Pale Bitter European Beer - Kölsch - Beer Recipes | Brewer's Friend
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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
Kolsch, All Grain
11 gal 4.93% 20.15 1.048 1.011
All Grain 6467
JZ FRUH - Kolsch
5.25 gal 4.92% 21.98 1.048 1.011
All Grain 6294
Kolonel Kölsch
5.25 gal 5.18% 25.87 1.048 1.009
All Grain 3847
Kolsch - Brulosophy
5.5 gal 4.95% 27.11 1.047 1.009
All Grain 3720
Kottbusser
11 gal 5.04% 28.01 1.052 1.014
All Grain 3682
KOLSH
500 L 5.4% 21.98 1.050 1.009
All Grain 3549
Alfie - Kolsch
21 L 4.78% 25.81 1.049 1.013
All Grain 3510
Honey Kolsch
5.5 gal 5% 25.18 1.045 1.007
All Grain 3321
SUCK A BAG OF DICKS
10 gal 5.51% 31.26 1.053 1.011
All Grain 3013
Ruby Red Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.83% 25.06 1.048 1.011
All Grain 2366

Newest Kölsch Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Rubia maltosa
28 L 5.23% 26.26 1.049 1.009
extract 8
A little bit of Kolsch
2 gal 4.98% 16.56 1.046 1.008
BIAB 11
It's pronounced Kolsch not Kolsch
24 L 5.08% 23.47 1.046 1.008
All Grain 18
Kolsch Cup 2024
4 gal 4.97% 25.11 1.047 1.009
BIAB 32
Killer Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.54% 21.27 1.043 1.008
All Grain 25
Kölsch
40 L 4.65% 24.88 1.046 1.010
BIAB 20
Waterboy Kölsch
5 gal 4.92227% 0 1.050 1.013
All Grain 19
Kolsch
5.5 gal 5.12% 27.53 1.050 1.011
BIAB 22
BP kolsch
3 gal 5.14% 24.02 1.051 1.012
BIAB 33
RB Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.67% 24.56 1.047 1.011
All Grain 33

Fermentables Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
German - Pilsner 538 German Grain base malt 1.6°L
38 83% 8% - 100%
German - Vienna 300 German Grain base malt 4°L
37 11% 2% - 100%
American - Pilsner 218 American Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 80% 3% - 100%
German - Acidulated Malt 198 German Grain acidulated malt 3.4°L
27 3% 1% - 20%
German - Wheat Malt 156 German Grain base malt 2°L
37 10% 2% - 42%
Munich - Light 10L 153 Grain specialty malt 10°L
33 10% 2% - 100%
American - Vienna 150 American Grain base malt 4°L
35 11% 1% - 54%
American - White Wheat 108 American Grain base malt 2.8°L
40 11% 1% - 45%
American - Carapils (Dextrine Malt) 106 American Grain crystal malt 1.8°L
33 7% 0% - 100%
German - Bohemian Pilsner 93 German Grain base malt 1.9°L
38 84% 11% - 100%

Hops Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Average AA Avg. Usage Usage Range
Tettnanger 315 4.5 41% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Mittelfruh 302 3.75 45% 5% - 100%
Saaz 199 3.5 37% 9% - 100%
Magnum 151 15 35% 3% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 137 4 48% 4% - 100%
Perle 136 8.2 38% 7% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 94 3.9 49% 8% - 100%
Spalt 89 4.5 48% 3% - 100%
Hallertau Tradition (Germany) 67 5 46% 5% - 100%
Cascade 56 7 40% 13% - 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 10 American Grain crystal malt 10°L
35 53% 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%
US - Pale 2-Row 4 US Grain base malt 1.8°L
37 58% 25% - 100%
German - Wheat Malt 4 German Grain base malt 2°L
37 43% 33% - 57%
Munich 4 Grain specialty malt 6°L
37 48% 33% - 67%

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 374 White Labs Ale Medium Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Wyeast - Kölsch 2565 310 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 56°F 70°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 230 Fermentis / Safale Ale .104 High 81% 54°F 77°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® KÖLN KÖLSCH KOLSCH STYLE ALE YEAST 164 Lallemand Ales Medium Medium 75% 59°F 72°F
Fermentis - Safale - American Ale Yeast US-05 95 Fermentis / Safale Ales Low Medium 81% 54°F 77°F
Imperial Yeast - G03 Dieter 87 Imperial Yeast German Ale Medium 75% 60°F 69°F
Omega Yeast Labs - Kolsch II OYL-044 57 Omega Yeast Labs Ales 0.1 Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Wyeast - German Ale 1007 22 Wyeast Ale 0.11 Low 75% 55°F 68°F
Wyeast - Kölsch II 2575 21 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 55°F 70°F
Danstar - Nottingham Ale Yeast 17 Danstar Ale Med-High High 77% 57°F 70°F

Other Ingredients Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Type Use Avg. Usage Usage Range
Gypsum 292 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 183 Fining Boil 60% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 178 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 175 Water Agt Mash 77% 0% - 100%
Irish Moss 132 Fining Boil 67% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 131 Water Agt Mash 7% 0% - 67%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 74 Water Agt Mash 18% 0% - 100%
Baking Soda 52 Water Agt Mash 5% 0% - 36%
Phosphoric acid 44 Water Agt Mash 74% 0% - 100%
Yeast Nutrient 38 Water Agt Boil 30% 0% - 87%

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