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In case you missed it, we just wrapped up our annual Kölsch Cup competition (link below) and we had A BLAST! So many exceptional entries made it very difficult to pick a winner, but we did. Which is why I’m so proud to present today’s episode to you – an interview with our Grand Champion!

With that being said, it is time for another episode of our Homebrew Happy Hour podcast!… THE home brew #podcast where we answer all of your home brewing questions and discuss anything related to craft beer!

A NOT SO SUBTLE REMINDER:

If you appreciate the things we do here at Homebrew Happy Hour, consider joining our Trub Club! —  https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=21132635

On Today’s Show:

How to Brew an Award Winning Kolsch: An Interview with the 2025 Kolsch Cup Grand Champion, Robert Abbott

Links for this episode:
Kolsch Cup 2025 Video: https://youtu.be/gcnM1zvxjm8?si=h1-dowLkzn2hPk_g
Rob’s award winning kolsch recipe: https://web.brewfather.app/share/WWYLrq4imHlHYN4WhKEdVmJosXktav

2025 GRAND CHAMPION RECIPE BELOW

Brewtools B40pro

70.6% efficiency

Batch Volume: 16 L

Boil Time: 60 min

Mash Water: 25.67 L

Total Water: 25.67 L

Boil Volume: 23.81 L

Pre-Boil Gravity: 1.041

Vitals

Original Gravity: 1.048

Final Gravity: 1.011

IBU (Tinseth): 18

BU/GU: 0.38

Color: 3.2 SRM 

Mash

Strike Temp — 156.6 °F

Temperature — 152 °F — 60 min

Malts (7 lb 11.9 oz)

7 lb 2 oz (92%) — Stone Path SPM Pilsner — Grain — 2 °L

5 oz (4%) — Blue Ox Vyenna — Grain — 2.9 °L

5 oz (4%) — Blue Ox Wheat Malt — Grain — 2.3 °L

Hops (72 g)

48 g (17 IBU) — Hallertauer Mittelfrueh 2.5% — Boil — 60 min

24 g (1 IBU) — Tettnang 2.1% — Boil — 5 min

Miscs

1.8 g — Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) — Mash

0.6 g — Epsom Salt (MgSO4) — Mash

0.6 g — Gypsum (CaSO4) — Mash

2 ml — Lactic Acid 88% — Mash

1 items — Whirlfloc — Boil — 15 min

1 tsp — Yeast Nutrients (WLN1000) — Boil — 15 min

4 ml — Biofine Clear — Bottling

Yeast

2 pkg — White Labs WLP029 German Ale/Kolsch 78%

Fermentation

Pitch temp — 60 °F — 3 days

Primary — 66 °F — 7 days

Crash — 34 °F — 7 days

Carbonation: 2.4 CO₂-vol

Water Profile

Ca²⁺
 31Mg²⁺
 2Na⁺
 0Cl^–
 45SO₄^2-
 22HCO₃^–
 0

1st place 2025 Homebrew Happy Hour Kölsch Cup 3rd place 2024 Homebrew Happy Hour Kolsch Cup this one’s for my grandmother, Pooh, who would always ask me two things: 1. do you run your company yet? & 2. how’s the beer coming? this is the first win since she left. brew this one to share with family and friends & be sure to raise a glass for Poohie! Cheers

We want to hear from you!

If you have a question that you’d like us to discuss on a future episode, please click on the “Submit a Question” link at the top of our website or you can now call in your questions via our questions hotline @ 325-305-6107 and leave your message after the beep.

Let us know what you think and enjoy the show!

cheers,

joshua

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Each and every episode is made possible by Kegconnection.com! Build the kegerator or keezer of your dreams using Kegconnection.com’s unique customizable product options that allows you to get exactly what you need. Kegconnection.com also stocks products and solutions for kegging kits, draft systems, hardware, components, cleaning and much much more. Kegconnection.com has been operating for more than 18 years in the industry and has established expertise and superior customer service. Visit Kegconnection.com and use our promo code HHH to receive 5% off of your order!

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Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Imperial Yeast, for supporting us and the homebrewing community. Learn more about why we LOVE Imperial Yeast by checking out their entire line, available at https://www.imperialyeast.com/

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Thank you to our show’s sponsor, Hops Direct! Family owned and operated, Hops Direct provides a wide variety of hop selection and ships directly to your door. Learn more by visiting https://hopsdirect.com/?utm_source=HHH&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=HHH+link

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This episode is brought to you by, Muntons Malts – a company that is passionate about providing premium malts to brewers worldwide. YOU can experience the difference Muntons offers by joining a recipe receiving tier of our Trub Club because every kit that ships out now includes premium Muntons Malt, join at https://www.patreon.com/HomebrewHappyHour

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