Maggie Kolsch - Wed. June 12, 2019

Conical

Need to brew this as soon as possible to brew another one on Canada Day. Making a 3.5 L starter instead of a 2 step starter. Hope it works. This is on my regular bigger system in the garage. 

                                                                     INGREDIENTS

22 lbs. UCM
1.13 lbs. Munich I
113.4 g Hallertau Mittelfruh
WLP029 Kolsch - ( one step starter, 3.5 L )

O.G. - 1.045 - ( 79% usually 82% )
F.G. -  1.012
% -      4.5
SRM - 3.4
BU - 25

First brew of the year out in the garage. One month behind because of our cold, wet weather. I should be able to brew 3 batches before Aug 16 when the big 6 get here. 2 with this yeast and maybe another using Escarpment Kolsch yeast which I can't seem to find. It made a great Kolsch last month which I dry hopped and ruined the whole beer. It cleared wonderfully and was very clean. When this brew is done, I am going to sanitize a spatula and scrap as much stuff into a gallon jug as I can, set it on it's side and transfer to the other gallon jug and leave behind the dark stuff. Brew the next day. It worked with my Kolsch that I ruined with dry hops.

                                                                          NOTES

No problems today even though I kind of forgot how to brew on the big system. OG was a couple of points lower than usual, but it tasted good. The jury is still out on a one step yeast starter. Not a lot of yeast in the flask. Next time? 2 vials of yeast. Yeast was pitched at 12 noon. Going good the next morning. Around 64 F - 66 F.

                                                         NOTES

Day 1 - Going good.
Day 2 - Same.
Day 3 - Same.
Day 4 - Same.
Day 10 - Not totally done, some bubbles but a minute or so apart. Set temp to 64 F and will keep it
              there until I keg it. I still want it to do something. I may use this yeast again if I get good
              attenuation out of it. When I keg this, I am supposed to make a yeast starter with my Kolsch
              yeast from EL. Will figure something out, may take a sample to check the gravity first. I
              don't want to introduce 02 into it though. That means I have to remove the thermowell first.
              PITA. Checked gravity and got nothing but yeast. It was white. 1.020. Not a fair sample.
              Keg on June 25, Tuesday because of no ball. If there is any sign of fermentation, let this go
              longer as it may be stuck with a high FG.
Day 11 - Took another sample, this time turned the valve up and got beer instead of yeast. 1.014. 
              Tastes pretty good. Leaving the temp at 64 F to let it attenuated more if it will. I have 6
              cases of beer that need to be cleared and carbed. Need C02 though.

                                                                     KEGGED ON JUNE 29

This should not taste too malty as I finally adjusted my recipes to a certain percentage and not go with a lb. here, or a lb. there. I am now more specific on my ingredients and should of done that a long time ago. Using the bigger system this should taste lighter and more bitter. Good. Should be a light, summer beer with low abv. 

                                                                    ADDED GELATIN ON JUNE 30

One keg is clear which the other one is not, hmmm. You have to save all of this beer incase your July 1st beer sucks. Escarpment Labs Kolsch yeast may or may not be the yeast you like, but will find out in late July. Transfer to other kegs on Wednesday, July 10 and toss in fridge. Need the keezer for my CIPA.

                                                          TASTE AFTER CLEARING

It has that dry hop taste which it didn't have when I checked the gravity on day 5. I didn't dry hop. Today is July 13 and it is slowly starting to lose it, but I wish I knew why. This is close to my standard Kolsch recipe including WLP029. I realize UCM doesn't have a lot of flavour and I used 3% less Munich malt, that may be a bit of a difference. Whatever, it is very clear and still a good beer. 

                                                              UPDATE - JULY 22

Nice beer, really nice beer. Lagered Ale means something I guess. Glad I brewed 2 of these, but different yeast but I am confident the Canada Day Kolsch will be good also. Kegging that on July 24 or so.

                                                                      July 25

Had a glass from the pub room and it has a really odd taste. Not sure if the tap/lines need cleaning or not. Will sample the other one downstairs that isn't carbed up yet. Same. No idea what this is. Oxidated? Perhaps. Has that odd taste I got a few years ago using Kal's water profile with this same recipe. Going back to lagers as they seem to be fine if I dial in my D-rest better than I was. But, fast ferment may kind of make the beer bland, it is always a good beer with no odd flavours like this.

                                                                         TASTE ON AUG 12

Good, bad, good, bad. Seems to change daily. Will keep it until I need the keezer to ferment beer and will make a decision to carb or dump. Not sure about this one, but serving it anyway. I have to dump the fermenting one in the conical and the other 2 in kegs. Worst possible time to go bad on me.

                                                               TASTE ON AUG 19

Seems okay, but I don't like it. Just like my Canada Day brew. Good one day, bad the next. When it warms up, it tastes worse. Going to British Ales for now, but will brew a Marzen once or twice a year.