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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 7978
Kolsch, All Grain
11 gal 4.93% 20.15 1.048 1.011
All Grain 7595
Kolonel Kölsch
5.25 gal 5.18% 25.87 1.048 1.009
All Grain 5160
Kolsch - Brulosophy
5.5 gal 4.95% 27.11 1.047 1.009
All Grain 4998
Kottbusser
11 gal 5.04% 28.01 1.052 1.014
All Grain 4706
Honey Kolsch
5.5 gal 5% 25.18 1.045 1.007
All Grain 4502
KOLSH
500 L 5.4% 21.98 1.050 1.009
All Grain 4419
Alfie - Kolsch
21 L 4.78% 25.81 1.049 1.013
All Grain 4384
Ruby Red Kolsch
5.5 gal 4.83% 25.06 1.048 1.011
All Grain 4134
SUCK A BAG OF DICKS
10 gal 5.51% 31.26 1.053 1.011
All Grain 4068

Newest Kölsch Recipes

Title Size ABV IBU OG FG Color Method Views
Kaleidescope Kolsch 1.1
11 gal 4.46% 20.73 1.044 1.010
All Grain 21
Kaleidescope Kolsch 1.0
11 gal 4.3% 14.31 1.042 1.010
All Grain 36
Lorien To Itself
20.5 L 4.79% 24.89 1.044 1.008
Partial Mash 40
Skagit Valley Kolsch
32 gal 4.37% 22.58 1.044 1.011
All Grain 53
Batch #103 - Kolsch "Waiting for the Solstice"
11 gal 4.94% 29.5 1.045 1.008
All Grain 104
Koelsch
5 gal 5.07% 16.51 1.049 1.011
All Grain 75
Kolsch V2
5 gal 4.61% 21.65 1.047 1.012
BIAB 68
kolsch korean
18 L 4.21% 19.62 1.042 1.010
All Grain 68
30. Luna kolsch 041026
25 L 4.35% 20.09 1.044 1.011
All Grain 76
Kolsch 4/10/2026
45 L 4% 25.74 1.043 1.013
All Grain 117

Fermentables Used In Kölsch Recipes (View More)

Name Recipes Country Category Type Color PPG Avg. Usage Usage Range
German - Pilsner 567 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 249 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 163 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 136 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 393 3.75 46% 5% - 100%
Tettnanger 379 4.5 41% 6% - 100%
Saaz 234 3.5 37% 7% - 100%
Magnum 189 15 34% 3% - 100%
Perle 158 8.2 37% 6% - 100%
Hallertau Hersbrucker 154 4 47% 4% - 100%
Domestic Hallertau 104 3.9 49% 8% - 100%
Spalt 94 4.5 47% 3% - 100%
Hallertau Tradition (Germany) 92 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 348 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 56°F 70°F
Fermentis - Safale - German Ale Yeast K-97 317 Fermentis / Safale Ale .104 High 81% 54°F 77°F
Lallemand - LALBREW® KÖLN KÖLSCH KOLSCH STYLE ALE YEAST 194 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 79 Omega Yeast Labs Ales 0.1 Medium 75% 65°F 69°F
Wyeast - Kölsch II 2575 23 Wyeast Ale 0.1 Low 75% 55°F 70°F
Wyeast - German Ale 1007 23 Wyeast Ale 0.11 Low 75% 55°F 68°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 387 Water Agt Mash 15% 0% - 100%
Lactic acid 244 Water Agt Mash 74% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (dihydrate) 243 Water Agt Mash 14% 0% - 100%
Whirlfloc 224 Fining Boil 57% 0% - 100%
Epsom Salt 189 Water Agt Mash 6% 0% - 67%
Irish Moss 150 Fining Boil 65% 0% - 100%
Calcium Chloride (anhydrous) 104 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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