West Wind Brewery's Secret Formula for Brewing Traditional Kolsch Beer
Wicked Brewer: Duane Teachout
Hey there beer enthusiasts! I've been tossing up wort for over 15 years, and my obsession? Making each and every batch the best goddamn beer I've ever tasted! After judging plenty of competitions and racking up some wins, I've decided to spread the love by sharing my tips and techniques through my YouTube channel, HomeBrewingTips. So, why not check out my latest video on this mile-high Kolsch?
Brew of the Gods: Kolsch
As far as I'm concerned, Kolsch is the Pilsner's bastard child. It's the perfect beer for a sweltering summer day. Its unique cool ale fermentation and quasi-lagering period give it an unparalleled crispness. To put my own PNW twist on things, I swapped out traditional Hallertauer hops for some Mt. Hood in this recipe.
Pour It Up: PNW Kolsch
коли ingredience costs me backstory
SOLID GRAINS
- 16 lbs of Pilsner malt
- 0.5 lb CaraVienna
- 0.5 lb Victory Malt
- 0.5 lb CaraFoam
HOPPY DELIGHTS
- 1.5 oz Mount Hood FWH
- 1.5 oz Mount Hood Flame Out
- 1 oz Tettnang Flame Out
YEAST BEAST
- Imperial Dieter (G03)
Cha-Ching: Instructions
BATCH SIZE: 8 gallons
OG: 1.051
FG: 1.011
IBU: 21
ABV: 5.4%
Efficiency: 80%
MASH TEMP: 150°F
BOIL: 60 minutes
FERMENTATION:
- 63°F, then lager at 50°F
System: Custom 3-Vessel System
Pimp Up Your Kolsch: Pro Tips
- For a more traditional recipe, replace Mt. Hood hops with Hallertauer at a 1:1 ratio.
- "Cool" ferment, and once passed VDK reduce temperature to 50°F (10°C) and lager for two weeks.
- Add whirlflock (or other kettle finings) with 15 minutes left in the boil.
- To achieve striking clarity, use gelatin (or biofine) as your post-fermentation clarifier.
Salute!
Duane Teachout - West Wind Brewery
The Lowdown on Kolsch Beer
What is Kolsch beer?
Kolsch is a classic German beer style that originated in Cologne or Koeln. This golden delight is celebrated for its refreshing and clean, crisp taste. Despite being a derivative beer style, Kolsch exhibits a balance of ale yeast fermentation and lager-like qualities.
The Divine Differences
Hybrid Brewing
Kolsch undergoes a unique brewing process that blends the best practices of ale and lager fermentation. It is fermented using ale yeast but benefits from a cold conditioning period similar to lagers. The result? A harmonious flavor profile that is delicate and well-balanced.
The Sensation of Sip
One of Kolsch's distinguishing features is its crisp, clean taste. It offers a subtle malt sweetness and a gentle hop bitterness, finishing with a smooth, quenching character. Kolsch is typically straw to light gold in color and has minimal haze due to precise brewing techniques and cold conditioning.
The Roots of Kolsch
Brewing Roots
Cologne has a rich brewing tradition, with the first documentation of Kolsch brewing dating back to the 18th century. The city's brewers developed a distinct guild system to regulate the brewing industry, ensuring high standards in Kolsch production. This historic and cultural significance translates to the city's collective pride in Kolsch.
The Legend of Kolsch
Kolsch is deeply ingrained in Cologne's lifestyle, and it's often enjoyed in local brewpubs called Brauhauses or in beer gardens known as Biergartens. It plays a major role in the city's celebrations, festivals, and gatherings. In fact, Kolsch drinkers might even be considered part of an unofficial brotherhood, refusing to drink beer of any other kind!
The Style Mastered: Kolsch Taste
Heavenly Malt
Kolsch boasts a light to medium malt profile with a touch of sweetness. The malt flavors are smooth, often featuring notes of bread or biscuit. The malty backbone enhances the beer's overall balance and drinkability.
Hipp Hug of Hops
While Kolsch packs a relatively small punch when it comes to hop bitterness, the hops provide a subtle spicy or floral note that counters the malt sweetness. The bitterness is usually in harmony with the malt flavors, resulting in a harmonious and nuanced tasting experience.
Legen-dairy Kolsch Brewing
The brewing process for Kolsch comprises several key steps to create its divine taste:
Single Infusion Mash
Kolsch begins with a single infusion mash, where a blend of malted barley (often Pilsner malt) and a small portion of wheat malt are mixed with hot water to activate enzymes that convert starches into fermentable sugars.
Lautering and Sparging
Lautering separates the liquid wort from the spent grain, and sparging rinses the grain with hot water to extract remaining sugars. This efficiently extracts sugars for maximum gravity.
Boiling and Hop Additions
The wort is transferred to a brew kettle and brought to a boil, with hops added at specific intervals to provide bitterness and contribute to the overall flavor profile. Noble hop varieties such as Hallertau or Tettnang are commonly used in Kolsch, providing a subtle, floral, and spicy aroma.
Cold Weather Fermentation
Kolsch ferments at relatively cool temperatures, typically in the range of 15-20°C (59-68°F). The cold fermentation contributes to the beer's crisp and clean taste.
The Cold Storage
After primary fermentation, Kolsch undergoes a cold conditioning period, or lagering, during which the beer is stored at near-freezing temperatures for several weeks to enhance its crispness and promote a clean and smooth flavor profile.
Carbonation and Packaging
Once cold conditioning is complete, the beer is carbonated either through natural carbonation or forced carbonation. Traditional Kolsch packaging includes tall, slender 200ml (6.8 fl oz) glasses called Stangen or 500ml (16.9 fl oz) bottles.
An Enlightening Food Pairing
Kolsch's crisp and clean flavors make it versatile when it comes to pairing with food. Here are some suggested food and Kolsch pairings:
German Fare
Kolsch complements traditional German dishes like sausages, pretzels, and sauerkraut, due to its refreshing qualities. It also goes well with heartier fare like pork schnitzel or bratwurst.
Seafood Symphony
The light and crisp nature of Kolsch makes it an excellent pairing for seafood, especially grilled or pan-seared fish, shrimp, or scallops. The beer's subtle malt sweetness and mild hop bitterness meld harmoniously with the delicate flavors of seafood.
Enlightening Cheese Matches
Kolsch pairs well with various cheeses, such as Gouda, Camembert, or Brie, due to their smooth and creamy texture. Additionally, tangy cheeses like goat cheese or feta offer a delightful contrast with Kolsch's subtle sweetness and crispness.
Year-Round Kolsch
Kolsch can be enjoyed year-round, offering versatility for various seasons and occasions. Its light and crisp character makes it a popular choice during the summer months, while its clean and smooth taste is also delightful in spring and fall. While not as commonly associated with winter, Kolsch can be enjoyed during the colder months to appreciate its harmonious flavors.
Kolsch Strength
A typical Kolsch beer has a moderate alcohol content, making it approachable and sessionable:
ABV Valhalla
The alcohol by volume (ABV) of Kolsch typically ranges from 4.4% to 5.3%. This ABV range allows for easy drinking and extended enjoyment without the effects of higher alcohol beers.
Diverse Kolsch Styles
Though Kolsch is a specific beer style associated with Cologne, there are variations within the category:
Traditional Kolsch
Traditional Kolsch, which adheres to the brewing guidelines established by the Koeln Konvention, is brewed in Cologne and must follow strict regulations to ensure authenticity.
Kolsch-Style Brews
Breweries outside of Cologne create Kolsch-style beers that may deviate slightly from traditional methods. These variations can include a range of ingredients and techniques, resulting in unique and tasty interpretations.
The Perfect Kolsch Temperature
Kolsch is typically served chilled, but not overly cold, at a temperature between 7°C to 10°C (45°F to 50°F). Serving Kolsch at this temperature allows its crispness, delicate flavors, and aromas to shine, creating an enjoyable sensory experience. Traditional Kolsch glassware, called Stangen, showcases the beer's pale color, clarity, and effervescence.
The Kolsch Hunt
To find quality Kolsch beers, visit local breweries or their taprooms, specialty beer shops, or online retailers that can deliver to your doorstep. Check out breweries that offer beer in cans or bottles, as this will make it more accessible for sampling and enjoyment.
Kolsch: A Gateway Beer
Thanks to its well-balanced flavor profile, Kolsch is an excellent introduction to the world of craft beer:
Mild Hop Bite
Kolsch's mild hop bitterness won't overwhelm new drinkers, making it more approachable for those unfamiliar with beer. It allows the clean and crisp malt flavors to shine through, creating a harmonious and pleasant drinking experience.
Light Body and Refreshing Character
Kolsch's light body and refreshing qualities provide a delightful introduction to the complexities of different beer styles. Its versatility, paired with its ability to match with various food, offers a gateway for beer exploration.
Finding the Divine in Different Styles
Kolsch differs from other beer styles due to its ale yeast fermentation and cold conditioning period. Here's a brief summary of how Kolsch compares to Pilsner and Lager:
Ale vs Lager
Unlike Pilsner and Lager, which are typically brewed with bottom-fermenting yeast, Kolsch ferments with top-fermenting yeast at warmer temperatures, resulting in a different flavor profile. Overall, the malt and hop flavors in Kolsch are lighter, and the beer is often slightly fruitier than traditional Lagers.
Hybrid Perfection
Kolsch's unique brewing process combines aspects of ale and lager brewing, creating a delicate and balanced flavor profile. The beer's clean fermentation and crisp character offer an enjoyable and refreshing drinking experience.
The Best Kolsch Brews
Here are some popular and renowned Kolsch breweries:
- Fruh Kolsch
- Reissdorf Kolsch
- Gaffel Kolsch
- Suender Kolsch
- Pfaffen Kolsch
So, explore the divine world of Kolsch and find your new favorite beer today!
- Craft beer enthusiasts might be intrigued by Duane Teachout's fusion of science and health-and-wellness in his PNW Kolsch recipe, as he skillfully encompasses both fitness-and-exercise and homebrewing techniques in his video content.
- This Kolsch beer, with its unique blend of Mt. Hood hops, Imperial Dieter yeast, and precise fermentation and lagering processes exhibits the perfect balance between science and the culinary art of brewing, making it an exceptional addition to Duane Teachout's repertoire at West Wind Brewery.
