A lager brew at ale temps?

Q2XL · 12-04-2009, 03:26 PM

A friend of my brothers wants to get into brewing. I sent him a list of the equipment that he needed to buy to do extract brews. He ended up buying some very nice equipment. Anyways, he bought 2 kits from Austin Homebrew, the Killians and Rolling Rock kit...both lagers. Well, he does not have temp control to do lagers.

So, my question is this. I am going to pick up the yeast for him before I go over and help him brew. Should I buy the lager yeast and ferment at ale temps or buy an ale yeast and ferment at ale temps. If I go with the ale yeast then what style of liquid yeast should I get for these 2 beers?

Thanks guys.

bonzombiekitty · 12-04-2009, 03:35 PM

Never tried doing a lager before, but my intuition is that it's not a good idea to brew using lager yeast at ale temperatures. Ale yeast gives off flavors when you ferment at too high a temp, I'd assume the same would happen with lager yeast.

Even if it tastes ok (or even excellent) by fermenting with lager yeast, it's certainly not going to taste like the kit intends.

mithion · 12-04-2009, 03:40 PM

That's a bit difficult to answer. If your friend is trying to clone these beers or at least ballpark them, he will have a hard time doing so if he's fermenting at warmer temperatures. Regardless of using lager or ale yeast, both will yield a lot of secondary byproducts which will give a lot of character to the beer which you don't want for Killians or Rolling Rock.

Lager yeasts usually ferment optimally around 50-55 degrees so if your at 65-70 with that kind of yeast, you will produce a lot esters. On the other hand, ale yeast are usually good around 62-75. If there is absolutely no way your friend can ferment cool, I would pick the cleanest ale yeast you can find (Wyeast 1056 is usually considered pretty neutral) and ferment as close to the bottom of the temperature range as you can. You'll have a cleaner beer that way and you'll at least get closer to your desired results.

It's really unfortunate that he picked lager recipes as his first try. Lagers are more difficult to nail and probably not a good bet as a first try. But anyhow, you have my recommendations. Good luck.

homebrewer_99 · 12-04-2009, 03:49 PM

A Steam beer is a lager at ale temps so it's possible.

**buffalobrewer** · 12-04-2009, 04:01 PM

does he have an attached garage? Mine in buffalo stays in the mid 40's this time of year.

Synovia · 12-04-2009, 04:29 PM

Maybe ferment under pressure? I know that has some of the same effects as lowering temperature.

Q2XL · 12-04-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buffalobrewer

does he have an attached garage? Mine in buffalo stays in the mid 40's this time of year.

I am going to ask him. I was thinking the same thing.

**IrregularPulse** · 12-04-2009, 04:30 PM

Since it's his first brews, I'd just buy Notty and use for both. It's a clean ale yeast. you'll still get beer, just not your clones.

**mmb** · 12-04-2009, 04:44 PM

Pickup Cal Ale for those batches if he doesn't have temp control. And at least keep things in an area that is under 65°. The cal ale will toss more esters than the lager yeast at lager temps, but nowhere near the esters of the lager yeast at ale temps.