Lager reccomendations

[confused]

Can anyone help with reccomendations for a decent Lager kit? I'm a dedictaed gravy drinker as my Stella swilling freinds call me, but alas I think it is time to pamper them so I'm looking at a good quality kit I can brew for summer parties.

One of the killers I'm finding is reading the intsructions, or reccomendations for many kits and they say "best bottled" or "must be bottled"

I DON'T DO BOTTLES!

There is reference to the Muntons being decent - but any others especially suitable for kegging?

Regards

[Frothy]

I don't know about kits particuarly but if you want to make a decent lager the major concern is
a) decent lager yeast i.e. saflager 11g
b) lager it - this means chilling the fermentation & a fridge is ideal. Primary ferment on it's highest setting i.e. 8-10oc till it's between 1.010 & 1.020 (pretty much fermented out.) The secondary fermentation (lagering) should be carried out by reducing the fridge as low as it will go and conditioning the beer from 0-4oc anywhere from 4-6 weeks. 6 weeks used to be the legal minimum for cold storing lager but commercial breweries have since started producing swill & reduced this to 2weeks.

Frothy

[oxford brewer]

I don't know about kits particuarly but if you want to make a decent lager the major concern is
a) decent lager yeast i.e. saflager 11g
b) lager it - this means chilling the fermentation & a fridge is ideal. Primary ferment on it's highest setting i.e. 8-10oc till it's between 1.010 & 1.020 (pretty much fermented out.) The secondary fermentation (lagering) should be carried out by reducing the fridge as low as it will go and conditioning the beer from 0-4oc anywhere from 4-6 weeks. 6 weeks used to be the legal minimum for cold storing lager but commercial breweries have since started producing swill & reduced this to 2weeks.

Frothy

Some lagers get more conditioning time than others....all depends how long they are left on the supermarkets shelfs for

[maxashton]

hi Confused.
I just did a Telford's Continental Pilsener kit, and it's bloody lovely.

I know you said you don't do bottles, but try picking up a couple of grolsch swing-top bottles and emptying them through whatever means, and bottling them when your brew is done..

The reason they say "best bottled" etc, is becuase the ordinary pressure kegs that you get for homebrew aren't high enough pressure to properly carbonate the beer. I've got a whole keg of the stuff and it tastes a bit flat.

Whichever kit you decide to use, unless it's a 2 can kit, use light spraymalt (2-3 bags, about 2.80 - 3 quid each) instead of the sugar specified on the kit.

Good luck!

[oxford brewer]

I DON'T DO BOTTLES!

then don't do lagers, they wont taste right from the keg...seriously!

I can vouch for that as i have 30 pints of a lager recipe i did left in a keg(it will be drunk).It tastes ok but needs more carbonation.
As you cant get a high enough pressure in the keg its best to bottle some of them and then see the difference!

[tubby_shaw]

Buy a corny
Force carb the cr4p out of it, take it to 90psi and you'll have enough carbonic acid to dissolve pennies

[eskimobob]

I think they will even go above 90Psi but I'd be nervous trying it

[Russ]

I'm sure the Cornie would take over 90 PSI but would any JG fittings? Beer pressure washer?

[tubby_shaw]

Cornys are safe to 130 psi.
No the JG fittings wont take that pressure.
Serves me right for being sarcastic

[Russ]

BTW
Do you know up to what PSI are the JG fittings are good for?

[tubby_shaw]

BTW
Do you know up to what PSI are the JG fittings are good for?

I am wrong (again )
http://www.johnguest.com/linkpages/TechSpec1.html
They are good to over 140 psi
Wonder why I get leaks at 0ver 30 psi

[Russ]

WOW

Suprised they'll take that kind of pressure!

Re leaks....

I think the tubing suffers if its taken in and out of the fittings a few times, may be you need to re cut the ends of the tube? although I'm sure you've already tried this... other thaught........
Are you using 3/8 tube and fittings and not 10 mm tube in 3/8 fittings again sure you've thought about this.......

[EasyBrew]

FOr a good lager you can't beat the Brewer's Choice German Pilsner. I make this every year. It is perfectly OK to put in a barrel, but does benefit from a month or more maturing as it can be quite acidic and a little too bitter to start with.

[The Cardinal]

i recently starting drinking a muntons pilsner that i did. i bottled them and they're yummy. Definately a bit 'ale' like, and a little bit yeasty (only just ready) but after chilling it's certainly quite crisp and refreshing and I'd definatley do it again.

[confused]

I do use conrnies so quite happy to shove 100psi in and leave it in the shed for a month. It's a good thought though as I'm about to change to the low pressure gauge on my regulator - was trying to decide whether to go for 30 or 60 psi, maybe now I'll have to think a bit higher.

The refrigeration issue might be a problem, at the moment I don't have one suitable for a keg, unless I leave the milk on the doorstep which doesn't incite domestic harmony.

May have to have a trawl around the local second hand / house clearance places and see whats going cheap.