Critique my Kölsch recipe please.

[Norik]

I’ve decided my next brew is going to be a Kölsch, in what may be a vain hope to win my wife's approval .

Just kidding; she has fond memories of the of a trip of ours to Cologne a few [too many] years ago, and I'm hoping to make something she will enjoy. It’s a new style to me, and I don’t have much experience in making a lager style, but I’ve built a recipe.

So what do you think? I'm not 100% sure about the hop schedule.


Kolsch Mk 1

Grain:

• 4kg (German) Pilsner malt
• 0.5kg (German) Wheat Malt

Hops:

• 40g Saaz (Pellets) @60min
• 15g Saaz (Pellets) @15min

Additives

• Irish Moss@5min
• Yeast Nutrient @5min

Yeast:

• SafAle K-97 dry Yeast, rehydrated but no starter.

I've never used this yeast before.


Mash Schedule:

• 64C for 60min
• 70C for 30min
• Mash-out to 78C, if I’m pressed for time and can’t boil right away, otherwise onwards and upwards to the boil.

• OG = 1.049
• FG = 1.009
• ABV = 5.21%
• IBU = 25 IBUs
• Colour = 7 EBC

Ferment at 16C for 5 to 7 days, raise the temp to 20C for a few days, and then cold crash and add gelatin, before bottling.

Cheers.

[Sadfield]

I’ve decided my next brew is going to be a Kölsch, in what may be a vain hope to win my wife's approval .

Just kidding; she has fond memories of the of a trip of ours to Cologne a few [too many] years ago, and I'm hoping to make something she will enjoy. It’s a new style to me, and I don’t have much experience in making a lager style, but I’ve built a recipe.

So what do you think? I'm not 100% sure about the hop schedule.


Kolsch Mk 1

Grain:

• 4kg (German) Pilsner malt
• 0.5kg (German) Wheat Malt

Hops:

• 40g Saaz (Pellets) @60min
• 15g Saaz (Pellets) @15min

Additives

• Irish Moss@5min
• Yeast Nutrient @5min

Yeast:

• SafAle K-97 dry Yeast, rehydrated but no starter.

I've never used this yeast before.


Mash Schedule:

• 64C for 60min
• 70C for 30min
• Mash-out to 78C, if I’m pressed for time and can’t boil right away, otherwise onwards and upwards to the boil.

• OG = 1.049
• FG = 1.009
• ABV = 5.21%
• IBU = 25 IBUs
• Colour = 7 EBC

Ferment at 16C for 5 to 7 days, raise the temp to 20C for a few days, and then cold crash and add gelatin, before bottling.

Cheers.

Recipe looks fine to me. You could possibly push the fermentation temp down a degree or two.

When you say cold crash, what time frame are you considering? Kolsch really benefits from lagering, a considerably longer process than crashing.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

[Norik]

Recipe looks fine to me. You could possibly push the fermentation temp down a degree or two.

When you say cold crash, what time frame are you considering? Kolsch really benefits from lagering, a considerably longer process than crashing.

The temp range for SafAle K-97 is 15C-20C (according to its datasheet), I was just playing it a bit safe going for 16C, but you're right I'll drop it to 15C.

I don't have a fermentation fridge, so extended low temps for proper lagering aren't something I can achieve. For cold crashing I move my whole fermentor into a cool box with water and frozen water bottles, which I usually do for about 5 days prior to bottling.

[Sadfield]

Ahh, ok. All ideals, but not necessities, may not be as crisp as a classic example, but will be close.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

[McMullan]

That looks fine. I ferment mine at 16*C using WLP029. You might want to leave for a couple of weeks to get to FG then rack to a secondary for another couple of weeks, if possible. No need to raise the temperature. Ideally, cold condition for a few weeks, until the sulphury notes fade, if it produces any.

[john luc]

Can't really get a good Lager without temp control

[Sadfield]

Good job it's an ale, then.

Sent from my LG-H815 using Tapatalk

[Norik]

Thanks, I do do temp temp control, but its to maintain at a temperature above ambient. I current don't have a fermentation fridge, although I am considering getting one.
I'm basing the fermentation pro life off of brulosophy's Quick Lagering technique.

[jaroporter]

recipe looks spot on. never used that yeast before but heard mixed things when reading up on it so interested to see how you get on. i can say that wlp029 is a frickin fantastic no fuss gorgeous yeast though.. :p

[Norik]

recipe looks spot on. never used that yeast before but heard mixed things when reading up on it so interested to see how you get on. i can say that wlp029 is a frickin fantastic no fuss gorgeous yeast though.. :p

Thanks, I'm hoping to do it between Christmas and new year, but that could get moved to the right. Possibly all the way to February .