Brewing a lager using a kit, lager yeast and a brew fridge

[IHN]

I fancy doing a lager for the summer, and I'm lucky enough to have a brew fridge so can control fermentation and conditioning temperatures.

My plan, cobbled together from advice I've found in various places on the web, is to:

- get a lager kit (Coopers, or something else)
- get some specific lager yeast (any recommendations?)
- prepare it all as normal, but pitch at 16degC
- once the fermentation is underway, drop the temp to whatever the yeast needs for a couple of weeks
- when the fermentation is done, increase the temp back to 17degC and leave for two or three days
- bottle
- lower conditioning temp down to about 2degC over a few days
- leave to lager for hopefully six weeks or more.

Does this seem like a good plan? Any recommendations for kits, yeasts and sugars/malts?

[Haydnexport]

kit wise , I suppose a coopers euro lager will be a decent starting point , otherwise just get some lme as you won't be using kit yeast. Yeast wise fermentis w34/70 is my go to yeast , very clean tasting and reliable if your patient. the rest of your plan seems sound. I ferment at 12c.

[IPA]

There seems to be a few steps missing in your schedule.?

Gravity readings
Racking
Fining
Priming

Are some that spring to mind and lagering is usually done before bottling

[IHN]

Cheers for the replies

Haydn - LME's a good point, didn't think of that.
IPA - you're right, I did miss some out, ta.

So, I think I'm now at:

- get a lager kit (probably Coopers) or LME
- get some fermentis w34/70
- prepare it all as normal, but pitch at 15degC
- OG reading
- once the fermentation is underway, drop the temp to 12degC
- Gravity readings
- when the fermentation is done (i.e. readings holding steady), increase the temp back to 15degC
- leave for two or three days
- hopefully I won't need to fine
- rack/batch prime
- bottle
- lower conditioning temp gradually down to about 2degC over a few days
- leave to lager for hopefully six weeks or more.

Sound reasonable?

[Top Cat]

Sound procedure. I’ve just sampled a grain recipe I brewed about 6 weeks ago, using almost an identical method.
The only thing I would add is double the quantity of fermentis yeast, ie 2, 11gram packs per 23 ltrs. Always beneficial when fermenting at low lager temperatures.

[aamcle]

Get 2 packets of yeast 34/70 is Ok use both.

Aamcle

[Suffolkbrewer]

great advice and schedule in the post, will almost certainly follow to avoid my poor results so far.

Any reason for doubling the yeast?

Thanks
AB

[WalesAles]

great advice and schedule in the post, will almost certainly follow to avoid my poor results so far.
AB

Suffolk,
Lager Kits are a pain, they come out smelling and tasting like clear beer.
All your effort of reducing temps and raising temps to properly `Lager` the beer just seem like
more work for you. It works for the `Posh People` doing All Grain.
Shove in a Kilo of Strawberries (blended) for a nice red summery pint
What were your poor results>

WA

Sent without taptotork.

[Suffolkbrewer]

Thanks WA

Liking the summer pint idea, though i do need to crack the basics before getting adventurous. Issue in a thread above, getting a caramel taste to the beer.

From reading here, it looks like the fermentation temp suggested 18-24 might be where i am going wrong. Looking at the following

Looking at two weeks to ferment (is 14 too high or should I go for 12)?

Crash cool to 4 degrees for one week then transfer to the corny keg.

Set pressure to 8psi for a further two weeks to force carbonate at 5 degrees with CO2

Going to use bottled water as well

All sound good or am i missing anything? Happy to go with 2 x w34/70 if it makes the difference

Thanks
AB

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

- rack/batch prime
- bottle
- lower conditioning temp gradually down to about 2degC over a few days
- leave to lager for hopefully six weeks or more.

Bit of a necro thread here, but in case anyone follows this procedure the steps above are in the wrong order.

Should be:
- fermentation finished
- drop temps and lager in the fermenter
- rack/prime/package
- allow to bottle condition at reasonable temperatures (20C is fine)

[WalesAles]

What is a necro thread?
I may be old and past it, but that`s new to me.

WA

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Sorry meant necro post.

Ie replying to a much older post.