This is a recipe I got from my local homebrew store, Hoggetowne Ale Works. My wife and I both liked the outcome of this recipe- it's a very drinkable, caramel colored ale with mild alcohol and a very accessible taste. I think there's a noticeable bit of diacetyl, but it doesn't detract too much from enjoying this brew.
The biggest thing to note is that while the recipe is for a Kolsch Ale, the resulting beer really can't be called a Kolsch as it's entirely too dark- caramel instead of the golden, almost pilsner-like color of a real Kolsch. I don't know if this is my fault due to some procedural mishap, or if it's just the nature of trying to make a very light colored beer using malt extracts. Whatever the case, this batch is almost gone as we've really enjoyed it.
Ingredients:
- 1 can Breiss Bavarian Wheat LME
- 1 can Breiss Pilsen Light LME
- .5 lb light crystal malt (60L)
- 1 lb Munich malt
- 1 oz Hallertau hop pellets @ 60 min - bitter
- .5 oz Spaltz hop pellets @ 30 min - flavor
- .5 oz Saaz hop pellet @ 1 min - aroma
- 1 tab whirlfloc @ 15 min
- 1 packet Safebrew S-33 dry yeast
I steeped the malts for 15 minutes @ 130 F and 45 min @ 150 F. Added LME, brought to a boil and did a 60 minute boil adding the hops and whirlfloc as noted in the ingredient list.
The use of the S-33 yeast probably had an impact on the outcome of this beer. I've used this yeast strain twice now and both times it goes nuts for 2 or 3 days and then peters out. Honestly I think this yeast is probably best used in higher gravity ales and is less than ideal for a delicate beer like a Kolsch. Also, I didn't lager this like a Kolsch should have been lagered. I don't know if the yeast and the lack of a long, lagering secondary fermentation resulted in this not being an authentic Kolsch. I also question the use of the munich and 60L malts in such a light beer. Anyway, as long as you don't want an authentic Kolsch, then this recipe is for you!
I also missed the targetted initial gravity on this beer- I attribute that to adding too much cold water to the fermenter. The target gravity was 1.055, I hit 1.047. My final gravity was 1.020... not as low as I would like.
All told this was my worst brew yet- but again it still resulted in a very drinkable brew... if this is the worst I do I'm doing OK! Hooray for homebrewing!
