I use nelson. Helps drive the wine quality from 2565. I don’t care about tradition.
You Rebel!
My Kolsch is Magnum and Crystal.
I just tapped a Magnum, Crystal Kölsch yesterday. Delicious.
Crystal is what we usually use in our kölsch at YHB. And Magnum as bittering. I have some on draft at the house and will be my go to beer after working in the garden today.
I don’t disagree on a little Nelson there - I do like the white grape thing there. And not every beer has to be traditional. I was mostly looking at the Equinox. That one screams APA/IPA.
Yeah I think Nelson or Hallertauer Blanc would both be excellent in a kölsch! Tradition? Throw that out the window! 
Agree though that IPA hops in a kölsch are going to make an Americanized tasting more pale aleish beer. Doesn’t mean it would be bad, but you aren’t going to taste much of the “kölschiness”.
Ha! This thread has come full circle…
My “kolsch” is finishing up in the fermenter as we speak. I go with a combination of Magnum/Spalt at FWH, 1/2 oz spalt at 20 min, and 1 oz Amarillo at 2 min. I have switched to Imperial Dieter after using WLP029 and WY2565. I think I prefer it to those two although it does seem to be very similar to 029.
The Amarillo makes it unique without being overly American tasting and I go with only 20 calculated IBUs.
Thanks. I’ll save the equinox for an IPA and use the magnum/haller combo. Probably throw away the Nelson since it’s been sitting in my freezer for 2+ yrs haha [emoji15]
I did use crystal on my last kolsch at WP. Turned out good.
I wanted to use 2565 because I prefer wyeast over WL(don’t like the new packaging) but LHBS was out of both! So ended heading to another shop and they only had 029. Any difference between the two as far as clearing/aging?
029 clears much easier and quicker than 2565
Sounds good thanks
Totally opposite of what I have found.
I have brewed extensively with both. In my experience 029 is more stubborn to get to clear. It also ferments a little bit warmer than 2565. I think o29 has a bit more “pear” ester. They both make excellent kölsch. I used to think I preferred the 029 over the 2565 but I use WYEAST almost exclusively now so for the last 2 years I have only used 2565.
Huh. Interesting. I have always read about similar experiences to mine. Disregard I suppose.
I will say that G03 which I use now clears easier than both.
Yeah, I like 2565 better but have always had a harder time clearing it as compared to 029. If I had the means to filter, I’d have filtered the last 2565 kolsch I did. So powdery I thought it’d never clear. Love the end result, though.
I need to try that one.
So true. I too prefer Wyeast for no demonstrable reason, but I’m likely to use 029 over 2565. Unless the 029 is old.
You guys are right, I had a brain fart. 029 is the easier one to clear. Man it’s weird getting old and forgetting the same stuff you used to preach! OTOH i use a centrifuge for most of my brews now so they are all easy to clear for me.
;D. I feel your pain. Getting old sucks.
But better than the alternative!