German-Style Koelsch Style
- Color: Straw to gold
- Clarity: Chill haze should not be present
- Perceived Malt Aroma & Flavor: Malt character is very low to low with soft sweetness. Caramel character should not be present.
- Perceived Hop Aroma & Flavor: Low, and if present, should express noble hop character.
- Perceived Bitterness: Medium to medium-high
- Fermentation Characteristics: Fruity esters are absent to low, expressed as pear, apple or wine-like attributes when present. Diacetyl should not be present.
- Body: Low to medium-low. Dry and crisp.
- Additional notes: Traditional examples often display persistent head retention. Small amounts of wheat can be used in brewing beers of this style. Koelsch-style beers are fermented at warmer temperatures than is typical for lagers, but at lower temperatures than most English and Belgian-style ales. They are aged cold. Ale yeast is used for fermentation. Lager yeast is sometimes used for bottle conditioning or final cold conditioning.
German-Style Koelsch Vital Statistics
- Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.042-1.048 (10.5-11.9 °Plato)
- Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.006-1.010 (1.5-2.6 °Plato)
- Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.8%-4.2% (4.8%-5.3%)
- Bitterness (IBU) 22-30
- Color SRM (EBC) 3-6(6-12 EBC)
2020 Brewers Association Beer Style Guidelines used with permission of Brewers Association.