Lagering a kit beer

[paultr]

My second attempt at making lager from a kit (Coopers European) is coming towards the end of its primary fermentation.

I have read that Coopers supply a genuine lager yeast so I have fermented this slowly at around 16 degrees.

I know this is only a kit beer but considering temperatures are low at the moment would it benefit from a period of lagering prior to bottling ?

If so, could someone help me with the following questions please -

How long should I lager it for ?
I have read that a small amount of sugar be added - is this right ?
I want to free up the bucket for brew no. 3 :) so would it be ok to split the 23L into 5 demijohns for the lagering process or would it be better to keep it all in one batch ?

Many thanks for any thoughts

 

[phettebs]

In my opinion, all lagers can benefit from lagering. I'd keep it all together if you can. If you split it up into 5 DJs, it's just that much more risk of oxidation. I'd try to get it and keep it as close to 0C as you can for as long as you can. I try to go for a min of 4 weeks on my lagers.

Not sure about the sugar part. I never add sugar for lagering.

Baz

 

[paultr]

.....

Not sure about the sugar part. I never add sugar for lagering.

Baz

So I presume there is enough live yeast after the lagering process for the fermentation to restart when I add the priming sugar ?

 

[phettebs]

Well, I usually keg have bottled after an extended lagering period. I've both gone with it as is and reyeasted. When I just used whatever yeast was in suspension, it still carbonated. But it took longer. I now err on the side of caution and reyeast.

 

[ScottM]

The guide I wrote involved adding a little sugar. My reasoning behind this was due to racking to a secondary for lagering. If you don't add any sugar, transfer to a secondary and just let it lager then there won't be a CO2 head to protect the lager... it'll be air. If you add a very small amount of sugar, 50g or something like that, the yeast will create CO2 thus protecting the top of the lager.

If you read it somewhere else then perhaps there is another reason for doing it, I just made it up, logically, for my guide lol.

 

[rpt]

I've transferred mine to secondary before the fermentation has finished, so hopefully there will be enough CO2 to protect it. The instructions (it's a BrewUK extract kit) say to lager at 2C for 2 weeks. My fridge probably won't go below 5C so should I just extend the lagering period?

 

[ScottM]

I've transferred mine to secondary before the fermentation has finished, so hopefully there will be enough CO2 to protect it. The instructions (it's a BrewUK extract kit) say to lager at 2C for 2 weeks. My fridge probably won't go below 5C so should I just extend the lagering period?

Yup, I would also extend it by quite a bit. even at 2C I reckon you would want a month or 2. I'm aiming for 3 months with my kit, and I'm in a similar situation with my fridge :)

 

[Andyhull]

What does lagering add/do to the brew?

 

[rpt]

What does lagering add/do to the brew?

Makes it lager! It helps give the lager its clean taste.

 

[ScottM]

What does lagering add/do to the brew?

The word lager means to store. It's basically an extended maturing time at a very cold temperature (keeps out nasties and allows impurities to fall out the brew).

 

[Andyhull]

Hmmmm
Is it worth it? :lol:

 

[ScottM]

Hmmmm
Is it worth it? :lol:

I would assume so as that's how all proper lagers are made. I don't think they would store them for months on end if the end product wasn't suitably improved.

I won't have any side by side comparison unfortunately, but I'm hopeful of a nice outcome :)

 

[Kinleycat]

Ive got three of these kits which i was planning to put on later this week.
Is the lagering instead of secondary or just an elongated conditioning?
Im planning on putting two of them into Cornies and one into bottles if that makes a difference.
KC :thumb:

 

[ScottM]

Ive got three of these kits which i was planning to put on later this week.
Is the lagering instead of secondary or just an elongated conditioning?
Im planning on putting two of them into Cornies and one into bottles if that makes a difference.
KC :thumb:

I did it after secondary, to give myself the cleanest lager I possibly could. I added 50g of sugar just before starting the cooling (just so that the yeast would convert to CO2 to protect my beer).

I believe towards the end of the fermentation process is fine too. I would just do what suits, I don't think there is any massive gotchas in the process :)

 

[Kinleycat]

Ive got three of these kits which i was planning to put on later this week.
Is the lagering instead of secondary or just an elongated conditioning?
Im planning on putting two of them into Cornies and one into bottles if that makes a difference.
KC :thumb:

I did it after secondary, to give myself the cleanest lager I possibly could. I added 50g of sugar just before starting the cooling (just so that the yeast would convert to CO2 to protect my beer).

I believe towards the end of the fermentation process is fine too. I would just do what suits, I don't think there is any massive gotchas in the process :)

So basically i can just keg it carb it up and leave it for as long as poss as far as the cornies are conserned? i may just cornie the lot.

 

[ScottM]

Ive got three of these kits which i was planning to put on later this week.
Is the lagering instead of secondary or just an elongated conditioning?
Im planning on putting two of them into Cornies and one into bottles if that makes a difference.
KC :thumb:

I did it after secondary, to give myself the cleanest lager I possibly could. I added 50g of sugar just before starting the cooling (just so that the yeast would convert to CO2 to protect my beer).

I believe towards the end of the fermentation process is fine too. I would just do what suits, I don't think there is any massive gotchas in the process :)

So basically i can just keg it carb it up and leave it for as long as poss as far as the cornies are conserned? i may just cornie the lot.

I believe so, as long as you have it around 0 degrees you will be lagering :)

 

[phettebs]

That is what I'm doing with my Maibock. I kegged it but didn't carb it. Just added 30 psi and purged to get the O2 out. Now it's sitting in the fridge lagering until May. It had an OG of 1.079 so it will definitely benefit from some extended aging and lagering.

 

[Kinleycat]

Its going in the shed so it will be pretty much uncontroled cold, is the temperture vital?

 

[ScottM]

Its going in the shed so it will be pretty much uncontroled cold, is the temperture vital?

It's important for it to be low as far as I know. The more stable the better I would imagine. For example 10 degrees would probably be too high to store for long periods of time.

 

[CheshireCBR]

would it be possible to do the largering in the bottles, or is it better to do it in bulk? I am just trying to free up a FV at the moment for the next brew :