Lager 1st timmer

[Timmsy]

I had put down a lager for the 1st time (well maybe i have put one down before but i didnt no you brew them at a colder temp rate) sat morning. It was a draught with a bitter converter pack and 11.5g saflager yeast pack. Now its fermenting away but its not crazy in the air lock. Im just having it sitting in my laundry/ brew room hahahahaha with no heaters or anything. Is that ok?? The last i looked at the temp was 12dergrees. Also do i have to wait longer to rack a lager or can i wait the 7days and rack it???

Cheers

[lethaldog]

I had put down a lager for the 1st time (well maybe i have put one down before but i didnt no you brew them at a colder temp rate) sat morning. It was a draught with a bitter converter pack and 11.5g saflager yeast pack. Now its fermenting away but its not crazy in the air lock. Im just having it sitting in my laundry/ brew room hahahahaha with no heaters or anything. Is that ok?? The last i looked at the temp was 12dergrees. Also do i have to wait longer to rack a lager or can i wait the 7days and rack it???

Cheers

The fermenting with a lager at those temps will be slower but saying that the temp is perfect and you will notice the difference in taste as apposed to higher temps, its well worth the wait! I usually rack at seven days but the general idea is to rack when fermenting starts to slow so if it takes a little longer then it wont hurt it to stay in the primary for longer, the lagers i have done lately at those temps have been racked after about 7-8 days then left in the 2nd for around two weeks, if you want after that you can put them in the fridge at 1-2 *c for another couple of weeks to lager ( condition ), best thing i have found is to experiment for yourself as most of our brewing conditions are different and advice will vary

Good luck with it

[da_damage_done]

it may also be worth while doing a diacetyl rest.

Search the forum for it

cheers

[muddy]

I rack a lager after 4 /5 days or when bubbling is at 15 sec intervals. Leave in secondary for a week. Raise the temp to 17/18 deg C when fermentation is almost complete. and leave it for two days or until ferment stops. Then into fridge set a 4 deg C for a month.

Used to think the rest was just 'talk'. I was wrong.

Worth the extra effort.

[lethaldog]

it may also be worth while doing a diacetyl rest.

Search the forum for it

cheers

Using a good liquid yeast should just about solve this problem, as far as i know there are only a few that benefit from diacetyl rest.

[Timmsy]

So i will rack after say 7 days and leave in the 2nd fermentor to i get a equal gravity reading then bottle and put into a fridge or do i put the whole fermenter in the fridge before bottling?

[lethaldog]

So i will rack after say 7 days and leave in the 2nd fermentor to i get a equal gravity reading then bottle and put into a fridge or do i put the whole fermenter in the fridge before bottling?

If you want to cold condition you would either put the whole fermenter in the fridge or rack into an alternate container ( say a 25 litre cube) but if you were going to bottle then just store in a dark warm area ( 21*c +) let mature then drink

[Timmsy]

I like the idea of cold condition them, so would i put the beer into a container like a water container and chuck it in the fridge. Is there a general rule of thumb with temps in a fridge. How do i no i can acheive that temp?? And say after a month do i bulk prime then bottle and let it mature then drink?

[lethaldog]

I like the idea of cold condition them, so would i put the beer into a container like a water container and chuck it in the fridge. Is there a general rule of thumb with temps in a fridge. How do i no i can acheive that temp?? And say after a month do i bulk prime then bottle and let it mature then drink?

In laymans terms if the drinks in the fridge are nice and cold then that should do but you want to aim for between 1 & 3*c and yes then after that you would prime, bottle and let mature.
cold conditioning or lagering promotes all of the excess sediment to drop out as it would, say if you bottled and matured, resulting in less when you actually bottle giving you a nice clean, crisp, tasty beer.
it will take a little longer to carbonate after this process though so maybe let it sit for a few months once bottled.

[shaunl]

hi guys,
i am a novice brewer. I have just bottled a Porter and am wanting to do a lager. I think I have found a suitable recipe for the lager but I am worried about the technique.

I assumed that keeping the brew in the garage at this time of the year in Sydney would be cold enough for the fermentation, but after reading this I am now not so sure.

My thermometer tells me the temp in the garage tonight is 14 deg. I was going to brew, ferment in the garage and bottle - however all this info on having to store in the fridge as got me spooked.

So, what's the deal.
1. If I brew a lager and leave it in the garage at 14 degs (I will insulate to keep it cool during day) am i going to have trouble?
2. Is it really necessary to put it in the fridge?

I'm after quality with the brews as much as possible, so if there is the likelihood that I will not get this I will brew something else - but I really wanted to bottle at least 2-3 lagers whilst the weather is still cold. Am i wasting my time?

cheers
shaun

[blandy]

Hi Shaun,


1.) 14*C should not pose too much of a problem, especially if you keep that temp as constant as possible.
I brewed a lager in summer at about 20*C. The product wasn't a traditional lager, but it was certainly a top class beer! So even if you do have trouble with temperature, you will still end up with something good.

2.) I've never used a fridge, although those that have them preach the benefits of them. I guess if you've got one yoiu should use it, but if you don't there's nothing to worry about.


I'm sure people will disaggree with me, but nothing's black-and-white with brewing.

[Timmsy]

I racked my beer yesterday and when i put the fermenter back up on the bench with in a couple minuets the air lock was going crazy more so before i racked it. Should off seen the gunk on the bottom of the fermenter. She smelt really nice. So this been a lager i will let it sit another week and test the gravity reading. When i get a stable 2 days reading should i bottle or should i het a fridge that a mate said i could have and cold condition it??

[lethaldog]

Dont know if there would be anyone here who hasnt seen that m8
All jokes aside grab the fridge for a couple of reasons
1: you can never have to many fridges
2: lagers are always better with cold conditioning

[yamaroo]

Hi probably a stupid question but could you let it cold condition in the bottle
Just a thought as I am about to do a Pilsner and would like to cold condition but don't have the spare fridge that would fit my fermenter.

Thanks Nicol

[lethaldog]

Yeah you can and ppl do but you still get the sedement in the bottle, although i imagine that the taste improves as normal although i have never done it, Alot of the reason for ccing is that alot of sedement drops out of the beer and you get a clearer end product, also with lagers it gives them that crisp, smooth finish.

[malty]

I cold condition in the bottle and most of my lagers have very little sediment, all stuck nicely to the bottom!

Malty