My lager had been fermenting for 10 days at about 48-50 degrees, sometime even lower, depends on the weather. But yesterday, the temp in NYC peaked at 61. The beer itself was up to 56 in the fermenter. Since it had already cooled down outside I let the beer cool down with it. It is much colder today, so the temp is back down to 52 and probably still falling.
My question is this: Did I get a diacetyl rest by letting the temp go up to 56 in the carboy for about 24 hours? Or does it take longer than that, or needs to be warmer? The fermentation is still going, my gravity reading yesterday was 1.020, it should go down closer to 1.010.
I was hoping to transfer to the secondary this weekend, but I think I'll let it sit another week in the primary. The weather is supposed to stay cold all week so I'll have good refrigeration. I have a mid-April party that this is supposed to be for and my count says it won't quite make it, 4 weeks to lager, 3 weeks in the bottle. Maybe I need to buy a keg setup so I can force carb it.
My question is this: Did I get a diacetyl rest by letting the temp go up to 56 in the carboy for about 24 hours? Or does it take longer than that, or needs to be warmer? The fermentation is still going, my gravity reading yesterday was 1.020, it should go down closer to 1.010.
I was hoping to transfer to the secondary this weekend, but I think I'll let it sit another week in the primary. The weather is supposed to stay cold all week so I'll have good refrigeration. I have a mid-April party that this is supposed to be for and my count says it won't quite make it, 4 weeks to lager, 3 weeks in the bottle. Maybe I need to buy a keg setup so I can force carb it.