Having done a couple of lagers I was recommended the EDME lager as a bit of an unsung hero, with most people buying the Coopers range. At a £1 more expensive I gave it a go, and decided to try a true lager yeast and ferment at a cool temperature.
The S-23 yeast recommend 2 packets if you're cool fermenting, pushing the price up, but I didn't want to be in a position where the whole batch got wasted by only using one, so went for it.
Working on the assumption it would finish at 1010 or 1008 i added some more sugar, as I was going to keg it so wanted a bit stronger drink.
EDME lager1.8kg
1kg brew enhancer
200g brewing sugar
2x Saflager S-23 yeast
OG 1044
FG 1005
I put it in the cellar with a temp of 14 degs which went down to 11 degs at one point - left it 3 weeks and got a reading of 1010. Checked it over the next 3 days and it was actually still coming down. One calendar month later and it had finished at a very low 1005 giving an ABV of 5.2%.
I presume the large amount of yeast has eaten every last bit of any fermentables.
I had a logistics problem with the keg (still had beer in it!) so had to bottle it, which adding on another half a % gives a final ABV of 5.7% - alot stronger than I wanted.
After 2 weeks in the cold cellar it was perfectly clear and is an amazing drink, the best I've ever done.
It worked out at 52p a bottle.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27708437@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27708437@N ... hotostream
The S-23 yeast recommend 2 packets if you're cool fermenting, pushing the price up, but I didn't want to be in a position where the whole batch got wasted by only using one, so went for it.
Working on the assumption it would finish at 1010 or 1008 i added some more sugar, as I was going to keg it so wanted a bit stronger drink.
EDME lager1.8kg
1kg brew enhancer
200g brewing sugar
2x Saflager S-23 yeast
OG 1044
FG 1005
I put it in the cellar with a temp of 14 degs which went down to 11 degs at one point - left it 3 weeks and got a reading of 1010. Checked it over the next 3 days and it was actually still coming down. One calendar month later and it had finished at a very low 1005 giving an ABV of 5.2%.
I presume the large amount of yeast has eaten every last bit of any fermentables.
I had a logistics problem with the keg (still had beer in it!) so had to bottle it, which adding on another half a % gives a final ABV of 5.7% - alot stronger than I wanted.
After 2 weeks in the cold cellar it was perfectly clear and is an amazing drink, the best I've ever done.
It worked out at 52p a bottle.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27708437@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27708437@N ... hotostream
