Malt aroma & flavor
Malt character is very low to low with soft sweetness. Caramel character should not be present.
German Origin Ale Styles
German-Style Koelsch
Ale · Straw to gold
What to expect
Malt character is very low to low with soft sweetness. Hop character: Low and, if present, should express noble hop character.
Reading guide · The complete guideline attributes below preserve the source’s qualifications.Color · SRM
3–6
Pale / strawBlack
Straw to gold · Illustrative colors on the shared, uneven SRM scale.
Explore styles overlapping this color rangeAlcohol · ABV
4.8–5.3%
Reference scale, not a limit on official guideline values.
Bitterness · IBU
22–30
Measured bitterness; perceived bitterness is described in the guideline below.
Brewers Association 2026 · Printed guideline page 17 · PDF page 26. Color graphics are illustrative.
The guideline, in detail
Official style attributes, including what may be present and what should be absent.
Hop aroma & flavor
Low and, if present, should express noble hop character.
Perceived bitterness
Medium to medium-high
Body & mouthfeel
Low to medium-low. Dry and crisp.
Clarity
Chill haze should not be present
Color
Straw to gold
Fermentation characteristics
Fruity esters are absent to low, expressed as pear, apple, or wine-like attributes when present. Diacetyl should not be present.
Additional guideline notes & competition context
Traditional examples often display persistent head retention. Small amounts of wheat can be used in brewing beers of this style. Koelsch-style beers are fermented at warmer temperatures than is typical for lagers, but at lower temperatures than most English and Belgian-style ales. They are aged cold. Ale yeast is used for fermentation. Lager yeast is sometimes used for bottle conditioning or final cold conditioning.
Technical specifications, including gravity
Original Gravity (°Plato) 1.042-1.048 (10.5-11.9 °Plato) • Apparent Extract/Final Gravity (°Plato) 1.006-1.010 (1.5-2.6 °Plato) • Alcohol by Weight (Volume) 3.8%-4.2% (4.8%-5.3%) • Hop Bitterness (IBU) 22-30 • Color SRM (EBC) 3-6 (6-12 EBC)