Low temperature fermentation? What yeast?

[mikeyt]

I'd like to get a couple of brews on the go, but at the moment my brew belts are being used on another couple - I'm doing a bit of stocking up in time for the European championships

Anyway, I'd like to do a Coopers Bavarian lager, and I already have a Morgan's Golden Saaz Pilsener kit - but I will be fermenting them in my unheated kitchen. The temperature in there at the moment has bottomed out at 15 celsius. Is there any yeast that can ferment this cold, and if so, which one, please? Or am I better just waiting until my brewbelts are free?

Also, I was thinking of a little bit of dry hopping with some saaz hops? Any ideas?

Thanks in advance

[monk]

I second Daab's suggestions. I've fermented with S-05 down to about 17c, and with Nottingham down to 14c. Both brews came out okay. Good luck.

[Madbrewer]

Daab - have you actually (or anyone) done that? i.e. A lager recipe at a higher temp with an ale yeast? (US05 or whatever) I keep meaning to experiment more but don't get around to it.

[Madbrewer]

Daab - have you actually (or anyone) done that? i.e. A lager recipe at a higher temp with an ale yeast? (US05 or whatever) I keep meaning to experiment more but don't get around to it.

[jonnyv]

I have - they haven't turned out that great to be honest - you won't get a clean lager taste due to the fruity nature of the yeast (the ones I used anyway, they were mostly kit yeasts).

If you can find the right yeast then you may have more luck.

I've fermented a lager kit at a lower temperatures using Saflager and it's come out so much better so it's worth the effort for lagers IMO.

[spearmint-wino]

If you insulate the FV (including underneath) then the temperature within the beer will be a few degrees warmer with the yeast activity so you'll be bang in the right temperature zone for a nice clean ferment. Then when the fermentation is over wait a couple of days then remove the insulation to help the yeast drop out of suspension a bit quicker

[fivetide]

The USA Steam Beer I did recently came with Brewferm Lager Yeast, and two sachets of that went like a train at 15 degrees.

Best ferment I've had in ages, but the least aromatic to my nose!

[mikeyt]

Many thanks!

I shall give it a go!

[fivetide]

Served ice cold and fizzy I defy anyone to tell the difference.

That bad eh?

[mikeyt]

OK, I did my two kits last night, at about 10pm. I used a sachet of SAFLAGER 23 in each 23 litre kit, and got the yeast rehydrated before pitching. I pitched at the required temperature, and have now got the fermenting buckets in the desired temperature.

However this morning, nothing much - as yet - appears to have happened. No krausen staring back at me, just a few bubbles on the surface. But I'm not sure if these are just left over froth from the damn good stirring it got last night. Is this normal?

I then went and read the instructions on the back of the SAFLAGER 23 packet that suggested using 2 sachets per 23 litre kit if fermenting at that temperature. Oops

Will it still work, only a little more slowly?

I'm hoping I'm just too impatient, and that by tonight, things will be moving along at more that a snails pace!

Thanks

[mikeyt]

OK, thanks.

I'll also keep my fingers crossed!