I have a beer in fermentation right now that was originally planned as an IPL. Then I realized I didn’t have time to lager on the fly, so I chose Kölsch yeast. To twist it even harder, I’m using AU Ella hops exclusively for a special reason.
Breakdown:
57% Pilsner
43% Munich 10
WLP029 Kölsch yeast
What in the devil should I call this beer? Kölsch… IPL… Mutt? Thoughts on this one?
If you are not fermenting at lager temps and given the grain bill and hops this might read as an ipa. I was not familiar with Ella and just read it gives off tropical fruit and grapefruit and I think the yeast fermented at ale temps will contribute to that profile and it will read as an ale. It sounds like it could be tasty.
Well, first off, it’s not a Kolsch with that kind of hop in there. Other than that, it depends how much hops you’ve used.
Assuming 5 gallons:
A) If say only 1/2 ounce in the entire batch, then it might be most similar to a Belgian Pale Ale.
B) If you used more like 8 to infinity ounces like an IPA/IPL, then it’s an American IPA.
C) And if somewhere in between, like 1-5 ounces, then it’s an American Pale Ale.
That’s where I would go with it.
Little Harper Brewery in Nashville brews Chicken Scratch a Pre-Prohibition Lager that is used as an example of the style in the guidelines. …but they also brew Mosaic which is what they call an IPK: India Pale Kolsch
“BRIGHT, CRISP & TROPICALLY HOPPY
It’s a brand new style of beer unlike anything else. Bright, crisp and highly drinkable. IPK is a single hop beer that highlights the mosaic hop. The mosaic delivers the complex flavor and aroma of mango and guava. The kölsch yeast provides subtle apple and pear flavors and wonderfully clean and refreshing finish.”
I think the point is mashups don’t follow the rules. In fact, they invent new ones.
If it’s hoppy enough I would just call it an IPA. I have made IPAs with Kolsch yeast before and any yeast character was dominated by the hops. I do a lot of unclassifiable beers and just usually name the beer something random; “braunbier” - dunkel type lager, “rye fidelity” - rye cream ale, etc
Does it matter? Are you gonna enter it in a comp? I’d call it beer.
Haha true. I share my beer with friends a lot and always want them to have a name. This beer is for a “Huggies for Chuggies” party.
More detail on the batch: Ella Rose (IPL/A/K)… haha maybe that should be the final name! :
Mash @ 145 60min
Water
Ca 88/Mg 27/So4 63/Na 22/Cl 127/HcO3 97
14gal boil 60 min.
11 gal target: fermenter.
OG 1.052
FG est: 1.012
12lb pils
9lb Munich 10
2oz AU Ella 30min
2oz AU Ella 15 min
4 oz Ella 0 min
WLP029 3L starter pitching approx 1.03M cells/mL
Fermenting @66’F Just bumped to 69’F as airlock activity began to slow.
Planning a 1-2 oz dry hop for each fermenter. I split the batch for fermentation. I’d like to thank everyone for the input so far. This is my first post, and all of your input so quickly was pretty awesome.
Yeah, that’s an APA.
Welcome to the madness!!!
at 1.052, I’d say it’s more of a pale ale
That’s what I said! 
Actually I edited my post probably 1 second before your response. When I finally noticed it was 11 gallons and not 5-6.
Cheater!
Ella Rose APA it is! Maybe one of these days I’ll stick to just one idea… but it’s way too fun to experiment. Cheers to all!
You can always call it an IDK … I Don’t Know.
A great local brewery in my area makes a collaboration beer with a restaurant in Chicago, it’s a Dry Hopped Kolsch and really damn good. I think it’s hard to call it a Kolsch when you take it out of the style like that but it worked for a nice beer. Have fun, play around, enjoy.