Kolsch Ale | Extract Recipe Kit | 5 Gallons
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The short version before the full profile, ingredients, and process notes below.
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Kolsch Ale Beginner Beer Recipe Kit – A Crisp, Clean 5 Gallon Brewing Kit
Brew a smooth, refreshing Kolsch-style ale with delicate malt character and a bright finish
This Kolsch Ale Beginner Beer Recipe Kit is a great choice for brewers looking to make a light, crisp, highly drinkable beer at home. Inspired by the refreshing ales of Cologne, Germany, this 5 gallon brewing kit produces a bright golden beer with a smooth flavor profile, restrained bitterness, and clean finish. Fermented cool like an ale and then cold conditioned for additional refinement, this style offers a unique lager-like crispness while remaining accessible to extract brewers.
Why You’ll Love This Beer Kit
- Clean and refreshing profile: A smooth, easy-drinking beer with light malt character and a crisp finish.
- Great beginner-friendly style: A rewarding kit for brewers who want a refined, delicate beer without overwhelming roast, hop bitterness, or high alcohol.
- Ale and lager character combined: This hybrid-style beer brings together ale fermentation with the polished drinkability often associated with lagers.
- Ideal for patient brewers: Cold conditioning helps develop a brighter, cleaner finished beer.
- Perfect everyday beer: Light in color, smooth on the palate, and easy to enjoy pint after pint.
What’s Included
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Detailed Kit Contents
Liquid Malt Extract: 1 x 4 lb pouch - Dry Malt Extract: 2 x 1 lb bags
- Pellet Hops: Perle and Saaz
- Steeping Grains: Crystal 15
- Other Fermentables: Maltodextrin
- Grain Steeping Bag: Included
- Wort Clarifier: Included
- Yeast: CellarScience CALI Yeast
- Priming Sugar: Not included
Beer Profile
- Batch Size: 5 Gallons
- Original Gravity: 1.044
- Color: 4 SRM
- Bitterness: 42 IBUs
- Estimated ABV: 4.3%
- Suggested Fermentation Range: 58°F - 64°F
What to Expect in the Glass
This Kolsch-style ale pours a light golden color with a bright, inviting appearance. The flavor is smooth and clean, with subtle malt presence supported by a gentle hop character from Perle and Saaz. The restrained body and crisp finish make it especially refreshing, while cold conditioning helps round out the beer and enhance clarity. The end result is a balanced, approachable beer that feels polished and refreshing without being overly bitter or heavy.
A Great Kit for Brewers Who Love Crisp, Clean Beers
If you enjoy lighter-bodied beers with smooth flavor and a refined finish, this Kolsch Ale kit is an excellent addition to your brewing lineup. It is approachable for newer brewers, but also rewarding for more experienced homebrewers who appreciate classic, subtle beer styles that showcase balance and drinkability.
Fermentation Requirements
- Fermenter: Use a clean, sanitized fermenter with enough headspace for a healthy 5 gallon fermentation.
- Temperature control: Keep fermentation steady and follow the yeast or instruction-sheet temperature guidance for the cleanest result.
- Packaging: Confirm fermentation is complete before bottling or kegging, then package carefully to avoid oxygen pickup.
Helpful Bottling & Kegging Add-Ons
- Bottling this batch? Add powdered dextrose priming sugar so you are ready on packaging day.
- Use our Priming Sugar Calculator to dial in the right amount of sugar for your beer volume, temperature, and carbonation target.
- Kegging instead? Use our Beer Carbonation Chart & Keg Serving Pressure Calculator to choose the right CO₂ pressure for your serving temperature and carbonation level.