Recommendations for a really crisp lager to serve ice cold?

[crucible]

Hi all,

First off thanks to too many members to mention and of course Daab for all the invaluable advice which has guided me through my first few brews.

Thus far I've done a Coopers Bitter (so -so probably made a load of mistakes and didn't find the forum till I'd started it), a Brewmart Cerveza (excellent!, got my second in no2 fermenter as we speak), Coopers Real Ale, which I'm happilly supping now and it's excellent after 2 weeks from secondary, Lord know waht it would be like if I could keep my hand off it for longer!), a Muntons export pilsner (which stuck badly and was bottled a couple of days ago after having be restarted with lager yeast but still ended up with an FG of only 1010 and have the above mentioned Cerveza and a local Derbyshire XXX bitter in fermenter 1.

Anyways..point of posting other to say thanks for all the help the forum has given me as a newbie brewer is I'm looking for a really crisp lager, maybe canadian style, when I get home I spend about and hour to an hour and a half bucking and splitting wood for the winter, so this works up a thirst for that first "cold one" which disappears down the neck in one and I'd appreciate any kits (or kits plus a bit of this and a bit of that) to get that ultra crisp thirst quenching taste.

Cheers

Andy

[mysterio]

Coopers do a "Brewmaster Canadian Blonde" which sounds like it might be close to what you're looking for. Buying a sachet of Saflager S-23 and keeping the fermenter cool during fermentation would really help, too. I think the Brewmaster kits suggest 500g of light dry malt extract along with 250g glucose. The sugar is definately a good idea to lighten the body if you're looking for an easy drinking beer.

[fivetide]

Hi Crucible.

I'm trying a liquid yeast for the first time in an attempt to add some dry character to an ale brew as well as just having a play with something different. I'm just a first-timer wit no experience in using these to share, but I did note that Hop & Grape had some really interesting sounding liquid lager yeasts in stock for a fiver a pop. The more experienced guys on here might guide you on how to stretch these over more than one brew too. The Pilsner and straight German varieties might be a good match?

PILSNER LAGER YEAST -WLP800 (L)
Classic pilsner strain from the premier pilsner producer in the Czech Republic. Somewhat dry with a malty finish, this yeast is best suited for European pilsner production.

SAN FRANCISCO LAGER YEAST -WLP810 (L)
This yeast is used to produce the "California Common" style beer. A unique lager strain which has the ability to ferment up to 65 deg. while retaining lager characteristics. Can also be fermented down to 50deg. for production of marzens, pilsners & other lager styles.

GERMAN LAGER YEAST -WLP830 (L)
This yeast is one of the most widely used lager yeast in the world. Very malty & clean, great for all German lagers, pilsner, oktoberfest & marzen.

OKTOBERFEST/ MARZEN LAGER YEAST -WLP820 (L)
This yeast produces a very malty, bock like style. It does not finish as dry as WLP830. This yeast is much slower in the first generation than WLP830, so best to make a larger starter to be used the first generation or schedule a longer largering time.

SOUTH GERMAN LAGER YEAST -WLP838 (L)
This yeast is characterized by a malty finish & balanced aroma. It is a strong fermenter, produces slight sulphite, & low diacetyl.

AMERICAN LAGER YEAST -WLP840 (PO)
This yeast is used to produce American style lagers. Dry & clean with a very slight apple fruitiness. Sulphur & diacetyl production is minimal.

[mysterio]

My favourite that i've had good results with is :

WLP802 CZECH BUDEJOVICE Lager Yeast

H&G regularly have this one. I'm also experimenting with the German lager yeast but I can't report back yet. With the liquid yeasts you really have to make a starter for the best results, preferably a large one if you're fermenting cool.