Tips for using WLP029 Kolsch Yeast

[jrein]

I'm brewing a 7BBL batch of Kolsch this week. I have a 2 liter pitch of WLP029 fresh from White Labs. I've never used this yeast before and I'm looking for any tips you folks can pass along to me. Thanks.

[Bierkoenig]

A good amount of cold conditioning time.

[Coast]

Have not used White Labs, but use Wyeast. Start at the lower end of yeast temp. range. Then raise it after a couple of days of good fermentation. We go up four degrees over six days. Let rest at the higher temp. for diacetyl rest. Then cool slowly to as low as you can go near 32 F. If not filtering let sit and bleed yeast a couple times. Racking really helps this yeast drop, but let it clean up the beer first. We really do enjoy having this style around the brewery. Can be as refreshing as a lager can be. Enjoy the brew day. Cheers.

[jrein]

I'm also more familiar with the Wyeast version myself and enjoy it thoroughly, although I've only used it in very small batch sizes and never in a conical FV. White Labs says the optimum temp for the WLP029 is 65-69F but that seems so much warmer than it should be. Will this yeast produce good results in the mid to upper 50s?

[Bierkoenig]

WLP029 has a much higher temp range than Wyeast's offering, in fact they don't recommend fermenting below 64 F. Also, skip the diacetyl rest, this strain won't produce any appreciable amount.