Kolsch feedback

[backyard brewer]

Go to the pet store and get a reptile warming lamp if you need warming. They even make ceramic ones that don't emit light.

[lexuschris]

Fermentation went very well on this one. I cold crashed it starting Thursday night, and kegged it today! Tasted just right, and hit a FG of 1.007. I still can't get over the light color!

Pushing my Kolsch from my Sanke fermenter into cornies for aging & serving.

Kolsch_kegging_s.jpg (41.56 KiB) Viewed 6446 times

FG 1.007

Kolsch_FG_s.jpg (27.54 KiB) Viewed 6446 times

After the cornies were full, I gave the sanke a real good swirl & rock, pushed the racking tub all the way down, and filled up sanitized quart jars for Brad & Brent. Let me know if you want me to bring them to the meeting... or pickup laters.

Washed yeast for next batch

Kolsch_yeast_s.jpg (35.79 KiB) Viewed 6446 times

And a left over photo from my run to Stein Filler's to use my Pac Brewer's Cup prize gift cert..

Purchased a bag of German Pilsner malt with my BOS-runner-up gift-cert.

Kolsch_grain_s.jpg (69.37 KiB) Viewed 6446 times

I've had a lot of fun with this style, and the cold uncarb'd sample I had today was right on target... shame to have to wait a few weeks to lager this baby up... I hope it will be worth it!

--LexusChris

[brahn]

Thanks Chris! It would be great if I could grab mine at the meeting tomorrow.

[BrewMasterBrad]

Awesome Chris. I will be at the meeting, so you can bring the yeast and Brent can bring his Porter to try.

[lexuschris]

So, I think I'll be using my Kolsch yeast this weekend, and was wondering what beer to brew with it. I'm typically not one to brew the same brew back-to-back, so was considering a Blonde ale.

I have plenty of Pilsner malt left over, and still some Belgian Pale malt from last year. What do folks think about a grain bill of 50% Pilsner and 50% Belgian Pale malt for a Blonde? Something like this..

Recipe Specifications
--------------------------
Boil Size: 13.90 gal
Post Boil Volume: 12.48 gal
Batch Size (fermenter): 11.00 gal
Bottling Volume: 10.50 gal
Estimated OG: 1.050 SG
Estimated Color: 3.8 SRM
Estimated IBU: 19.3 IBUs
Brewhouse Efficiency: 72.00 %
Est Mash Efficiency: 78.5 %
Boil Time: 90 Minutes

Ingredients:
------------
Amt Name Type # %/IBU
9.00 lb Pale Malt (2 Row) Bel (3.0 SRM) Grain 5 45.0 %
9.00 lb Pilsner (2 Row) Ger (2.0 SRM) Grain 6 45.0 %
1.00 oz Perle [8.00 %] - Boil 90.0 min Hop 7 15.1 IBUs
0.20 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 25.0 min Hop 8 1.3 IBUs
0.20 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 10.0 min Hop 10 0.7 IBUs
0.20 oz Columbus (Tomahawk) [14.00 %] - Boil 10. Hop 11 1.8 IBUs
0.20 oz Cascade [5.50 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 13 0.4 IBUs
2.0 pkg German Ale/Kolsch (White Labs #WLP029) [ Yeast 14 -
2.00 lb Honey (1.0 SRM) Sugar 15 10.0 %


Mash Schedule: Single Infusion, Light Body, Batch Sparge
Total Grain Weight: 20.00 lb
----------------------------
Name Description Step Temperat Step Time
Mash In Add 6.13 gal of water at 160.4 F 150.0 F 75 min

Alternately, I could do a different Kolsch .. either with a different hop, or just late kettle a bit.

All ideas are welcome!
--LexusChris

[DrDually]

Chris
Have you considered doing a SMaSH?
Single malt and single hops
Just brewed one using Munich malt, Sterling hops and American ale yeast

[lexuschris]

Chris
Have you considered doing a SMaSH?
Single malt and single hops
Just brewed one using Munich malt, Sterling hops and American ale yeast

Never tried one... let me know how the Munich/Sterling turns out! Sounds like a good combo!
--LexusChris

[DrDually]

OK
I will try some tomorrow night and let you know
BTW, these hops were from Dan Hempy's crop last summer...Thanks Dan

[BrewMasterBrad]

What did you end up brewing with the Kolsch yeast? I didn't see the post in time, but I was going to suggest a cream ale or a blonde ale, so you are on the right track. You could even try an amber lager with that yeast.

[dhempy]

OK
I will try some tomorrow night and let you know
BTW, these hops were from Dan Hempy's crop last summer...Thanks Dan

Glad to see those hops going to good use. You're welcome!

[lexuschris]

I ended up using the blonde recipe above a few posts.. but I used ahtanum and nugget hops instead of cascade and Columbus... it was what I had on hand.

I put the kolsch on tap.. looking forward to trying it carbonated.. still is very tasty!
--lexuschris

[BrewMasterBrad]

I ended up using the blonde recipe above a few posts.. but I used ahtanum and nugget hops instead of cascade and Columbus... it was what I had on hand.

I put the kolsch on tap.. looking forward to trying it carbonated.. still is very tasty!
--lexuschris

Can't wait to try it. Thanks again for the yeast. I prepared a 2L starter tonight to build up what you gave me. After that ferments out, I am going to do another 5L starter before brew day. I will probably brew the Kolsch on March 1 or 2.

[brahn]

I tasted the Kolsch that was on top of the yeast you gave me, it was really nice given that it wasn't carbonated and probably a bit oxidized. I'd bet that the final beer is really tasty.

[lexuschris]

The Kolsch came out rather well. One of my best in a very long time!

I'm not sure how 'Kolsch' it is, but it is clean, crisp, malty & has that Pilsner grain flavor too. I just bottled up 4 gallons of it for various uses with my bottling gun. The next keg is being force-carb'd now. I bottled a growler for the upcoming meeting. Looking forward to some expert feedback from our resident Kolsch fans!

--LexusChris

[BrewMasterBrad]

I'm bummed that I won't be at the meeting to try it. I brewed my Kolsch on Saturday. I made a 2L starter from what you gave me, then I pitched that into a 5L starter. Needless to say, I had a ton of yeast going into 10 gallons of wort. It took off like a rocket at 65F and is still bubbling about once per second.