Lager - how long after bottling?

[simonp]

I have recently bottled my Pilsner style lager, and was wondering how long it should now be kept before it is ready for drinking?

It was fermented at 12C for 2 weeks
Diacetyl rest ate about 20C for 72 hours
Transfered to secondary fermenter and lowered to 7C over 4 days, and left for about 2 1/2 weeks.
Transfered to bottling vessel and added corn sugar disolved in boiling water for carbonation. Then bottled.
The bottles are are now at 20-22C for carbonation.

I know that carbonation will take 1-2 weeks to fully achieve due to the relativley small ammount of yeast left is suspension, but how long will it be after this that is is suitable for drinking.
Also should I store it cold to help clearing, or will it be OK at room or garage temperature?

 

[Parva]

Unfortunately you don't say what the ABV is. It's generally accepted that we allow one week for every 10 points of gravity or every 1%ABV so for a 5% brew then ideally at least 5 weeks. That's not to say it won't be good before then though and it may also continue to get better and better beyond that, it's just a case of how long you can hold out. :) Judging by your bottling regime I would imagine that your lager will be pretty polished regardless of whether it's given a lengthy cooling period or not. I'd be inclined to slap a few in the fridge for when you want to have a drink and just store the rest in a cool, dark place and replace the fridged bottles as and when you drink them.

 

[simonp]

Knew I'd miss something
ABV is as near as dammit 5%. So would the 5 weeks be from the time of bottling or the end of primary?

 

[Parva]

Ideally from the end of secondary fermentation (which occurs when you bottle / keg it with priming sugar or somesuch). Sorry, I'm being pedantic and know what you meant. :) As I said though, 5 weeks may be the generally accepted length of maturation for a 5% beer but it doesn't mean it won't be good prior to that. I kegged a 6.5% beer that was so good that it was all gone 2 weeks after kegging. I only wish I could have resisted longer as it would probably be sublime now but it was a damned good brew regardless of it technically being a 'green' beer.

 

[simonp]

Ok, 5 weeks from botling then. I'm tempted to leave it at least this before trying any as there was definitely a touch of fruityness when I sampled bit bit whilst bottling, though at this point I had added in the priming sugar, so perhaps was not a good taste test.

In reality though, I'm sure that curiosity will get the best of me and I'll end up trying one as sson as it is properly carbonated in a week or so. At least my worry about carbonation has been unfounded as I did not add extra yeast at bottling, so hoped there was enough still in suspension to do the job. I have 1 PET bottle filled up so I can feel it and check carbonation and it is defintely getting there, I reckon it'll take 1-2 weeks to fully carbonate though.

My wheat beer is (unsurpsrisingly) very well carbonated already by the feel of the test PET bottle. It is also starting to clear :nono: grrrr