Millbrook Kolsch - Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015

                   

                                                                    BREW CREW

11 gallons

Hopefully it won't be too hot to brew as the last month has been hot and humid. 11 C today. rain, rain, and more rain. I can't clean my mash tun or boiler because it is still raining. Pilsner or Kolsch? I am not sure what to brew on a steady basis. Will compare when I need to buy more yeast. Maybe both. The Pilsners are nice and easy to brew once you pitch your yeast. The Kolsch brings out the hops better than my Pilsners do. Not sure why though. My next Helles will be made with 833 which I find hard to get lately. If I have to, I will order anywhere in Canada if the Ontario stores don't have it.

20.62 lbs. Bohemian Pils Malt
2 lbs. Munich Malt
135 g Tettnanger - 3.2 % AA - 60 min.
Wyeast 2565 Kolsch
75/25 - RO/CITY
EFFICIENCY - 87% - * USUALLY 82% *

O.G. - 1.050
F.G. -  1.012
% -     5
SRM - 3.6
BU - 25

I was around 1 1/2 lbs. short of malt. Not sure why. I left it as it is now. My pump quit as I used too hot of water - 180 F. It is rated for that, but it is 12 years old. I just gravity fed it to a pail and dumped it in the mash tun. After it was all in the boiler, I added some cold well water and it started right up. Note to self, 168 F max for now on. I usually did just that and things were fine. Fermentation started to slow down on day 4. Unusual. I set it @ 20 C and it is still going, but not that steady. Still, I will leave it there until done. This time of year, the temp swings are crazy. 7 C in the morning and 25 C in the afternoon. Better off leaving it where it is. I still am going to brew a Kolsch as it is just as good a beer as a Pilsner is. I need to ferment at 60 F for the duration of fermentation. This isn't as clean as it should be. It is young beer though. Lower the BU also.