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Author Topic: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch  (Read 1684 times)

Offline WilliEE

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Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« on: July 19, 2021, 07:21:12 pm »
Question on Siebel Salts composition, or source:

When I was searching for a good Kolsch recipe, I found the Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower clone recipe at https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrew-recipe/saint-arnold-fancy-lawnmower-beer/ , which calls out water salts I am not familiar with - "Siebel Salts".

I cannot find these anywhere on the internet, and certainly not at my local homebrewer supply.  The recipe describes the salts contents, but not quantities.  The contents are Calcium Sulfate (gypsum), Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom), Magnesium Carbonate (hydrate number?), and Ammonium Carbonate.  I am guessing this is to simulate water in the Cologne area, having something to do with Siebel, Kreuztal, Germany, which is near Cologne (aka Köln, the namesake of Kolsch), maybe a creek that's a tributary to the Rhine (goes through Köln), or a local aquifer that's named after nearby Siebel.

Anyone know anything about Siebel salts and their contents?

Thanks to all who respond!


Offline majorvices

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Re: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2021, 09:15:01 pm »
Siebel is a brewing school... maybe they sell salt kits? I brew a lot of Kölsch over the years and any water profile for pale will do. Soft water with a 2:1 calcium chloride to Calcium sulphate.

Offline mabrungard

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Re: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2021, 08:15:03 am »
Bru'n Water users have the actual Cologne water profile listed in the software.  That is from their local water supply, quality reports. 

Ca: 37   Mg: 10   Na: 25   SO4: 70   Cl: 35 (all ppm)

As shown above, there is a significant amount of sulfate in their water.  That's what helps Kolsch turn out with a nicely dry finish.  Sulfate does not make beer bitter, it makes it finish drier.
Martin B
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2021, 09:46:02 am »
So, then reverse the ratio I posted if you want to brew like the water in Köln. I definitely go extremely basic on my water profiles. Accentuate what you want to accentuate. I generally want to accentuate malt on my pale lagers and "lagerish" beers. I personally find that targeting specific regional water is sort of a crap shoot since you have no idea how the individual brewery is treating their water.

Offline nateo

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Re: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2021, 01:34:03 pm »
The most important ingredient in Koelsch is the vaguely surly German who brings you the beer in 20cl increments.
In der Kürze liegt die Würze.

Offline mabrungard

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Re: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« Reply #5 on: July 23, 2021, 09:40:02 am »
The most important ingredient in Koelsch is the vaguely surly German who brings you the beer in 20cl increments.

That's a good description of the service there.  But it's probably a result of their having to hustle out tiny glasses of beer all day long.

I did appreciate that my glass of beer was always cool and fresh.
Martin B
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Offline 4dogbrewer

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Re: Siebel Salts - water for Kolsch
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2021, 04:44:53 am »
After a few tries of different Kolsch water profiles, I simply went with 75% RO water and 25% Spring water for my Kolsch beers only. Every other style I use brewing salts with Bru'n Water. For some reason my Kolsch beers tasted better.