Lagering n all that Jazz!!

Oats · Post by **Oats** » Wednesday Oct 06, 2004 2:26 pm

Hi Guys,

Need some assistance here! I have read a few recipes where they lager for 2-6 weeks during secondary fermentation. (Pilsner styles)
My Pilsner is down to 1.012 (1 week @ 14-16C) and NOT sure what to do next!! SG was 1.046
MY beer fridge (I love saying that!) operates between 4-10C.
Do I:
1. Rack and lager in the beer fridge (loose bottles of beer will need to be transported inside into the house fridge...but thats a sacrifice i am prepared to make!
2. Rack and leave at 14-16C for another week and then bottle?

Im going on holidays in a couple of weeks so i dont mind how long it stays in the fridge...and when you bottle your beer & prime the bottles do they need to be at room temp (20-22C) to ensure carbonation ?

Cheers
(signed confused)
Adam

Isaac · Post by **Isaac** » Wednesday Oct 06, 2004 10:52 pm

It won't carbonate properly at very low temperatures so leave it at 14-16 for a couple of weeks until you get some bubbles, then put it in your beer fridge for a few weeks to lager it.

I'd also leave it in the primary for a few extra days - 1.012 sounds a bit high for a Pilsner - mine took two weeks to ferment properly.

thehipone · Post by **thehipone** » Thursday Oct 07, 2004 9:11 am

You might want to incorporate a diacetyl rest before racking. You just let it warm up to maybe 18-20 for a day or so. The yeast will eat up the diacetyl that is in the beer, giving you a cleaner taste at the end.

Oats · Post by **Oats** » Thursday Oct 07, 2004 10:14 am

Thanks GUys,

Most appreciated...I think I'll incorporate both suggestions here....as the weekend is looking to warm up I'll let the fermenter rise to about 20C over the weekend. Then drop back down for another week and the bottle.
Will leave at room temp 20-22C for a couple of weeks and then chuck em in the fridge for 4-6 weeks (if i can last that long)!

thanks again guys

Cheers
Adam