Largering - HELP!

[Kyral210]

Ok, so far so good, I have been fermenting my larger in my fermentor for 3 weeks at about 12°C. Ok, im sure a second fermenter would be better, but I dont have one and my middle name is Scrooge. So I have just racked my lager into 5 litre demijohns and now im wondering what to do.

I can move them down to the storage centre downstairs, but that has 'holes in the wall' by design, and when its -2°C outside it will be -2°C in their, and my lager will most likely freeze. Alternatively, I put the demijohns back into the 12°C cupboard. Yes it is cold in their, but John Palmer said the lagering temperature should be at least 5°C lower than the fermentation temperature.

So what to do? Is risking the beer effectively being outside good for my brew, or is 12°C a good lagering temperature and John Palmer is just going OTT.

 

[Aleman]

When I Larger things I generally double or triple the quantities :whistle:

The ideal temperature for lagering is 2C or below. . . . I've often taken my beer down to -2C and while it gets a little slushy it doesn't actually freeze . . . In fact it acts as a good proofer against chill haze. . . I wouldn't go much below -2C though.

John Palmer does not know his Lager from Budweiser . . . Lagering is an extended period of cold conditioning that should take place as I said below 2C . . .

 

[Kyral210]

So keeping my lager at 12°c isn't going to help? Should I just bottle it now then? Is it dangerous to risk keeping my lager below -2°C?