Pseudo lager yeast

Paulus · Oct 27, 2024

Hi all,
I've had a few problems with stuck fermentations using kits and I believe it is because of my keeping the yeast attached to the kit in the house until I ferment it.
I live in a hot climate (40C) in summer so the fault is mine. I have 2 kits left, a Cooper's Mexican and a Muntons Bock.
These ferment at about 20C so I would like to use a reliable yeast for what is essentially a pseudo lager.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,

Clint · Oct 27, 2024

Thd stuck fermentation has also been down to not pitching enough yeast.
Nottingham at the low end of its range should be OK but at 20 I don't know ...
Wonder if any of the kviek style yeasts would suit?

Rodcx500z · Oct 27, 2024

At them kind of temps i would go with Kviek voss, but you might end up with a tangerine dream, Horningdal is another you could try

fury_tea · Oct 28, 2024

Agree on Kveik yeast.

Had some good results with Ubbe and Voss fermenting in the 30s bonus is they are done in days.

Caramel Ox · Oct 28, 2024

The way I read the OP - 40c is the storage temperature of the yeast and temperature control is available for the brew. Could use M54 or even US05.

The bock will likely need more than 1 packet check a pitch rate calculator.

Paulus · Oct 28, 2024

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.
My question is really, what yeast would you recommend for these pseudo lager kits, to replace the original yeast packs (which I did not put in the fridge and have been left at high temps in storage).
In future I will be putting the yeast in the fridge when I get it.
Does Nottingham produce a good taste in a lager? My fermentation temperature control is good so no problem with that.
Thanks.

MashBag · Oct 28, 2024

Paulus said:
Hi all,
I've had a few problems with stuck fermentations using kits and I believe it is because of my keeping the yeast attached to the kit in the house until I ferment it.
I live in a hot climate (40C) in summer so the fault is mine. I have 2 kits left, a Cooper's Mexican and a Muntons Bock.
These ferment at about 20C so I would like to use a reliable yeast for what is essentially a pseudo lager.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,

Is this LalBrew novalager terratory?

clib · Oct 28, 2024

If you've got fermentation control why not use a proper lager yeast like W34/70, Lalbrew Diamond, or M76?

For lagers fermented warmer M54 Californian Lager is good, and Lalbrew Novalager is getting good reviews. MJ sell repacked Novalager as M24 Versa, a bit cheaper.

Appleton Brews · Oct 28, 2024

The best pseudo lager yeast I’ve used is M54 from Mangrove Jack. I use it for Mexican lager and Japanese lagers.

marshbrewer · Oct 28, 2024

CML Kolsch yeast. Cheap. I've had great results.

Paulus · Oct 28, 2024

clib said:
If you've got fermentation control why not use a proper lager yeast like W34/70, Lalbrew Diamond, or M76?

For lagers fermented warmer M54 Californian Lager is good, and Lalbrew Novalager is getting good reviews. MJ sell repacked Novalager as M24 Versa, a bit cheaper.

I used a SafLager 34/70 with a Simply lager kit. I have done the Simply before using the pack yeast and it got stuck. I did taste what I had and it was a much fuller flavour than I got with the SafLager. I think the kits are designed to get more taste out using ale yeasts (hence the 20-22C fermentation range).
This is just my opinion from 1 experience.

Paulus · Oct 28, 2024

Appleton Brews said:
The best pseudo lager yeast I’ve used is M54 from Mangrove Jack. I use it for Mexican lager and Japanese lagers.

Were these kits or all grain?

MashBag · Oct 28, 2024

Paulus said:
Were these kits or all grain?

That's interesting.. Does it matter?

Appleton Brews · Oct 28, 2024

Paulus said:
Were these kits or all grain?

All grain. Never use kit yeast unless it’s branded, if not throw it away and buy a yeast specific to the beer.

Paulus · Oct 28, 2024

MashBag said:
That's interesting.. Does it matter?

I just think that the kits rely more on an Ale fermentation, lower attenuation and maybe more pronounced hop flavours. A pseudo lager using a less well built up malt and hop brew relying more on unfermented sugars?
An all grain would be designed to be a lager from the start with the right malts and hops?
Just my take on it. As I wrote earlier a Simply lager I did recently with 1kg DME and a light hop tea (15g saaz) with a diamond yeast comes out with a lot less taste than an earlier I did using just the kit, beer enhancer and kit yeast (although it did stall).

clib · Oct 28, 2024

Ale yeasts create a fuller flavour than lager yeasts, generally speaking. If you prefer that, use an ale yeast. I rarely drink lagers myself. A lager fermented with an ale yeast at room temperature is not technically a lager.

MashBag · Oct 28, 2024

clib said:
... I rarely drink lagers myself.A lager fermented with an ale yeast at room temperature is not technically a lager.

But is quite nice!

clib · Oct 28, 2024

MashBag said:
But is quite nice!

Absolutely! You're really in blonde/summer ale territory I guess, and I'd take that ahead of lager every time, personally. I once bought a Wilko Cerveza kit and dry hopped with Citra and it was great.

Pseudo lager yeast

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