Please recommend a yeast for Pilsner

[jondi11]

I have just ordered a Muntons premium Pilsner kit, this is going to be my first effort at brewing beer, could you recommend a better yeast than the one provided as I hear the one it comes with is not the best. Also any other tips would be welcome.
Cheers

 

[Rivvo]

Are you going to ferment it at a low constant temperature? because if not you may be as well to stick with the kit yeast which may be an 'ale yeast' which will ferment at higher temepratures, if you have the facility to control the temperature at 12' or so then I would suggest a liquid yeast from white labs or wyeast, I think you'll have to make a yeast starter though (not something I've sued myself TBH)

 

[jondi11]

not really messing with room temp only if the temp drops too low

 

[Rivvo]

not really messing with room temp only if the temp drops too low

A proper lager yeast needs to be fermented at a low temeprature, usually about 12' centigrade, if you are unable to do that then you may as well stick with the kit yeast which will probably be an ale yeast and suitable for fermenting at 18'-22' centigrade.

 

[jondi11]

A proper lager yeast needs to be fermented at a low temeprature, usually about 12' centigrade, if you are unable to do that then you may as well stick with the kit yeast which will probably be an ale yeast and suitable for fermenting at 18'-22' centigrade.

would a larger yeast taste better? Also it could be brewed in my Shed for lower temp, depending on the weather.

 

[Rivvo]

would a larger yeast taste better? Also it could be brewed in my Shed for lower temp, depending on the weather.

It would probably taste more authentic, but then I don't know how good that kit is, you will be very unlikely to keep the shed a constant 12' at this time of year, in fact that is almost impossible, perhaps try another one with a lager yeast as winter approaches.
Luckily my mate is going to build me a temperature controlled fridge fermenter in a few weeks so I'll be able to brew some interesting beers :-D

 

[jondi11]

how long is a regular temperature needed
for when brewing, ie till moved to keg?

 

[Rivvo]

Until it's fermented out, which at lower temperatures could be several weeks, I can only say to you that in my opinion it is not worth you wasting good money on a specific lager yeast unless you can ferment it at the correct temperature, the whitelabs pilsner says 10 - 12' I think. In fact just have a read of the below link, brewing a lager is not as easy as ale and if you're using a lager yeast you will have to start the initial fermentation then crash cool the beer before laagering for several weeks, if you can't control the temperature then you won't be able to do this.

http://www.whitelabs.com/content/white-labs-lager-yeast-tips

 

[jondi11]

Ok will try yeast provided,see how it goes.

 

[Rivvo]

Ok mate, good luck with it, at the end of the day though it is your beer and you can do what you want with it, I'm not trying to put you off experimenting but don't want you to waste your time or cash:thumb:

 

[Winker]

I only brew pilsners, from all grain. If you cant keep them temp down to 10-12C you will create off flavours like Fruitiness, Higher fermentation temperatures increase ester production.

 

[Midlife]

I used a Wyeast Danish (can't remember the number), FV was at a constant 15... Then did the lager process... Come out good, v pleased. i have a bohemian in the fridge for the next.

For lager a temprature controlled fridge is the way to go to control the temp.

Cheers

D