Thinking ahead

[Ian...]

I have done 4 brews now (ales) after being away from brewing for 30 years and the results from these two-can kits are pretty good. I am going to do a lager for summer and have read on this fantastic site about larger yeasts, lower fermentation temperatures, difficult carbonation etc so I think I have a reasonable understanding. I have bought a proprietary brand, one-can kit to play with and 1kg of enhancer. The instructions say the yeast is a real lager yeast, and yet it states a brewing temperature of the usual 18-22c band. How can this be correct? I was hoping to take advantage of the lower temperatures at the moment and bottle it with double the usual priming sugar and forget it until summer (if we get one). What do you reckon?

 

[mmaguy41]

what kit is it? Some kits use lager mixed with ale yeast or a lager style ale yeast

 

[Ian...]

It's a proprietary brand. 'art of brewing' so that probably won't help.

 

[mmaguy41]

you could try brewing it at 12-15 degrees and if it doesnt work then its most likely an ale yeast

 

[rpt]

You could buy a genuine lager yeast and brew at a low temperature.

 

[robsan77]

it is generally difficult for the average homebrewer to control fermentation temperature especially at lager temps. The companies making the kits are aware of this and as such want to appeal to a wider market who can ferment their products.

You will have to contact the manufacturer to establish whether you have a genuine lager yeast. If it says it is on the pack, then it should work at lager temps and you will get a better beer.

remember, a lager yeast will still work at ale temps but wont produce as clean a beer as if at lager temps.