Beer Style: Pale Ale Family
Kölsch: The Delicate Beer of Cologne
Is it a lager or an ale? Actually, Kölsch is a bit of both as it is fermented with ale yeast prior to extended lagering. Learn more about this refreshing style from Cologne, Germany.
Dad’s Cream Ale
This Cream Ale can be easily adapted to become a Kentucky common by either adding SINAMAR® or some mid-range crystal malt and black malt. It can also be made at a higher strength to give a decent approximation of a malt liquor.
Gordon Strong’s Kölsch
Gordon Strong’s Kölsch (5 gallons/19 L,all-grain)OG = 1.046 FG = 1.008IBU = 20 SRM = 4 ABV = 5% Ingredients9 lbs. (4.1 kg) German Pilsner malt4 oz. (454 g) Vienna malt3 oz.
Altbier
This recipe is based on the all-grain recipe by Gordon Strong in the January-February 2019 issue of BYO and shows how I would approach the recipe as a partial mash, replacing much of the base malt with malt extract allows for a shortened brew day that requires less equipment than all-grain brewing does.
Blonde Bloke British Golden Ale
This Golden Ale recipe uses two specialty malts that will add body and mouthfeel to what otherwise might be a fairly straightforward beer. The subtle complexity of the dextrin and caramelized oats make this a summery beer without being boring.
Turning Point Brew Co.’s Nightcall clone
The bitterness of this Yorkshire bitter is below the minimum for a best bitter under the BJCP Style Guide. Bitterness is still present with the lower ABV beer, but the star of the show is the malt character. A healthy addition of melanoidin malt gives the beer the classic biscuit flavor Yorkshire bitters are known for, with more caramel character being added with the brown and crystal malts. The late addition of the East Kent Golding hops add floral notes with a hint of fruit character from the Archer addition. As my Grandad would have said: “A proper pint.”
Marble Beers’ Manchester Bitter clone
You can see the focus on the distinctive color with the use of the extra pale malt, giving wiggle room to build some malt flavor with crystal and Munich malts. The ABV is the mid-range of a best bitter, but just tips over the maximum IBUs. What you’re left with is a light and refreshing but incredibly bitter beer.
Schumacher Latzenbier clone
Latzenbier, at 5.5% ABV, is a bit more malty than Schumacher’s everyday altbier, yet still nicely balanced toward the bitter end.
Schlüssel Stike clone
This special fall release from Schlüssel is similar to their everyday beer, but bigger, richer, and just a tiny bit sweeter up front, balanced by a higher 38 IBUs.
Uerige Sticke clone
Uerige Altbier has predominant notes of honey and biscuit, and a very slight roasted note can be found in the finish. Their Sticke Altbier at 6% is dry hopped, giving it the boldest nose of the special release altbiers from Düsseldorf breweries.
Oakshire Brewing Co.’s Key-Limety Kölsch clone
Brewed to include the addition of key lime puree, this Kölsch uses a semi-traditional Kölsch grist bill along with a big helping of honey. Fermented with Kölsch yeast and finishing dry, this is a very fun one. Feel free to omit the fruit or substitute another fruit for key lime, as Oakshire has done on occasion.
Garage Project’s Dirty Boots Pale Ale clone
Dirty Boots pale ale is what the brewery describes as a “full noise” pale ale bordering on an IPA, with assertive bitterness backed up by malt character from a grain bill of Pilsner, crystal, and Munich malt.
