Lager!!

[WobblyTone]

Having got a few AG brews under my belt now I do like a cold lager when having a barby etc but finding the kits, whilst ok, a bit lacking.

So I could do with a couple of pointers on where to start!

Would leaving the FV on the floor in the shed be cool enough for fermentation?, I guess it`ll be about 10 - 15c this time of year and my fridge is full of beer and I don`t want to loose it by converting it.

Also any good recipes for a good, decent lager along the lines of a German pilsner etc? (Or a recommended recipe book)

Many thanks in advance

Tony

[AnthonyUK]

Hi,
Lager requires a period of cold conditioning - the 'lagering' which is to store in German- at as low a temp as you can get.
You also have a non- linear fermentation profile where the temp is raised at the end so the yeast can clean up any unwanted flavours.
10-15°c will be good for fermenting but not for lagering if you want it to be ready this year.

Working with what you have available I would go for a pseudo-lager using Nottingham yeast which works great down to about 14°c and will ferment very clean at this temp.

[mozza]

Saflager S-23 will ferment well on the warmer side at 15 degrees. If go for a normal lager and then leave it in your garage for as long as possible after the diactyl rest. (Three months minimum really although one month would be ok before bottling)

[Matt12398]

If you choose a clean fermenting yeast and use noble hops you could create a lageresque beer that would be a good alternative.

[Rick_UK]

Hard to do a true lager without a fridge this time of year. However you will still get a lager of sorts without the 10 years of cold storage purists would recommend. I usually lager for 2-3 weeks and have had great results. Another option would be to lager in the bottle - bottle as usual after fermentation is done, prime and leave to carbonate then stick bottles in fridge for a few weeks before you drink them.

I made a lager with Girvin ale yeast fermented at 15'C and while it was a great pint it definitely tasted more ale than lager like. I think lager yeast at the higher end of its range would work better than ale yeast fermented cool in terms of lager flavour - I certainly foind this with S23 .

Rick

[WobblyTone]

Cheers for the replies,

I might have to put my thinking cap on, oh and read up a bit to fully understand the process.

In the meantime Summer Lightning it is!!

[196osh]

If you're wanting to make a lager at warmer temps then WLP810 San Francisco Lager is your best bet.