Diacetyl rest needed? Coopers Aussie Lager, Saflager S-23

[guidomax]

Hi all,

So I'm doing my very first lager for the Missus, after honing my technique on the ales and stouts that I enjoy . In an attempt to experiment, and now that the weather's turned, I'm fermenting in the garage using Saflager S-23 at about 11 degrees C.
I've read on the forums a bunch of differing information on diacetyl rest. Mostly this debate is on the AG forum, using speciality yeasts. I'm making a Coopers Aussie lager out of a kit, the only thing that's different is the S-23.

So I thought I'd ask here!

So - any ideas - do I need to do a diacetyl rest? If so, when? Took a gravity reading last night and it was down to 1018 from 1040 after ten days. Am I too late for it?
If it makes a difference, my 'lagering' will be in bottles at the same temperature. No space for a dedicated lager fridge!

I had a sample of a mate's geordie bitter that had been diacetylised (is that even a word? ) and am very keen to avoid it on this brew!

If it seems like I should do it, how should I do so? Just bring it in the house for a couple of days and then pop it back out to the garage?

Any tips appreciated. Cheers guys

[guidomax]

Thanks for the insight Chris,

Do I take it that now is a good time to do the 'rest'? (I expect fermentation at the current rate to take another few days and gravity to come down a couple of points).

If so I'll get it moved inside ASAP, and just let the fermentation finish in the warm. As you mention I'll leave it in the FV in the warm for a few days after FG is attained to continue cleaning up.

My plan after that is to bottle straight from the warm, leave in warm for a further few days to carbonate as usual, then straight into the relative cool of the garage to condition.

Sounds good?

Cheers again

[guidomax]

Great, thanks.

I've had no diacetyl taste in this brew as of yet (my gravity-testing samples haven't tasted half bad!) but want to minimize the chances of the tastes coming through later. Best be safe than sorry!

Thanks again for the tips, appreciated.