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Poll

Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?

Yes
5 (41.7%)
No
7 (58.3%)

Total Members Voted: 12

Author Topic: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?  (Read 10616 times)

Offline ndcube

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Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« on: January 09, 2010, 11:25:53 am »
Do you do a protein rest for a Kolsch?

Offline denny

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2010, 11:50:06 am »
It depends on the malt, not the recipe, AFAIAC.  What malt are you using?
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Offline ndcube

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2010, 11:57:39 am »
I knew someone would ask that.  Not sure why I didn't mention it.

7% Best Wheat
93% Best Pilsen

Never got my analysis on them.

Offline Mile Hi Brewing Supplies

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2010, 01:27:42 pm »
I believe Pilsner malts are generally at least moderately modified and, therefore, much of the larger proteins have already been broken down during malting.  The addition of 7% wheat is probably not enough to require one either.  If it were me, I would not perform a protein rest but some might favor a short (15-30 minute) rest at 133ish.
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Offline denny

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2010, 01:31:39 pm »
I haven't found a p rest necessary with Best pils malt.
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Offline bluesman

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2010, 01:36:21 pm »
Nope. Not necessary with the recipe you suggested.
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Offline Beertracker

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2010, 01:45:16 pm »
I say yes, just because it produces a clearer (esp. using wheat), cleaner beer with more flavor stability. But then again, I'm old school & like to make my brew days longer.  :D
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Offline denny

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2010, 01:49:52 pm »
If I had seen evidence of that in my own brewing, Jeff, I might do it, too.  But I swear that every time I try a p rest, it makes no difference in my beers.  Maybe I'm doing something wrong somewhere else?
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Offline ndcube

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #8 on: January 09, 2010, 06:40:41 pm »
Thanks guys.  I'm gonna skip it.  I may have tried it but I already have to shovel about 10 inches of snow off my deck in the morning before I start.  Maybe next time for comparison.

The one time I did do a p rest I noticed I could dough in with no dough balls.  That might be an advangtage for me.

Offline brewhawk

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #9 on: January 09, 2010, 06:50:58 pm »
I have found with my Kolshes, if you use wheat, you need a protein rest.  If you don't use wheat, it is not necessary.  Wheat has a boat-load of protein in it.  Last one I brewed had 10% wheat in the malt bill and I forgot to use a protein rest and it is as cloudy as a hefe.

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Offline majorvices

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2010, 08:42:58 am »
I say yes, just because it produces a clearer (esp. using wheat), cleaner beer with more flavor stability. But then again, I'm old school & like to make my brew days longer.  :D

Protein rest won't really make for a clearer beer with todays malts. Here's a picture of my kolsch - no p-rest - going to be hard pressed to get clearer than this:



BTW: I a little over 10% wheat in the recipe.  ;)
« Last Edit: January 10, 2010, 08:45:46 am by majorvices »

Offline ndcube

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2010, 06:34:26 am »
I brewed it yesterday.  Mashed at 152F (150F after an hour, 0deg out). The wort was clear going into the fermentor (not sure if that means much.

Offline ndcube

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #12 on: January 11, 2010, 06:47:20 am »
That is a fine looking brew major.

I did 8 gal.  I'll lager 5 and just bottle 3 straight away to compare.

Offline majorvices

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #13 on: January 11, 2010, 01:44:55 pm »
I brewed it yesterday.  Mashed at 152F (150F after an hour, 0deg out). The wort was clear going into the fermentor (not sure if that means much.

Probably means you nailed you pH and had a good hot break which will most likely give you a very clear bveer. One thing I think I should mention though, kolsch yeasts are notoriously hard to drop and are very low flocculators, kind of a "dusty" strain. The White Labs strain clears a lot faster than the Wyeast strain - however often times both are fairly hazy, which is why the style is traditionally filtered in Germany. I use gelatin and a secondary bright tank to get my kolsch clear.

Offline ndcube

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Re: Kolsch - Protein Rest or Not ?
« Reply #14 on: January 11, 2010, 01:50:20 pm »
I used whirlfloc too.

Do you add the gelatin before or after it reaches lager temp?