Kölsch
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “Beer styles”.
Explanation
Pale, top-fermented beer from Cologne, fermented cool and lagered cold, so it is almost as clean as a lager. Lightly fruity, lean and crisp. Under the 1986 Kölsch Convention only beer from the Cologne region may carry the name. It is served in a slim 0.2-litre glass called a Stange. Typical: OG 1.044–1.050, 4.4–5.2 % ABV, 18–30 IBU.
Test your knowledge
What glass is Kölsch served in?
- A tulip glass
- The slim Stange
- The one-litre Mass (about 34 fl oz)
Show answer
Correct: The slim Stange. The Stange holds only 0.2 l (about 6.8 fl oz) so that the Kölsch stays fresh. The waiter keeps bringing more until a beer mat lies on the glass.
When does the Köbes in Cologne stop bringing more Kölsch?
- After exactly ten glasses
- When a beer mat lies on the glass
- When you wave
Show answer
Correct: When a beer mat lies on the glass. The Köbes is the waiter in a Cologne brewpub. He replaces empty glasses without being asked.
Which country does the beer style “Kölsch” come from?
- Germany
- Norway
- Switzerland
Show answer
Correct: Germany. Pale, top-fermented beer from Cologne, fermented cool and lagered cold, so it is almost as clean as a lager.
Frequently asked questions
How much sugar goes into a bottle?
It depends on the target CO₂ and the beer temperature after fermentation. For example, a Kölsch at 5.5 g/l and 18 °C (64 °F) needs about 3.6 g (0.13 oz) of table sugar per 0.5 L (about 16.9 fl oz) bottle. The carbonation calculator works it out exactly.