Steam beer / California common beer

[bacchus173]

Hi yawl, I`ve been doing HB for a while now, ranging from ipa to stouts ( All kits ). But now I want to try a lager but have a slight problem, which is temperature. I`ve nowhere in the house cold enough for the lager yeast ( Leastways not until the winter ). I know lager yeasty beasties are bottom fermenters at cool temps and top fermenters at normal ale fermenting temps. I read a few articles about brewers in california having this same problem with lack of cool temps around the late 19th/early 20th century and had to just belt away regardless creating this steam beer. Anyway, my question is, has anyone tried making lager at normal ale fermenting temps and how did it turn out. I don`t mind experimenting but it`s wise to ask before shelling out £20 or so. Much appreciated for any replies.

 

[dennisking]

Hi and welcome. Steam beer has been discussed on here before but it's not anything I've tried so hopefully someone will soon help. It might be worth thinking about a fermenting fridge. That will give you total temperature control.

 

[bacchus173]

Hiya and thanks for replying, I did think about buying an old second fridge in the future. More equipment, my house is seriously turning into a proper brewery...Lol. My bathroom is the cleaning and sterilising room, my kitchen is the brewhouse, my spare bedroom is the fermenting room, the attic is where I condition the bottles and my back hall is where I condition my kegs and store all my unused equpiment. As you can probaly gather, I do live alone, no woman would put up with that...lol.

 

[dennisking]

A fermenting fridge would be one the best investments you could make. Temperature control is the corner stone of making good beer.

 

[danwlx]

I brewed a steam beer using wyeast 2112 and it was excellent. It's not a true lager and the taste was half way between that and an ale. I tried a few chilled and it had a crispness but not the proper lager crispness.

I used the recipe from clone brews.

 

[Good Ed]

Your answer is a fermenting fridge as said above.

The best example of California Common is Anchor Steam, which is a very nice beer. I've done a few brews with WLP 810 which is the San Francisco Lager Yeast; it is a true lager yeast but you can ferment between 14-18C, so you still need somewhere cool. I'm fortunate to have a cellar, and have a couple of brews planned over the next week with this yeast, one is a California Common style (sort of) but I'm also planning a Helles lager with this yeast, so we'll see how it turns out. I found the yeast to give a nice clean and crisp beer.

 

[bacchus173]

Yep, it seems to be the consensus that if a person is brewing lager of whatever style a fridge is definately an important piece of kit. A piece of kit I most definately will invest in. After all, what does a second hand fridge cost? what 30-40 quid, blimey i`ve spent that much of an evening many a time over the years propping up the bar. Though it`ll have to wait til after the school hols, between going abroad, trips out and school uniforms the ould war chest has taken quite a battering. Thank you Ed for putting me onto that yeast, I checked with my OHBS and they stock it. Personally i`ve never used liquid yeast before, i`ve always used the dried, though not the packs that come with the kits as they usually 99% out of date. Anyway thanks guys. Slainte