Kölsch Recipe (All-Grain): 5 to 30 Gallons
An all-grain Kölsch recipe you can brew at 5 to 30 gallons: 4.7% ABV and 23 IBU, with the grain bill, hop schedule, yeast and step-by-step process.
In this post
Kölsch at a glance: 4.7% ABV, 23 IBU, OG 1.047. A pale, crisp, delicate Kölsch in the Cologne style: soft Pilsner malt, a whisper of Hallertau, and a faint fruitiness from cool ale fermentation, then weeks of cold conditioning for a lager-clean finish.
Bräu Supply recipe · All-grain
Kölsch
Grain · for 5 gal into the fermenter
| 8.5 lb (3.86 kg) | Pilsner malt | 87% |
| 0.75 lb (0.34 kg) | Vienna malt | 8% |
| 0.5 lb (0.23 kg) | Wheat malt | 5% |
Hops
| 1.5 oz (43 g) | Hallertau Mittelfrüh · 4% AA | 60 min |
| 0.5 oz (14 g) | Hallertau Mittelfrüh · 4% AA | 15 min |
Yeast and water
| 1 pkg | Kölsch ale yeast (WLP029, Wyeast 2565 or K-97) with a 1.5 L starter | |
| Water | Soft water with a little calcium chloride suits the soft, round finish. | |
Process
- Mash: 149°F (65°C) for 60 minutes
- Boil: 90 minutes
- Ferment: 60°F (16°C) for 2 weeks, then 64°F (18°C) for 2 days
- Condition: Lager near 34°F (1°C) for 3 to 4 weeks
- Carbonate: 2.6 volumes of CO₂
Brew it on
Based on 72% brewhouse efficiency and about 5.5 gal after the boil for a 5 gal batch. Adjust the base malt if your system runs higher or lower. Hops scale in a straight line; larger kettles extract a little more bitterness.
How to brew it
- Mash at 149°F (65°C) for 60 minutes.
- Boil 90 minutes (Pilsner malt benefits from a longer boil to drive off DMS), adding the hops on schedule.
- Chill to 58°F (14°C) and pitch a healthy starter.
- Ferment at 60°F (16°C) for about 2 weeks, then let it rise to 64°F (18°C) for 2 days to clean up.
- Lager near 34°F (1°C) for 3 to 4 weeks, then package at about 2.6 volumes.
Tips
- Temperature control makes or breaks this beer: too warm and it turns fruity like a pale ale.
- Be patient with the cold conditioning; that’s where it goes from good to crisp.
- Serve it very fresh and cold, ideally in small glasses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kölsch an ale or a lager?
Both, in a way: it’s fermented with ale yeast, then cold-conditioned like a lager. See what is Kölsch.
Can I use lager yeast?
You can, but it won’t be a Kölsch. The soft fruitiness comes from the Kölsch ale strain.