Wild Cow (sort of) Kölsch
Brewed: 05/02/2020 Kegged: 05/12/2020
Wisconsin's New Glarus doesn't export beer out of state, so I don't get it very often, but  I do have relatives and friends in and around Wisconsin. And, quite often when I visit, I get beer from the brewery.
I've seen it called a Cream Ale; a Farmhouse Ale; an Amber Ale; and a Kolsch.
It isn't really any of those.
But, regardless of what you call it, it is popular. And truth be told ... it is a great beer. Beer geeks can appreciate it, but it is also easy drinking enough for the BMC drinker to enjoy as well.
Last time I was in Wisconsin, I promised my Brother-in-Law that I'd brew a Spotted Cow Clone for my son's graduation party.
The whole COVID mess delayed my son's graduation, but close to the end of April, I still thought I'd brew something (sort of) like the beer.
I did some research. I checked out some homebrew clone books from the library. I googled. I found the Northern Brewer Speckled Heifer recipe and checked it out. Of course, I read what is on the New Glarus Spotted Cow web page.
I saw lots of recipes. And ... honestly, I don't think any of them are actually clones of the beer.
And ... honestly ... since I don't really follow clone recipes ... I don't really care.
I came up with my own recipe taking pieces from each that I thought made the most sense.
I don't really know how close I came. Actually, we may never know ... because I can't do a side-by-side comparison. New Glarus doesn't export out of state.
It was an awesomely easy drinking delicious beer. And that is all I need.
| Wild Cow --- Batch 1 (254) |
| Style |
|
Kölsch |
|
Batch Size |
|
6.00 gal |
| Type |
|
All Grain |
|
Boil Size |
|
8.23 gal |
| Brewhouse Efficiency |
|
70.00 |
|
Boil Time |
|
60 minutes | Recipe Characteristics
| Recipe Gravity |
|
1.044 SG |
|
Estimated FG |
|
1.008 SG |
| Recipe Bitterness |
|
21.5 IBUs (Rager) |
|
Alcohol by Volume |
|
4.8 % |
| BU : GU |
|
0.487 |
|
|
|
|
| Recipe Color |
|
8.7 SRM |
|
|
|
|
| Measured OG: |
|
1.041 |
|
Measured FG: |
|
1.008 |
| ADF: |
|
80 |
|
Measured ABV: |
|
4.3% | Ingredients
Ingredients
| Amt |
Name |
Type |
# |
%/IBU |
Volume |
| 8 lbs |
Pale Malt (2 Row) US (2.0 SRM) |
Grain |
1 |
75.3 % |
0.63 gal |
| 1 lbs 8.0 oz |
Barley, Flaked (1.7 SRM) |
Grain |
2 |
14.1 % |
0.12 gal |
| 1 lbs |
Wheat, Flaked (1.6 SRM) |
Grain |
3 |
9.4 % |
0.08 gal |
| 2.0 oz |
Midnight Wheat Malt (550.0 SRM) |
Grain |
4 |
1.2 % |
0.01 gal |
| 0.500 oz |
Magnum [12.00 %] - Boil 40.0 min |
Hop |
5 |
16.5 IBUs |
- |
| 1.00 tsp |
Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins) |
Other |
6 |
- |
- |
| 1.000 oz |
Cluster [8.30 %] - Boil 5.0 min |
Hop |
7 |
5.0 IBUs |
- |
| 1.0 pkg |
Kolsch Yeast (Wyeast Labs #2565) [124.21 ml] |
Yeast |
8 |
- |
- |
Mash Profile
Mash Steps
| Name |
Description |
Step Temperature |
Step Time |
| Mash In |
Add 13.28 qt of water at 159.1 F |
148.0 F |
75 min |
Batch sparge with 2 steps
(5.85gal, 0.34gal) of 168.0 F water
Recipe Notes
Make a 6 cup
starter a day or two ahead of brew day.
Follow mashing and boiling times as
directed in recipe.
After boil, chill to 58F.
Ferment two days at 60F. Let
rise after 2 days.
After 2 weeks, keg and carbonate.
Enjoy.
Brewing Record
| Brew Date: |
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Strike Temp: |
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| Mash Temps: |
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| Pre-boil OG |
|
(1.036 SG) |
|
Pre-boil Vol |
|
(8.23 gal) |
| Actual Mash Efficiency |
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Pitch Temp |
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| Fermentation |
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| Day 1: |
| Day ... |
| Day ... |
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