Do you need a cold temp for lager

[az77]

Someone posted that the temp for making lager needs to low, like 2deg or so and also needs a month or two to complete everythnig, then i read elsewhere that lager just ferments at the same temps as beer i.e 18-22deg or so?

[BarnsleyBrewer]

I did a 10 gallon batch and fermented them in 2 x 5 gallon wine fermenters.................
One inthe lobby at 16 - 18 c the other controlled to 12c, I'd say the 12c one tastes better!
BB

[boingy]

For kit lager the yeast that they come with is usually intended to be fermented at around 20C. Some good instructions on Horden Hillbilly's site here:

http://uk-homebrew.tripod.com/id12.html

How's your brewing coming along, az?
In a few short days you've asked about brewing alcohol, cider and lager. Have you taken the plunge and started a batch of anything yet?

[mickhew]

Depends on the kit. Some come with ale yeasts, to make is easier to brew, examples Coopers Cerveza, Coopers Aussie Lager, so you brew at 18-23 degrees.
If they come with lager yeasts they will have to be brewed at lower temperatures, example Coopers European lager, I do these at around 13 degrees C. The instructions in the kits tell you what temp range to do.

[clogwog]

Someone posted that the temp for making lager needs to low, like 2deg or so and also needs a month or two to complete everythnig, then i read elsewhere that lager just ferments at the same temps as beer i.e 18-22deg or so?

Don't confuse fermentation with the lagering process.

I brewed a Munich Dunkel last Tuesday. It is in the fermenting fridge at 11ºC. I pitched a large starter made with WLP838 (Southern German Lager yeast) on Wednesday morning. 12 hours later it had a healthy kraeusen about 2 inches thick. I'll leave it be for between 2 to 3 weeks.

I will then rack it to my lagering container, and lager it for about 6 weeks at 2ºC before bottling it.

Proper lager yeasts do need to ferment in the range of 8 to 13ºC, depending on the strain used. If you go too high you get undesirable esters and flavours which don't belong in a lager.

If you do not have temperature control for your fermentation, you could always try a faux lager using US-05 fermented, if possible, at 16 to 18ºC.

[EoinMag]

The ones that come with ale yeasts, are called lagers, but are actual pale ales.
A lager is made with bottom fermenting lager yeast at about 12c for 3-4 weeks then you lager it ideally at 2c or so for 3-4 weeks, the nearer to 2c the quicker the lagering process. It causes the lager to drop crystal clear by removing the protein hazes and putting the yeast to sleep. You normally would need to reseed a lager with yeast post lagering for carbonation.

[EliteEvil]

Does lagering have to be right after fermentation/carbonation or can you do it after storing it a few months?

[Brotherton Lad]

Does lagering have to be right after fermentation/carbonation or can you do it after storing it a few months?

Lager is the German word for storing, cf laying down in English.

[EoinMag]

Does lagering have to be right after fermentation/carbonation or can you do it after storing it a few months?

Lager is the German word for storing, cf laying down in English.

With the actual term as applied to brewing meaning cold storage (kalt gelagert), which used to be done in caves over winter.

[Brotherton Lad]

Na ja, das Bier wird ueber Winter in den Hoehlen kalt gelagert.

[EoinMag]

Na ja, das Bier wird ueber Winter in den Hoehlen kalt gelagert.

Deutsch kannst du auch, warst du eine weile als soldat dort?

[Brotherton Lad]

Drei Jahre in Berlin und als Verbindungsoffizier in der DDR bei der britischen Militaermission, ein Jahr im Ruehrgebiet und anderthalb Jahre in Osnabrueck. Bin jetzt gluecklicherweise ausser Dienst. Du auch?

[boingy]

There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's Google Translate: http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#auto|en|

[BarnsleyBrewer]

There are some things money can't buy, for everything else there's Google Translate: http://translate.google.com/?hl=en#auto|en|

Sehr Gut

[EoinMag]

Drei Jahre in Berlin und als Verbindungsoffizier in der DDR bei der britischen Militaermission, ein Jahr im Ruehrgebiet und anderthalb Jahre in Osnabrueck. Bin jetzt gluecklicherweise ausser Dienst. Du auch?

noe, ich bin Ire.

Ich war ungefaehr zehn Jahren dort, bin aber auch schon wieder uber zehn Jahren zuhause.