Lager yeast...can I make a steam w/it?

karbinator said:

I bought a WLgerman lager, and WLpilsner lager vials about a month back, and
have some questions before I do something with them.

Right now, I'm not quite set up to take the lagering temps into the 50's, but I can hold them around 65-70. I'm wondering if I can get a decent batch of beer from doing this with the 2 above mentioned yeasts? Maybe a steam type ?

secondly, I've been washing my yeast to perpetuate generations. IF I steam beer with these lager yeasts, will It harm the yeast in a way that I should worry about washing them for a later "real" lagering, or even re-use for that matter.

ANy thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Karb

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karbinator said:

secondly, I've been washing my yeast to perpetuate generations. IF I steam beer with these lager yeasts, will It harm the yeast in a way that I should worry about washing them for a later "real" lagering, or even re-use for that matter.

ANy thoughts are greatly appreciated!
Karb

Click to expand...

toastermm said:

My first useful post:

Yeast will not dramatically change their genetic structure to the point of requiring different temperatures to survive. If it metabolizes at say, 50-80 degrees F, it will continue doing so 99% of the time.

I work in a yeast-genetics lab and we rarely see temperature mutants that are stable. (They always want to be at their 'preferred' temperature).

But on the other hand, you can 'stretch' their temperature limits. You can slowly increase their temperature tolerances by changing the temperature slowly. (about a degree every two days)

It would be really cool to see how hot you can brew a lager beer.

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