Coolship

What’s old is new again for Chicago’s Dovetail—direct-fire decoction, open fermentation, and coolshipping hoppy lager with whole-cone hops are just a few of the ways this classically focused brewery finds ways to build character in their lagers.

From design to decoction to coolship to cellar, Dovetail owners and master brewers Hagen Dost and Bill Wesselink dig into the details of how they produce their acclaimed lager, Kölsch, and weissbier.

Dovetail cofounders and master brewers Bill Wesselink and Hagen Dost explain the benefits of using a coolship for an initial cooling stage before chilling—solids drop out, DMS precursors waft away, and hops can add a burst of aroma.

“We had the idea that what’s lacking somehow today is this stubbornness, to stick to something—and to create something distinct in that way,” says Tom Jacobs. “For us, we want to do something that lasts.”

Like the punk-rock pioneers who inspire them, Burning Beard rejects standard operating procedure and embraces a unique set of values that have helped to set them apart from the crowded San Diego beer scene.

Deploying coolships, open fermentors, turbid mashes, and decoctions, and specializing in lagers and spontaneous fermentation, the brewers at Dovetail in Chicago are among the new guard for the old ways.

Although the brewery is not yet 2 years old and brews its share of hazy IPAs, the owners of Resident Culture have already traveled widely to foster friendships and spread their love of lager.

When your master brewer is one of the most respected sour and wild beer makers in the United States, it’s natural to give them room to play.

Fonta Flora's Todd Boera takes you through their first coolship brew of the season, offering practical tips for recipe development, mashing, boil, chilling/coolship, fruiting, and much more.

While the thought of ale spontaneously fermenting in coolships might conjure thoughts of the country, you’re more likely to find it in cities across America.

Decoction mashing and patient lagering remain the norm across Upper Franconia, as they do in nearby Czechia—the two places in the world most famed for their attractive, flavorful lagers. Our correspondent takes a deep dive into the region.

How one brewery in Florida used an iconic car to create a coolship like no other, and how you can find inspiration for spontaneously fermented ale in the strangest places.

Gabe Gordon, founder of Beachwood BBQ and Brewing built the Blendery with the single-minded focus to re-create a true lambic-style beer in Southern California, and at the center of the effort is one critical piece of the lambic puzzle: the coolship.