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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 7947
Kolsch, All Grain
11 gal 4.93% 20.15 1.048 1.011
All Grain 7568
Kolonel Kölsch
5.25 gal 5.18% 25.87 1.048 1.009
All Grain 5120
Kolsch - Brulosophy
5.5 gal 4.95% 27.11 1.047 1.009
All Grain 4962
Kottbusser
11 gal 5.04% 28.01 1.052 1.014
All Grain 4679
Honey Kolsch
5.5 gal 5% 25.18 1.045 1.007
All Grain 4473
KOLSH
500 L 5.4% 21.98 1.050 1.009
All Grain 4385
Alfie - Kolsch
21 L 4.78% 25.81 1.049 1.013
All Grain 4349
Ruby Red Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.83% 25.06 1.048 1.011
All Grain 4100
SUCK A BAG OF DICKS
10 gal 5.51% 31.26 1.053 1.011
All Grain 4049

Newest Kölsch Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
kolsch korean
18 L 4.34% 19.47 1.044 1.010
All Grain 14
30. Luna kolsch 041026
25 L 4.35% 20.09 1.044 1.011
All Grain 35
Kolsch 4/10/2026
45 L 4.28% 25.74 1.043 1.011
All Grain 38
Colonia 2
28 L 5.12% 25.1 1.049 1.010
All Grain 52
Kölsch
8 L 5.03% 27.64 1.050 1.011
All Grain 61
Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.65% 21.81 1.047 1.012
All Grain 61
Ben's GF Kolsch
1 gal 4.33% 25.97 1.042 1.009
extract 102
Köln-Style 
620 L 4.53% 23.45 1.046 1.011
All Grain 71
Kolsch
108.5 gal 4.79% 28.94 1.048 1.011
All Grain 87
Ben's Rye Kolsch
11 gal 4.76% 29.92 1.047 1.011
All Grain 97

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 330 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 162 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) 120 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 389 3.75 46% 5% - 100%
Tettnanger 375 4.5 41% 6% - 100%
Saaz 231 3.5 38% 7% - 100%
Magnum 186 15 34% 3% - 100%
Perle 158 8.2 37% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 152 4 47% 4% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 104 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-97 310 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 380 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 241 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 238 Water Agt Mash 75% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 222 Other Boil 57% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 184 Water Agt Sparge 6% 0% - 67%
Irish Moss 150 Fining Mash 65% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 100 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 63 Water Agt Mash 5% 0% - 36%
Yeast Nutrient 57 Other Boil 31% 0% - 99%
Phosphoric acid 51 Water Agt Mash 74% 3% - 100%

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