Brew a crisp, lager-like Kölsch at home with delicate biscuit notes and a clean, elegant finish from noble Saaz and Perle hops.
Makes 5 gallons of Kölsch-style ale
All-grain recipe designed for brewers with an all-grain system
Ready to drink in about 4 weeks
German Kölsch style with a light, clean, lager-like character
The driest and crispest finish
K-97 attenuates well clear of the other four, which gives the crisp dry finish a Kolsch lives on. It leans floral and lightly fruity and suits the Saaz and Perle well. It forms a big firm head and is slow to settle, so it needs the full cold crash to go bright.
Ferment at 64-79°F
Attenuation 80-84%
Flocculation Low
Subtle and hop friendly
Lager-like, with the hops lifted
A lager-like ale strain that is lightly fruity, crisp and clean, and it brings hop flavor forward, which counts for a lot in a beer this restrained. Expect a hint of sulfur that ages out. Flocculation is medium low, so the cold crash is doing real work here.
Ferment at 65-69°F
Attenuation 72-78%
Flocculation Medium-Low
Lager-like, hop friendly
Ale fruit over a lager base
This one gives you a touch of ale fruitiness sitting over an otherwise lager-clean beer, which is precisely what the style is meant to be. Low or no detectable diacetyl. It is powdery and stays in suspension, so it needs a full cold crash.
Ferment at 56-70°F
Attenuation 73-77%
Flocculation Low
Ale fruit, lager finish
The hoppiest read on a Kolsch
WLP029 brings hop flavor and bitterness forward while keeping a clean lager-like character, which gives the Saaz and Perle more to say than you might expect. It stops working if it gets cold before it has finished, so let it complete before the crash.
Ferment at 65-69°F
Attenuation 72-78%
Flocculation Medium
Crisp, clean, hop friendly
The most neutral of the five
1007 produces very few esters across a wide range, so this becomes the cleanest, least yeast driven version of the beer, with the malt and Saaz completely exposed. It also matures rapidly even when fermented cool. Powdery, so it needs the full cold crash.
Ferment at 55-68°F
Attenuation 73-77%
Flocculation Low
Crisp, low ester, wide range
✅ Advanced all-grain brewing with clear step-by-step guidance
Flavor Profile & Beer Style
Kölsch is a light, clean German-style ale that drinks like a lager. Brewed with Pilsen malt and a touch of Vienna and white wheat, it delivers delicate biscuit and bread notes with a soft, smooth body. Noble Saaz and Perle hops provide subtle floral and herbal balance without heavy bitterness. The finish is crisp, dry, and refreshing with a pale gold color and brilliant clarity. This is a refined, easy-drinking ale that showcases grain quality and clean fermentation.
What’s Included in the Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Kölsch at home:
Briess Pilsen Base Malt
Weyermann Vienna Malt
Briess White Wheat Malt
Saaz Hops
Perle Hops
Your choice of dry yeast or liquid yeast
Step-by-step brewing instructions
Note: You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system. Brewing equipment is not included.
How the Brewing Process Works
Brewing your Kölsch follows a traditional ale process with cold conditioning to achieve a clean, lager-like finish:
Mash: Convert grain starches into fermentable sugars with a light, dry mash profile.
Sparge: Rinse the grains to collect sweet wort
Boil: Add noble Saaz and Perle hops for subtle bittering and floral flavor.
Ferment: Ferment with Kölsch ale yeast at cool temperatures until clean and fully attenuated. Cold condition for a smooth, lager-like finish.
Enjoy: Ready to drink in about 4 weeks from brew day to glass.
This all-grain Kölsch delivers the refined simplicity of a Cologne-style ale with brilliant clarity and a crisp, clean finish.
New to Liquid Yeast?
Liquid yeast can deliver excellent fermentation performance and a wider range of strain options, but it’s a living, perishable product that requires a little extra care.
Liquid yeast may arrive warm. Ice packs help reduce heat exposure but do not guarantee cold arrival.
Refrigerate it when received and plan to brew as soon as possible.
We recommend adding an insulated mailer + ice pack to liquid yeast orders.
During May–September, dry yeast is strongly recommended due to higher shipping temperatures.
Liquid yeast is final sale and cannot be replaced due to heat exposure during transit.
Brewers with a mash system or all-grain brewing equipment
Fans of light, clean German-style ales and lagers
Brewers who enjoy crisp, subtle beers with refined malt character
Those who prefer low-bitterness, easy-drinking beers
This batch is perfect for sharing with friends, pouring a crisp Kölsch on tap, or letting it cold condition to develop even smoother flavor.
Kolsch Specs
Batch Size: 5 gallons
ABV: ~5.9%
Original Gravity: 1.056
Style: Kölsch
Bitterness: Low
Color: Pale gold, brilliant
Recommended Dry Yeast: Ale yeast (SafAle K-97)
Brewing Support, Anytime.
From step-by-step instructions to video tutorials and real human support - our brewing experts are just an email away.
Quality You Can Trust.
We use the same premium grains, hops & yeast trusted by the pros. No shortcuts. No substitutes. Just the good stuff.
The "We Got You" Guarantee.
We’re committed to your first batch being a great one. If something goes sideways, we’ll help you troubleshoot or replace what you need - fast.
Kolsch - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
From $32.00
What You'll Brew
Kolsch (German-Style Ale)
A crisp, pale German-style ale brewed with noble hops and a smooth malt backbone. This beer delivers light floral aroma, subtle bread-like malt character, and a clean, dry finish that drinks like a lager while maintaining ale simplicity.
What's Inside the Kolsch - 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit
This 5-gallon recipe kit includes all the ingredients needed to brew Kölsch at home:
Briess Pilsen Base Malt
Weyermann Vienna Malt
Briess White Wheat Malt
Saaz Hops
Perle Hops
Your choice of dry yeast or liquid yeast
Step-by-step brewing instructions
Note: You will need a 5-gallon all-grain brewing system. Brewing equipment is not included.
Make Your Next Batch with the Kolsch Beer Recipe Kit
This kit lets you experience the balance and precision behind one of Germany’s most refined beer styles. With premium ingredients and clear instructions, you will brew a beer that highlights patience, temperature control, and clean fermentation. Whether you are brewing your first batch or refining your technique, this Kolsch kit delivers classic flavor and satisfying results.
Easy Steps to Making Kolsch Beer
Brewing 5 gallons of your favorite Kolsch is more rewarding than ever with our Kolsch 5 Gallon All Grain Beer Recipe Kit. With high-quality ingredients and simple steps, the process is straightforward and satisfying.
Make Your Beer Look As Good As It Tastes.
You brewed something worth showing off. Starting at $4.99, give your bottles the finishing touch with our beer labels. Perfect for sharing your latest batch, gifting a few, or stocking your fridge with pride. Shop matching labels
Before
After
Looking For Instructions?
Every all-grain kit comes with instructions to guide you through the brew day, fermentation and beyond. We provide recipe-specific tips tailored to your exact recipe, including mash temperature, fermentation timelines and more.
No. This is an ingredient-only 5-gallon recipe kit. Brewing equipment is not included, and this kit is designed for brewers who already own a 5-gallon all-grain brewing setup.
Is this a lager or an ale?
Kölsch is technically an ale, but it's fermented at cooler temperatures and cold conditioned to produce a clean, lager-like character. It has the smoothness and crispness of a lager with the subtle fruitiness and warmth of an ale. This hybrid approach is what makes Kölsch unique among German beer styles.
Is this beer sweet?
No. Kölsch is a dry, crisp beer with a clean finish. The Pilsen malt provides delicate biscuit and bread notes, but the beer finishes light and refreshing without residual sweetness. The noble hops add subtle floral balance, keeping the overall profile clean and highly drinkable.
How long does this beer take to brew?
Brew day takes about 4-5 hours. After that, fermentation takes around 2 weeks, plus cold conditioning time for best results. Most brewers have this beer ready to drink in about 4 weeks from brew day to glass.
Is this recipe kit beginner-friendly?
This all-grain beer recipe kit is intended for advanced brewers with all-grain brewing equipment. If you're new to brewing, we recommend starting with one of our extract recipe kits, which are designed to be beginner-friendly and require less equipment.
Can I brew this year-round?
Yes! This Kölsch recipe kit is available year-round and can be brewed in any season. Its light, crisp character makes it especially refreshing in warmer months, but it's an elegant, easy-drinking choice any time of year.
Not an All-Grain Brewer? Try the Extract Kolsch 5 Gallon Beer Recipe Kit
Our dry malt extract version of this recipe gives you the same classic Kolsch flavor with a simpler process. Perfect if you’re just starting out or want a quicker brew.
