National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => All Grain Brewing => Topic started by: Covey on September 12, 2013, 11:52:12 PM

Title: Lagering Advice
Post by: Covey on September 12, 2013, 11:52:12 PM
Hi guys,
I intend doing a Octoberfest style beer this week end for the end of Oct. I have never lagered before and was looking for some advice on how to go about it. I know my keggerator holds at about 6C. I plan on pitching at room temp then when it starts move it into the fridge for two wks and then remove it to room temp for diactyl rest for 4-5 days then rack it to the  keg for 3-4 weeks. Any advice is welcome,
Thanks
Covey
Title: Lagering Advice
Post by: Ciderhead on September 13, 2013, 12:21:05 AM
Have and mix your starter at same temp as you intend to ferment.
After fermentation  Bump up to 16 for a couple of days and then min 1 Month at 2-3 Degrees
I stagger mine down 1/2 degree a day until 2, then I leave it 4 weeks after I get to 2

Edit to correct when to carry out temp bump
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Covey on September 13, 2013, 03:52:52 PM
The best my fridge will do is 5-6C so will this do
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 13, 2013, 04:01:24 PM
Is your ferment at 11 or 12 at the start CH?

@Covey - have you a temp controller on your fridge?
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Covey on September 13, 2013, 05:31:06 PM
No Temp control but it seems to be a steady 5-6C.
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Ciderhead on September 13, 2013, 05:35:58 PM

Quote from: Hop Bomb on September 13, 2013, 04:01:24 PM
Is your ferment at 11 or 12 at the start CH?

@Covey - have you a temp controller on your fridge?

Absolutely right


Sent from my Fukushima Daiichi Geiger counter
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Will_D on September 13, 2013, 11:55:54 PM
If you bypass the fridges thermostat and use an STC / ATC controller they will go down to below 0!

Plenty of posts about how to do it.
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Covey on September 15, 2013, 08:39:04 AM
What mash temp  should I aim for
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Ciderhead on September 15, 2013, 12:26:04 PM

http://beersmith.com/blog/2009/11/01/brewing-marzen-and-oktoberfest-beer-recipes/



Sent from my Fukushima Daiichi Geiger counter
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Covey on September 19, 2013, 06:52:34 PM
Balls!. The brewfrem lager yeast is 10C to 15C not like 5C where it is at the moment in my fridge. Hope it will revive when it comes back up to temp :-[
Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Ciderhead on September 20, 2013, 01:20:15 AM
Control it with an stc?


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Title: Re: Lagering Advice
Post by: Hop Bomb on September 20, 2013, 08:37:03 AM
You lager in cornies yeah? Do you just dispense from the keg until it pours crystal clear when lagering is done?
Is it okay then to move this keg around like a normal keg in transit once the trub is gone from the keg?

Ive no room for another fridge at home you see & dont want to tie up my ferm fridge with lagering. Might just get a small one
for work & do it there. But have to transport the kegs home them in the car once lagering is done.