Kung Fu Kölsch

Although not necessarily my favorite beer variety, Kölsch is a style that I have not tried before, and the clear, bright beer is perfect for mid-spring.  Originating in Cologne, Germany on the banks of the Rhine, Kölsch is top fermented in warmer temperatures then lagered in the secondary.  The beer is slightly hoppy and tends to have a unique tartness; its fermenting method and lightness put it in direct competition with the Altbiers brewed in northern Germany.  Perhaps because of its lightness, Kölsch was traditionally more appropriate for women to drink, thus much of the culture in Kölsch beer halls focuses on inclusion across sexes and economic groups.  Karl Marx once noted that the revolution would not work in Cologne, as all the bosses drank [Kölsch] with the workers.

The local Kölsch beer - Uinta Brewing Company’s Solstice Kölsch Ale - is typically my beer of last choice if anything else is available, so we will see how this turns out.  We will lager the beer for 2-3 weeks, dropping the beer from a fermenting temperature of 55°F down to ~45°F over a period of several days.  And it’s organic to boot - how do you like that, Karl?

Kung Fu Kölsch

Grains

2.0 lb Weyermann  Organic Pilsner
1.0 lb Weyermann  Organic Wheat
1.0 lb Gambrinus Organic Pale

Extract

3 lb Briess Pilsen DME

Hops

1.0 oz US Sterling - 6.0 % alpha - 90 Min From End
1.0 oz Hallertauer - 2.4 % alpha - 15 Min From End

Yeast

Wyeast 2565 - Kolsch

Other

1 T irish moss

Brewing Stats

Brewed April 19, 2009

Steeped grains sans grain sack for 90 min at 155°F in 3 gal. water
No adjustment for water, all tasty tap water.
No mash-out 

1st Sparge: 3 gal 168°F (over 40 minutes)
Pre-Boil Volume: 5.5 gal
Pre-Boil S.G.: 1.024
pH: 6.55
Boil Duration: 70 min
Post-Boil Volume: 4.5 gal
Additional Water: 0.5 gal cold 

Approx IBU (Tinseth): 27.8

OG: 1.052
Ferment Temperature: 55°F

FG:1.012
ABW: 4.2%
ABV: 5.4%

Secondary: Lager at ~45°F for 2-3 weeks

* A bit high on the pre-boil S.G. - probably over what the typical Kölsch would be.

* The hops I wanted has a lower alpha content than desired, but still within the standards for this type of beer.

Full Stats

Kung Fu Kolsch

Selected Style and BJCP Guidelines

6C-Light Hybrid Beer-Kolsch

Minimum OG:	1.044 SG	Maximum OG:	1.050 SG
Minimum FG:	1.007 SG	Maximum FG:	1.011 SG
Minimum IBU:	20 IBU	Maximum IBU:	30 IBU
Minimum Color:	3.5 SRM	Maximum Color:	5.0 SRM

Recipe Overview

Wort Volume Before Boil:	5.50 US gals	Wort Volume After Boil:	4.50 US gals
Volume Transferred:	4.50 US gals	Water Added To Fermenter:	0.50 US gals
Volume At Pitching:	5.00 US gals	Volume Of Finished Beer:	5.02 US gals
Expected Pre-Boil Gravity:	1.023 SG	Expected OG:	1.052 SG
Expected FG:	1.012 SG	Apparent Attenuation:	77.0 %
Expected ABV:	5.4 %	Expected ABW:	4.2 %
Expected IBU (using Tinseth):	27.8 IBU	Expected Color (using Morey):	3.2 SRM
BU:GU ratio:	0.53	Approx Color:
Mash Efficiency:	86.0 %
Boil Duration:	90.0 mins
Fermentation Temperature:	60 degF

Fermentables

Ingredient	Amount	%	MCU	When
German Pilsner Malt	2.00 lb	28.6 %	0.5	In Mash/Steeped
US 2-Row Malt	1.00 lb	14.3 %	0.4	In Mash/Steeped
German Wheat Malt	1.00 lb	14.3 %	0.3	In Mash/Steeped
Extract - Light Dried Malt Extract	3.00 lb	42.9 %	1.8	Start Of Boil

Hops

Variety	Alpha	Amount	IBU	Form	When
US Sterling	6.0 %	1.00 oz	22.7	Bagged Pellet Hops	90 Min From End
German Hallertauer Hersbrucker	2.4 %	1.00 oz	5.1	Bagged Pellet Hops	20 Min From End

Other Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount	When
Irish Moss	0.50 oz	In Mash

Yeast

Wyeast 2565-Kolsch

Water Profile

Target Profile:	No Water Profile Chosen
Mash pH:	5.2
pH Adjusted with:	Unadjusted

Total Calcium (ppm):	0	Total Magnesium (ppm):	0
Total Sodium (ppm):	0	Total Sulfate (ppm):	0
Total Chloride(ppm):	0	Total Bicarbonate (ppm):	0

Mash Schedule

Mash Type:	Extract with Mini-mash
Schedule Name:	Single Step Infusion (68C/154F) w/Mash-Out

Step Type	Temperature	Duration
Rest at	154 degF	60
Raise to and Mash out at	171 degF	10

Recipe Notes

Weyermann Organic Pilsner 2@2.00  Weyermann Organic Wheat 1@1.85  Gambrinus Organic Pale 1@1.85  Hallertauer 2.40  Sterling 2.30  Wyest Kolsch 6.50  Briess Pilsen DME 3lb = 11.25    total with tax 32.57  .68$/12oz  4.07/6pack

Tags: German pilsner malt, hallertauer hops, organic, pale malt, sterling hops, wheat malt, Wyeast Kolsch yeast