Is the time right for lager?

[W0nderW0man]

Would this be the right time to attempt a lager and have it ferment outside (garage or a sheltered cupboard)? I would really like to try and make a "proper" lager and taste the difference, but I am worried about fluctuations in temperatures (day/night/sun).

Has anyone got experience with fermenting lager without having the facilities (brew fridge)? Do you wrap the FV at night to reduce fluctuations?

 

[CreweBrewer]

Yup. It was, and still is a perfect 10deg in our under stairs cupboard.

 

[Leon103]

I would be worried about changes in temperature, wind chill etc.

 

[W0nderW0man]

Yup. It was, and still is a perfect 10deg in our under stairs cupboard.

How much are the fluctuations?

I've got a garage (not insulated and cold - it stays cold in there in the day but the sun may warm it up if it's strong enough so not sure if there would be too much fluctuation) and an outdoor kitchen with (relatively thin) wooden cupboards.

 

[CreweBrewer]

Pretty much a constant 10deg. Just in case, I use WLP810 San Francisco Lager which still lagers up to 15deg.

Dave

 

[mike-os]

Shed or garage should be fine... mine is 8 to 11 at the moment, perfect

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Would this be the right time to attempt a lager

There was a time not so long ago people here would have said you deserve to be thrashed within an inch of your life for asking that. :lol:

 

[W0nderW0man]

There was a time not so long ago people here would have said you deserve to be thrashed within an inch of your life for asking that. :lol:

Err... why?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

It was a joke, not a very good one I agree.

 

[Slid]

Would this be the right time to attempt a lager and have it ferment outside (garage or a sheltered cupboard)? I would really like to try and make a "proper" lager and taste the difference, but I am worried about fluctuations in temperatures (day/night/sun).

Has anyone got experience with fermenting lager without having the facilities (brew fridge)? Do you wrap the FV at night to reduce fluctuations?

Yeast does not like temp fluctuations, so your suggestion that the FV be protected by insulation makes sense to me. External garages and sheds will not get the insulatory protection that indoor cellars would.

I also suspect that most lager yeasts would be more susceptible to temperature variations than ale yeasts. (Please can someone clarify on this?)

There is a style called Kolsch that might be worth researching. It certainly has is its fans! It is fermented at 18C or so and then conditioned at more like 12C. The point is that once the fermentation is over, the beer is going to be much less upset by temps variations,