Kolsch Transfer and Crash 11/11/09

Unfortunately no pictures of the actual transfer but I'll post up some pictures of the secondaries happily starting their one month stay in my chest freezer.

I used my first Better Bottle today, and I have to say that the weight savings really helps in the cleaning and moving departments. I quickly sanitized with Star-san and promptly racked my beer directly ontop of the foam... Hey don't fear the foam they say... so I'm not...

This beer is supposed to be made to the German purity laws, but depending on how clear my beer gets in the next couple days will really determine if I use some gelatin for fining or not. Either way it wouldn't be a detrimental addition to the beer if I did use it.

So here are the results:

After 12 days of Primary fermentation, the Kolsch achieved a Final Gravity of 1.011 which is exactly where it should have ended up based on the BJCP style guidelines.

From 1.051 to 1.011 in 12 days seems pretty good and especially based on the fermentation temps and yeast activity, I'd be willing to say that this was a textbook fermentation for a Kolsch.

The ABV will clock in right around 5.27%.

The taste right now is typical Kolsch however the Lagering period will really bring out that crisp clean taste that all Kolsch beers have. The yeast has thrown off a bit of that winey/sulfur character but I believe that with the one month of aging, this will be impercieveable in the nose.

I'll post some pictures up tonight of the secondaries happily sitting in my chest freezer at 33*F

Prosit!