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Pale Bitter European Beer - Kölsch


A clean, crisp, delicately-balanced beer usually with a very subtle fruit and hop character. Subdued maltiness throughout leads into a pleasantly well-attenuated and refreshing finish. Freshness makes a huge difference with this beer, as the delicate char

Flavor Profile: Soft, rounded palate comprised of a delicate flavor balance between soft yet attenuated malt, an almost imperceptible fruity sweetness from fermentation, and a medium-low to medium bitterness with a delicate dryness and slight crispness in the finish (but

Ingredients: Traditional German hops (Hallertau, Tettnang, Spalt or Hersbrucker). German Pils or pale malt. Attenuative, clean ale yeast. Up to 20% wheat malt may be used, but this is quite rare in authentic versions. Current commercial practice is to ferment warm, co

BJCP Style Guide

Top 10 Kölsch Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
JZ FRUH - Kolsch
5.25 gal 4.92% 21.98 1.048 1.011
All Grain 7908
Kolsch, All Grain
11 gal 4.93% 20.15 1.048 1.011
All Grain 7536
Kolonel Kölsch
5.25 gal 5.18% 25.87 1.048 1.009
All Grain 5070
Kolsch - Brulosophy
5.5 gal 4.95% 27.11 1.047 1.009
All Grain 4928
Kottbusser
11 gal 5.04% 28.01 1.052 1.014
All Grain 4656
Honey Kolsch
5.5 gal 5% 25.18 1.045 1.007
All Grain 4444
KOLSH
500 L 5.4% 21.98 1.050 1.009
All Grain 4355
Alfie - Kolsch
21 L 4.78% 25.81 1.049 1.013
All Grain 4315
Ruby Red Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.83% 25.06 1.048 1.011
All Grain 4062
SUCK A BAG OF DICKS
10 gal 5.51% 31.26 1.053 1.011
All Grain 4029

Newest Kölsch Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Kölsch
8 L 5.03% 27.64 1.050 1.011
All Grain 31
Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.65% 21.81 1.047 1.012
All Grain 36
Ben's GF Kolsch
1 gal 4.33% 25.97 1.042 1.009
extract 57
Köln-Style 
620 L 4.53% 23.45 1.046 1.011
All Grain 49
Kolsch
108.5 gal 4.79% 28.94 1.048 1.011
All Grain 60
Ben's Rye Kolsch
11 gal 4.76% 29.92 1.047 1.011
All Grain 57
Hibiscus Kolsch
500 L 4.5% 23.86 1.045 1.011
All Grain 75
River Tide Kolsch
270 gal 4.94% 16.28 1.049 1.012
All Grain 47
Insolito Kolsh
5.25 gal 5.57% 29.88 1.052 1.009
All Grain 60
Honey Kolsch
4 gal 5.4% 33.92 1.062 1.021
All Grain 173

Fermentables Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
German - Pilsner 565 German Grain base malt 1.6°L
38 83% 8% - 100%
German - Vienna 329 German Grain base malt 4°L
37 11% 2% - 100%
American - Pilsner 248 American Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 81% 3% - 100%
German - Acidulated Malt 231 German Grain acidulated malt 3.4°L
27 3% 1% - 20%
American - Vienna 174 American Grain base malt 4°L
35 12% 1% - 62%
German - Wheat Malt 161 German Grain base malt 2°L
37 10% 2% - 42%
Munich - Light 10L 158 Grain specialty malt 10°L
33 10% 2% - 100%
Weyermann - Pilsner 135 German Grain base malt 1.5°L
36 78% 11% - 100%
American - White Wheat 129 American Grain base malt 2.8°L
40 10% 1% - 45%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 119 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 7% 0% - 100%

Hops Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
Hallertau Mittelfruh 384 3.75 46% 5% - 100%
Tettnanger 375 4.5 41% 6% - 100%
Saaz 230 3.5 38% 7% - 100%
Magnum 186 15 34% 3% - 100%
Perle 157 8.2 37% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 152 4 47% 4% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 103 3.9 49% 8% - 100%
Spalt 94 4.5 47% 3% - 100%
Hallertau Tradition (Germany) 91 5 45% 2% - 100%
Hallertau Blanc 69 10 42% 0% - 100%

Steeping Grains Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
German - Vienna 15 German Grain base malt 4°L
37 66% 28% - 100%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 12 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 51% 20% - 100%
American - Caramel / Crystal 10L 11 American Grain crystal malt 10°L
35 57% 25% - 100%
American - Vienna 9 American Grain base malt 4°L
35 63% 20% - 100%
American - Wheat 9 American Grain base malt 1.8°L
38 32% 25% - 43%
Munich - Light 10L 8 Grain specialty malt 10°L
33 45% 33% - 74%
German - Carapils 5 German Grain crystal malt 1.3°L
35 67% 20% - 100%
Munich 5 Grain specialty malt 6°L
37 51% 33% - 67%
German - Wheat Malt 4 German Grain base malt 2°L
37 43% 33% - 57%
US - Pale 2-Row 4 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 58% 25% - 100%

Yeasts Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Laboratory Type Alcohol Tolerance Flocculation Attenuation Min. Temp Max. Temp
White Labs - German Ale/ Kölsch Yeast WLP029 414 White Labs Ale Medium Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Wyeast - Kölsch 2565 346 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 56°F 70°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 308 Fermentis / Safale Ale .104 High 81% 54°F 77°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® KÖLN KÖLSCH KOLSCH STYLE ALE YEAST 193 Lallemand Ales Medium Medium 75% 59°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 111 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Imperial Yeast - G03 Dieter 96 Imperial Yeast German Ale Medium 75% 60°F 69°F
Omega Yeast Labs - Kolsch II OYL-044 78 Omega Yeast Labs Ales 0.1 Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Wyeast - German Ale 1007 23 Wyeast Ale 0.11 Low 75% 55°F 68°F
Wyeast - Kölsch II 2575 22 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 55°F 70°F
Fermentis - Saflager - German Lager Yeast W-34/70 21 Fermentis / Safale Lagers .105 High 83% 48°F 72°F

Other Ingredients Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 379 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 242 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 238 Water Agt Sparge 75% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 223 Fining Boil 57% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 184 Water Agt Mash 6% 0% - 67%
Irish Moss 150 Fining Boil 65% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 99 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 63 Water Agt Mash 5% 0% - 36%
Yeast Nutrient 57 Other Whirlpool 31% 0% - 99%
Phosphoric acid 51 Water Agt Mash 74% 3% - 100%

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