How long to lager my Altbier?

I've got an altbier that's been in the fermentor for 10 days. We put in the fridge yesterday (about 40 degrees). How long should I leave it in there? I think I've read 2 days but not sure.

Thanks,
Rob

Kaiser recommends 4 weeks at 50 deg.

What yeast did you use?

You need to rack it before lagering.

A7teck said:

I've got an altbier that's been in the fermentor for 10 days. We put in the fridge yesterday (about 40 degrees). How long should I leave it in there? I think I've read 2 days but not sure.

Thanks,
Rob

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Sounds like you are confusing cold crashing and lagering.

Go ahead and leave it in the fridge for 2 days, rack it, then do it for another 4 weeks.

Ah, definitely confused cold crashing with lagering. Since its already in the fridge I'll let it sit for the full 48 hours then rack. If anything I've learned to read up more on the style of beer I'm making BEFORE I make it. I'm not sure if I completely understand the significance of the lagering process with this beer- other than that it clears the composition. Is there a taste difference?

Also, after racking should I keep it at the same temp in the fridge?

I make my Alt the same way I make my Kolsch. I rack it to the secondary, then cold crash it for 40 days.

2-3 months

kjung said:

I make my Alt the same way I make my Kolsch. I rack it to the secondary, then cold crash it for 40 days.

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That's a confusing statement(to me). It only takes a day or two to cold crash an ale, especially at lager temps. I'm lagering my alt for a month to smooth it out a bit. Keeping it at 37f with a maibock and dopplebock.

Not trying to start a debate, just figuring out word usage.

wildwest450 said:

That's a confusing statement(to me). It only takes a day or two to cold crash an ale, especially at lager temps. I'm lagering my alt for a month to smooth it out a bit. Keeping it at 37f with a maibock and dopplebock.

Not trying to start a debate, just figuring out word usage.

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After I rack either an Alt or a Kolsch to a secondary, I let it sit for one week at cellar temp (in my house, about 60f), then I pop it into my beer fridge for 40 days, at about 40f. Sorry for the confusion.

Most breweries in Duesseldorf and Cologne only lager for about two weeks these days. I usually go ten days at <40 deg F for my homebrewed versions along with gelatin finings, with speeds up the clarification process.

ArcaneXor said:

Most breweries in Duesseldorf and Cologne only lager for about two weeks these days. I usually go ten days at <40 deg F for my homebrewed versions along with gelatin finings, with speeds up the clarification process.

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Yes but they have cool things like a house yeast strain, whirlpools etc.

This beer benefits GREATLY from at least 6 weeks lagering

babalu87 said:

This beer benefits GREATLY from at least 6 weeks lagering

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So if I had only lagered my Alt for 3 weeks and then bottled it, can I get the same great benefits by just cellaring it for another 3 weeks?