Pages: 1
First time lager experiment
Hey guys,
I'm thinking about experimenting with a lager. I recently won a bunch of hamburger patties in a contest and they were delivered in large styrofoam containers with freezer packs. If you want a hamburger come to my place, I got more than I need. Now being a home brewer my mind started working and figured out I could use the styrofoam to create a sort of fermentation chamber. It seems I can keep the temperature inside at about a steady 55 degrees with the freezer packs, maybe a touch lower. Will that work for a lager? I've read some recipes where the primary fermentation is around that temperature for the first week but then brought down much lower. Thanks in advance!
Sounds like a good idea to me. Labor intensive, but a good use for the insulated box.
You'd get better temp control if you could surround the fermentor with water too. And put ice packs in the water.
I'd recommend lining the box with a big plastic bag. Just to contain any potential leaks.
I used to do ales that way in the summer in a hot garage.
couplebeers wrote:
Hey guys,
. It seems I can keep the temperature inside at about a steady 55 degrees with the freezer packs, maybe a touch lower. Will that work for a lager?
Check the allowable temp range for your lager yeast, 55 is a tich still on the warm side, keep in mind just like ale yeasts you will have some warming from the fermentation itself, so 55 ambient may turn into 57-58 in the fermenter. Not that it wouldnt produce good flavor, but I would highly recommend a D-rest before you transfer to lager temps. Also if you can pitch at a lower temp, say 45 degrees, and let it slowly ramp up naturally, your yeast will love that.
Ii depends on the style profile obviously what yeast you choose, but I have used WLP833 many times and really enjoy it in bocks. I usually ferment at 46 degrees ambient. If you have a cement cellar floor, you may be able to incorporate that with your insulaor box. My cement floor holds a temp almost 10 degrees cooler than the ambient air 2 feet above it. I place my glass right on the cement itself.
Great idea though and good luck!
Great info thanks! I'll keep you updated.
Pages: 1
Search Home Brewing Knowledge Base
Custom Search
|