California "steam" beer fermentation temp

My swamp cooler gets temps down to about 64F - is this cold enough for California lager yeast ?

I brewed the California Common recipe from "Brewing Classic Styles". It recommends 62F fermentation, which seems to have worked very well.

Did you use a swamp cooler or thermostatically controlled chamber ?
Can I use my SC ?

I am using the Cal Lager yeast and using my swamp cooler and it is staying between 59-60 degrees.

What is your ambient temp ? Ive got 80F

One more question about Cal. lager - does it need to be lagered or can it follow more of an Ale schedule ?

Well isn't a proper steam beer supposed to be lager strains fermented at ale temperatures? We made an Oktoberfest steam last year using Marzen yeast and it was spectacular fermenting at 68*F.

Your set-up allowing you to hit 62 seems like it'll work out just fine. Good luck!

Thanks man !

Bru said:

Did you use a swamp cooler or thermostatically controlled chamber ?
Can I use my SC ?

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I used my Son of Fermentation Chiller (i.e. thermostatically controlled).

(Sorry for the late reply, been out of town on business...)

I have made a number of steam beers. I have done it in the peak of summer, where my basement can reach as high as 70, and I have done it in the depths of winter where we hit 58-60 in my basement. Both have been almost identical. I could not have picked out a real difference to be honest.

I am sure someone could have noted a difference between the two side by side. But not me. It is one of my favorite beers to date. And I plan on brewing another ten during christmas vacation.

Ive just finished brewing my California Common. Keezer was empty so its going in that. Funny thing was it appeared a strange green colour when it was in primary bucket (!). 1.064

Bru said:

Ive just finished brewing my California Common. Keezer was empty so its going in that. Funny thing was it appeared a strange green colour when it was in primary bucket (!). 1.064

Click to expand...

Green? Ew... should've taken pictures!

So you're gonna keezer it? If it's set to beer serving temps I don't think you'll be making a steam anymore... it'll just be a lager

Ive set it 14C to 17C.
The green was the hops settling - I dumped it all in. I should have known but Ive never seen that before