Lager half fermented - temp drop

[THE_Liam]

Hi,

I've got a Coopers Lager kit in FV just now, it's down to about 1.015 after 5 days at a steady 18 degrees. Problem is, temperature in my (un central heated) house has dropped and I can't keep it above 16 degrees. Should it ferment completely or should I try warming it up? I've heard final gravity on threse kits can be as high as 1.010 so I'm guessing it hasn't got far to go, and I was planning on keeping it in 10-14 days to reduce sediment and clear it a bit, will it be ok? I'm trying to keep it as cool as I can to avoid off flavours but I'm using the kit yeast rather than a dedicated lager yeast.

Cheers :)

 

[fbsf]

16 is maybe a little low, but the Cooper yeast is pretty resilient - you should be ok, but it could take up to 10 days to fully ferment out.

I'd leave it another two or three days - you might well find it's dropped another point or two, in which case, leave it for a bit longer and test it again.

If it has stalled, it might need to be heated a bit - but not past about 21, as you'll start to get unwanted flavours in there. Do you have access to a brew belt or mat or similar? Once it's up to temp, wrapping it in a blanket will do the job as the conversion process creates heat, so it will keep itself warm enough.

 

[THE_Liam]

I've had it wrapped in a blanket for a few days, that seemed to have worked but it had dropped to 16 this morning. Suns been out today though so that might have warmed it up a bit. My last brew went funny because of temps so I'm really trying to keep them down, I was planning on leaving it in FV for 10-14 days anyway to be honest. I think I'll just keep checking it each day and if it stalls I'll warm it a bit. Thanks :)

 

[kev]

final gravity on threse kits can be as high as 1.010

As high as 1010?

1010 is well attenuated if you ask me.

K

 

[THE_Liam]

It's still fermenting well, down to 1.009 after 7 days, from an OG of 1.041 that should make for a decent strength lager :)