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Author Topic: Hopping a Kolsch  (Read 3555 times)

Offline Pi

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Hopping a Kolsch
« on: April 18, 2013, 06:55:11 am »
Doing a Kolsch this weekend and wanted your thoughts about hopping.
Here's what i came up with for 12 gallons:
   Amount     Name                              Form    Alpha  IBU  Boil Time
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  1.00 oz.    Hallertau                         Pellet   4.30   8.7  First WH
  1.00 oz.    Hallertau                         Pellet   4.30   8.8  60 min.
  1.00 oz.    Hallertau                         Pellet   4.30   4.5  30 min.
  0.50 oz.    Spalt                             Pellet   4.30   1.5  20 min.
  0.50 oz.    Spalt                             Pellet   4.30   0.7  1 min.
Should be about 24 IBUs. Last time i brewed i used all Hersbruker. What are your thoughts?
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Offline bwana

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #1 on: April 18, 2013, 07:17:02 am »
Looks good to me. You are using my two favorite german hops! What could be wrong?

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2013, 09:47:12 am »
Hopping is totally up to you, obviously.  Personally, I only do 60 and 10 minute additions, and the 10-minute for flavor is small.  I don't see any advantage to 30 or 1 minute additions for this style, nor even FWH.  Just wastes of hops IMHO.
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2013, 10:33:38 am »
I go with just a FWH and 60 minute.

However, the first time I brewed my kolsch and entered it in a contest it was all FWH and they said it wasn't hoppy enough. second time I brewed and submitted I split the IBU's 2:1 between FWH and 60 minute. now the notes so far are too hoppy.
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Offline redbeerman

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #4 on: April 18, 2013, 10:41:47 am »
I would think a good FWH charge would be sufficient.  I've only had Reissdorf and Gaffel, they are pretty clean with low to medium hop flavor.
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Offline erockrph

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #5 on: April 18, 2013, 11:50:28 am »
I think this will be a damn nice beer. My favorite kölsch is actually Harpoon Summer (probably because I know it's super fresh when I get it), and it has a touch more hop presence than the Reissdorf I've tried (possibly just because of the freshness). As long as it isn't so hoppy that it would pass for a Pils, then you should be fine.
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Offline weithman5

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #6 on: April 18, 2013, 12:06:24 pm »
i think i would also simplify the hop schedule. not so sure about the 1 minute and i would probably combine the fwh, 20 and 30 minutes to one of the three
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Offline michaeltrego

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #7 on: April 18, 2013, 12:23:52 pm »
I just kegged a Kolsch last week.  This time I used Crystal instead of Hallertau, and I went with 24 IBU total as well:

FWH Crystal 5 IBU
60 Min Crystal 14 IBU
10 Min Tettnang 5 IBU

Offline kylekohlmorgen

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #8 on: April 18, 2013, 12:48:45 pm »
I think this will be a damn nice beer. My favorite kölsch is actually Harpoon Summer (probably because I know it's super fresh when I get it), and it has a touch more hop presence than the Reissdorf I've tried (possibly just because of the freshness). As long as it isn't so hoppy that it would pass for a Pils, then you should be fine.

+1 on the Harpoon Summer. Great beer.
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Offline corkybstewart

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #9 on: April 18, 2013, 09:29:34 pm »
My 2 cents:  I bitter with Perle and have a 20 minute and 5 minute addition with Strisselspalt when I brew a Kolsch.
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Offline davidgzach

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2013, 10:00:41 am »
I made a Kolsch this weekend as well.  I checked "Designing Great Beers" and Ray says "for the most authentic results" not to hop any later than the last 30 minutes.  Of course, we should all brew to our taste.  This time I tried one FWH addition for a 90 minute boil.  I guess we will see.  I would still not perform any aroma additions in a Kolsch. 

Dave
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Offline udubdawg

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Re: Hopping a Kolsch
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2013, 10:35:03 am »
I think a small aroma addition can work great.  I have found FWH gives me plenty of hop flavor for this style, and as delicate as it the style is it doesn't take much to give excellent results.