Looking for a good tasting lager but use ale yeast

[nnylf18]

Hi all,

Apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place but I am new to this forum and also to the whole home brewing game. I have only started this week and I currently have my first brew, Coopers Lager, ticking over which I done yesterday (I think it’s doing ok, there has been no bubbles in the airlock yet but there is a large head of foam on the top, so I guess this is a good sign, yes? It is sitting in a linen closet at max:23.8 oC, min:21.5 oC).

I am already thinking of my next brew and which one to do. I am a lager drinker at heart but open to trying different beers. I realise that Coopers Lager isn't a true lager as it uses ale yeast but as I don't think I will ever be able to get the low fermenting temperature for a lager yeast, ale yeast is the best option for me at the minute - mainly due to the limited space I have in my house for my equipment (and I definitely can't add any extra equip.) and I have no outside shed/garage so the only place I have is the linen closet. As this is my current situation and I am open to trying other beers I was hoping to get some advice on any other lager extracts out there that use ale yeast or used in a recipe? Also if there is an ale I could do next that would have a light, lager style taste/body to it (if this exists!) and then eventually I would like to move on to a more full bodied ale.

Sorry for the long post and multiple questions but any advice on a few extracts that would suit or even an extract mix / recipe that uses an ale yeast that would give me my desired result would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Nnylf18

[Eadweard]

Pilsners have been made commercially with Nottingham yeast but you really should try and get a lower temperature for fermentation.

[nnylf18]

Thanks for the reply, I would love to be able to get lower temp's but unfortunately at the minute I don't think I can, the only option I would have would be the towel and evaporation trick but from what I read in this forum that will only lower the temp by 4-5 degrees ...I'm up for trying some ales but as i haven't tried many I am unsure what would be that bit lighter and best to get me started

[EoinMag]

Pilsners have been made commercially with Nottingham yeast but you really should try and get a lower temperature for fermentation.

Are you sure about this?
it can't be called a Pilsener unless it's been fermented with a bottom fermenting yeast, otherwise it's just an ale......

[Rookie]

You need to use as clean an ale yeast as possible, Wyeast 1056 is good or the WLP or dry versions. Do you have room in your fridge for this batch once it's bottled? Most people think of lagering being done in bulk, but it can be done in the bottle. Using a clean ale yeast, low as possible fermentation temperature and several weeks in bottles at low temperature will get something lager like.
Steam beer yeast is a possible choice too.

[nnylf18]

Not sure the misses would approve of the fridge being packed with 30 500ml bottles. I have been reading up on San Francisco Steam Beer kit from brupack, but still not sure I’ll get the required temp for this, well maybe during the winter months. I am still scratching my head trying to think of a place I could ferment and put the bottles to lager but to no avail! I think I may have to give up on my lager style beer and move on to an ale which i suppose isn’t a bad thing as I've always like the idea of ale but never tried many, in fact Smithwicks is the only ale I’ve ever tried!! Thanks for all your advice, most appreciated!