Fermentation temperature for lager. Am I too hot?

[rb982]

Morning All,

I am a fairly new brewer and have brewed about 4 Coopers Ale kits. All has been well!

I want to try a lager but from what I have read I need a fermentation temperature lower than I can achieve. I do not have a cooler, only a heater for my bin, and I maintain a consistent temperature of 23 degrees for my brews (hot house). I could aim for a lower temperature but it will be inconsistent due to lack of cooler and warm house. What would happen if i try and brew a Coopers lager kit at 23 degrees? Or should I let the temperature fluctuate naturally during day and night?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Ross.

 

[terrym]

In simple terms lager yeasts ferment at lower temperatures compared to ale yeasts, say about 13*C compared to about 20*C. To brew a 'proper' lager you therefore need a lager yeast and need to ferment at low temperature and use enough yeast to successfully ferment at the lower temperatures. There is also a 'lagering' period required where the beer conditions at low temperature say <5*C for some weeks.
So to brew a proper lager you really need a brew fridge, or at least brew it in winter. But to get round that problem most lager kits come with an ale yeast.
There are now three Coopers lager kits. The Aussie lager comes with an ale yeast . The Euro lager (and the 86day Pilsner kit) come with a lager yeast but there is probably not enough to successfully brew at low temperature although some on this forum have managed to do so. Not sure about the new Golden Crown kit
Finally there is another alternative which is to brew a lager kit using a specialist yeast like a Kolsch yeast at ale type temperatures which may give the finished product more of a clean taste compared to that given by a kit which comes with a standard ale yeast, but perhaps brew it at the lower end of its temperature range. There may be other yeasts which can achieve the same result.

 

[Sinktipper]

I've not made one, but the Hammer Of Thor kit is supposed to be a reasonably convincing ale yeast 'lager'. Costs twice as much as a Coopers kit though!

 

[rb982]

Great, thanks for the info! So it seems it's possible but tricky and not authentic. I think I may just wait and get hold of a second hand fridge and do it properly. The waiting for a brew is nervy enough without the added thought of 'will it work' or 'will it be any good' I think.


Thanks again for your advice!

 

[MyQul]

You could use california common yeast as this is a lager yeast that can be used at ale temps. I've used these types of yeast (although I fermented at about 15C) and they do come out nice, clean and lager like. Alternatively you could use a kviek as 23C is very cool for a kveik (normally you ferment them at 30C-40C) and consequently the beer will come out clean and lager like (never done this myself though).

As 'another' alternative, lager yeasts can be brewed at ale temps. Loads of people have done this and get great results. Never done it myself though, as I usually wait till winter to ferment pseudo lagers at about 15C

 

[dwhite60]

I used to use a cardboard box lined with bubble wrap as a fermentation chamber. Changing out ice packs twice a day I could hold 16C easily. More ice and/or more frequent changes I could get lower.

 

[Rover69]

I started a Hammer of Thor on Saturday,stuck on thermometer said 22 degrees,used a brewing thermometer and was 26 before adding yeast.Got down to 24 and added yeast,as it's ale yeast and most reviews say it's like an ale I'm ok with temperature.Put hops in on day 4 and nice eggy aroma coming off yeast.Bubbles slowing down now so on course for hydro reading on Saturday.Started at 1068 so looking at about 7.2 for a kit that says is 6%.Wife said alcohol aroma strong.