so you know what you are in for and need.

As someone said, a 5 liter flask is the most universal. Please, don't put the flask on your stovetop to boil the starter wort, chances are it will crack, sooner or later. Simply prepare your starter wort in a stainless pot, boil, cover with lid, let chill, then pour into your flask when cool and pitch the yeast.

While you're at your LHBS get a (small) bottle of Fermcap or Fermcap-S. One drop prevents excessive foaming and boilovers when preparing the starter wort. It also reduces foaming in your flask. The Fermcap should be stored in the fridge.

Some yeast nutrient is good to have too. I use DAP and add a smidgen of a pulverized zinc supplement pill to the boil.

Your LHBS is 90 miles one way? Yowsers! Better make it worth your while.

 

[charliehorse]

ScrewyBrewer, the Kolsch kit I am trying is a Brewer's best with both DME and LME. The LME is a Pilsen light unhopped, the DME is a Bavarian Wheat. It also contains a grain kit, hops and a yeast dry pack.

I called my favorite LHBS which is 90 miles away and he reserved me the only WLP029 he had in stock. He said the exp date is July so all looks good there for me to pick up next week. He also told me he would help guide me to the best and most simple way to do a starter culture as I have never used liquid yeast before.

Most LME is unhopped (that is, not Cooper's or Mr. Beer stuff).

To do a starter, you're going to want a wort that measures around 1.040 (generally about 4 ounces of DME and a quart of water), bring it to a boil, cool and pitch your yeast. Many flasks allow you to boil it in the flask directly on your stove to (check to make sure). You'll want to boil it for 15 minutes. You don't need a stopper and air lock, just use a piece of Aluminum foil that you sprayed with StarSan. Lots of us have built stir plates with computer fans and hard drive magnets, YMMV depending on how handy you are. With liquid yeast, you'll want to make a starter -- with dry yeast, it's not always needed.

Remember, it's just beer. Don't make it complicated.

 

[Morrey]

Here's a good BYO writeup on Kölsch beer.

How much of that wheat malt did they supply? That Bavarian Wheat Extract powder you got is 60% wheat / 40% barley. Reason I'm asking, you want to limit the wheat contribution. A little is fine, like 5% of total malts.

Read up on the several threads on how to make yeast starters.

As someone said, a 5 liter flask is the most universal. Please, don't put it on your stovetop to boil the starter wort, chances are it will crack sooner or later. Prepare starter wort in a stainless pot, boil, cover with lid, let chill, then pour into your flask when cool and pitch the yeast.

While you're at your LHBS get a (small) bottle of Fermcap or Fermcap-S. One drop prevents excessive foaming and boilovers when preparing the starter wort. It also reduces foaming in your flask. The Fermcap should be stored in the fridge.

Your LHBS is 90 miles one way? Yowsers!

Great feedback! Yes, 90 miles is the best LHBS, however there are two others right at 60 miles away. Not a thing very close though forcing me to order online for many items. That can sometimes be a hit or miss.

The liquid starter is a new concept to me so I'm learning. I was reading about stir plates, and the entire setup can be a bit spendy considering I am not sure how often I'll use liquid yeast. I tend to gravitate to English Style Pale Ales, and correct me if I'm wrong, but dry yeast is pretty well suited in this application. Hefeweizen, Belgians and this Kolsch may be the extent of my uses of liquid yeasts.

I think I can get by with a flask (skip the stir plate for now) for the starter wort to feed the yeast. I see conflicting info on whether to use an airlock or not on the flask??? I don't plan to heat the flask on the stove...why risk that? Fermcap, yes.

The kit I bought has 3.3 lbs of Pilsen LME and 2 pounds of Bavarian Wheat DME. I think the DME is made by Breiss and it is very light tan in color. The Brewer's Best kit for Kolsch is rated as one of their top kits by home brewer reviews. I'll be able to weigh in on that soon enough.

Once I get a bit more grounded, I'll start building my own recipe instead of simply buying a kit. Takes time to learn all this.

 

[kombat]

See my reply to this word-for-word exact same question you posted in another thread yesterday, I can't be bothered re-typing it.

 

[IslandLizard]

See my reply to this word-for-word exact same question you posted in another thread yesterday, I can't be bothered re-typing it.

Excellent! I thought this topic looked familiar.

 

[m00ps]

See my reply to this word-for-word exact same question you posted in another thread yesterday, I can't be bothered re-typing it.

I cant be bothered to click on that link. You think you could make me a new topic for it?