Millbrook Kolsch - Sunday, May 15, 2016

THIS WILL DO FOR NOW

13 GALLONS

22 lbs. Best Maltz Pilsen

2.50 lbs. Toasted Wheat ( not toasted wheat flakes )

67 grams Hallertauer - 5.5% AA - 60 min.

56.70 grams Hallertauer - 5.5% AA - 0 min.

WLP029 Kolsch

75/25 RO/CITY

1.25 tsp. yeat nutrient

1 whirlfloc tablet

Gelatin finnings

O.G. - 1.050

F.G. -  1.013

% -      4.9

SRM - 3.2

BU - 21

I am hoping to get a better aroma hop taste in this beer as in the past. I did use 3 ozs. of Hallertauer whole hops onetime and it was too much. Kind of a sickly, slimey taste. I hope this ferments quickly so I can brew another one. No homebrew at the moment, which really sucks. I got the hop aroma that I was after, at least in the wort sample as yet. Wort was very clear going into the fermenter. I pitched the yeast @ 70 F and as soon as signs of activity start, I'll lower it to 63 F. The fermentation is lame. Very slow bubbling right from the start. I assume this is because of pitching at 70 F and lowering it down to 63 F within 12 hours. White Labs says to do this, so I did. I never once got a sulphur smell which I usually get with this yeast. Seems to be done 5 days later. No sample taking as it means to pull out the thermowell to do it and it's not worth it at this stage. Keg on May 30th. Sampled anyway on May 22. I got the sample from the bottom valve, so there was lots of hop bitterness and more hop aroma than I wanted. I assume when I keg it and clear and condition it the hop aroma will be much lower.

 

                                                                 * UPDATE *

 

This brew is quite close to my favourite Ontario beer - Beaus Lug Tread. I am not sure if I want to keep the hop schedule like this one, or go back to 30 and 10 min. I went back to 30 and 10 on the carboy brews on June 7, so I will see how it tastes and then decide when I make this one again at the end of the month. No, the late addition of 2 ozs. of hops was just a bit too much. Going back to 30 and 10. This is a very strong tasting beer which is fine, but to me not a Kolsch. I assume it is the 0 minute hop additions as that is the only thing I changed.