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March 1, 2021
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North Urban Brewing Society

North Urban Brewing Society

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Mar 18
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

March 2021 Virtual Meeting

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Beer Style: Kölsch

Description: A clean, crisp, delicately-balanced beer usually with a very subtle fruit and hop character. Subdued maltiness throughout leads into a pleasantly well-attenuated and refreshing finish. Freshness makes a huge difference with this beer, as the delicate character can fade quickly with age. Brilliant clarity is characteristic. History: Cologne, Germany (Köln) has a top-fermenting brewing tradition since the Middle Ages, but developed the beer now known as Kölsch in the late 1800s to combat encroaching bottom-fermented pale lagers. Kölsch is an appellation protected by the Kölsch Konvention (1986), and is restricted to the 20 or so breweries in and around Köln. The Konvention simply defines the beer as a “light, highly attenuated, hop-accentuated, clear, top-fermenting Vollbier.” Style Comparison: To the untrained taster, easily mistaken for a cream ale or somewhat subtle Pils.

Profile: Aroma: Low to very low malt aroma, with a grainy-sweet character. A pleasant, subtle fruit aroma from fermentation (apple, cherry or pear) is acceptable, but not always present. A low floral, spicy or herbal hop aroma is optional but not out of style. Some yeast strains may give a slight winy or sulfury character (this characteristic is also optional, but not a fault). Overall, the intensity of aromatics is fairly subtle but generally balanced, clean, and fresh. Appearance: Very pale gold to light gold. Very clear (authentic commercial versions are filtered to a brilliant clarity). Has a delicate white head that may not persist. Flavor: Soft, rounded palate comprised of a delicate flavor balance between soft yet attenuated malt, an almost imperceptible fruity sweetness from fermentation, and a medium-low to medium bitterness with a delicate dryness and slight crispness in the finish (but no harsh aftertaste). The malt tends to be grainy-sweet, possibly with a very light bready or honey quality. The hop flavor is variable, and can range from low to moderately-high; most are medium-low to medium intensity and have a floral, spicy, or herbal character. May have a malty-sweet impression at the start, but this is not required. No noticeable residual sweetness. May have a slightly winy, minerally, or sulfury accent that accentuates the dryness and flavor balance. A slight wheat taste is rare but not a fault. Otherwise, very clean. Mouthfeel: Medium-light to medium body (most are medium-light). Medium to medium-high carbonation. Smooth and generally crisp and well-attenuated. Comments: Characterized in Germany as a top-fermented, lagered beer. Each Köln brewery produces a beer of different character, and each interprets the Kölsch Konvention slightly differently. Allow for a range of variation within the style when judging. Note that drier versions may seem hoppier or more bitter than the IBU specifications might suggest. Due to its delicate flavor profile, Kölsch tends to have a relatively short shelf-life; older examples and imports can easily show some oxidation defects. Served in Köln in a tall, narrow 200ml glass called a Stange.

Ingredients: Traditional German hops (Hallertau, Tettnang, Spalt or Hersbrucker). German Pils or pale malt. Attenuative, clean ale yeast. Up to 20% wheat malt may be used, but this is quite rare in authentic versions. Current commercial practice is to ferment warm, cold condition for a short period of time, and serve young.

Examples: Früh Kölsch, Gaffel Kölsch, Mühlen Kölsch, Reissdorf Kölsch, Sion Kölsch, Sünner Kölsch

Beer of the Quarter

Beer of Q3 2017 – Kölsch

NUBS, brew your best Kölsch and bring to meeting on …

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North Urban Brewing Society is Lake County's fastest growing homebrew club; sharing good times, and good beer since 2015.

Join us for our virtual #LearnToHomebrewDay event Join us for our virtual #LearnToHomebrewDay event this Saturday. Details at nubsbrew.com  #homebrew #drinklocal #craftbeer
Thanks to Paul from @hopsteiner for joining us las Thanks to Paul from @hopsteiner for joining us last night to answer all our questions on hops. From growing, breeding, different varieties and the scope of their operation. Very informative and shows how much craft and dedication goes into just one ingredient of the beverage we love.  #drinklocal #craftbeer
Join us tomorrow for another virtual meeting with Join us tomorrow for another virtual meeting with a special guest speaker.  http://nubsbrew.com  #homebrew #drinklocal #craftbeer
NO MEETING THIS THURSDAY. Hope to see you all in NO MEETING THIS THURSDAY.  Hope to see you all in April.  In the meantime Relax, Don’t worry and Have a #homebrew
Thanks to everyone who came out for our raffle and Thanks to everyone who came out for our raffle and potluck at @perfect_brewsupply - congrats to all the winners.
Thanks for coming out for another meeting at @perf Thanks for coming out for another meeting at @perfect_brewsupply and cheers to our member @josh_blacklungbrewing on opening @blacklungbrewing - tasting some of his debut #beer.  #homebrew #drinklocal #craftbeer
Board meeting night for @nubsbrewclub at @onlychil Board meeting night for @nubsbrewclub at @onlychildbeer  #homebrew #drinklocal #craftbeer
Great having our members volunteer at @fmsc_org in Great having our members volunteer at @fmsc_org in #Libertyville and wrap up our club meeting at @perfect_brewsupply as usual. Hope to see everyone next month.  #lakeCountyIL #craftbeer #homebrew #drinklocal #homebrewing #volunteer #givingBack
Thanks to @tightheadbrew for having us out again a Thanks to @tightheadbrew for having us out again at the #mundeleincraftbeerfest. Another great year of #craftbeer and #homebrew.  #drinklocal
Pouring #homebrew at the Lake Zurich Craft Beerfes Pouring #homebrew at the Lake Zurich Craft Beerfest  #drinklocal #craftbeer
#bigBrew underway at @perfect_brewsupply #homebre #bigBrew underway at @perfect_brewsupply  #homebrew #craftbeer #drinklocal
First joint meeting with @babblebrewers at @perfec First joint meeting with @babblebrewers at @perfect_brewsupply seems to have been a success.  Thanks to everyone who brought #homebrew.  As always #drinklocal  and see you next month
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