How to do Kit Lager properly?

[shearclass]

Hi

Can anyone tell me the proper way to do a kit lager (using an appropriate lager yeast), if such a thing exists.

Coopers Euro lager instructions, that come with some sort of lager yeast, say to keep in fermentation vessel for a week until hydrometer readings are steady, then bottle and keep in bottle for 3 months before drinking.

I've also heard that the brew should be in FV for about a fortnight, then transferred to another FV and stored in the cold for a month, then bottle.

if i do option 2, what does cold mean? I have an immersion heater, but no way of making things cold except leaving them in the garage. would this suffice? What happens during this month in the cold, as I assume the majority of the fermentation has happened by that point? Finally, would there still be enough yeast left in the brew by this point to carbonate the bottles, and how long would the brew need storing in the bottles?

If anyone has a good idea about lager, perhaps if they would be so kind as to post a thourough response it could be used as a How To guide? If not, i'll accept brief answers!

Cheers

 

[Mike1981]

HI, i find its best to use a different yeast than what comes with the kits, maybe W34/70, thats a good one. Put plenty in, ive put 2 sachets in some. Ferment cool, 10-12 c...ish untill your readings are the same on your hydrometer for a few days running. usally takes 7-10 days. then u can put it in bottles or whatever. its best to store lager cool, 2 degrees c..ish for a month or so.

 

[nickmcmechan]

i would love to brew a proper lager / pilsner but i just dont have anywhere that maintains the 12C

i think longer term i may be able to make space in my shed and link up a thermo to maintain the fridge temp at 12C, until then i'll use the lager kits that use the ale type yeasts

my understanding is its about 2 weeks in the FV at 12C and then at least 12 weeks conditioning at 2C to get the best out of it

 

[shearclass]

Sorry I should have explained more thoroughly, I intend to ditch the kit yeast (I normally do that with Ales now anyway) and get soem yeast appropriate for the job.

I can ferment in the garage which i guess will currently be round about 10C, but have no way of getting the temp to 2C, especially as we are now well into spring.

Any idea what will happen to the flavour if i condition the lager at garage temp rather than at 2C?

This is an obvious question, but if the fermentation happens if the first fortnight, what actually happens for the next month while it conditions, before it gets bottled, or in the case wehre it gets bottled immediately, why does it need 3 months to condition? I'm nto disagreeing that it needs that long, just interested to know what happens during that time.