Hoppopotomus
Cedar Hollow Brewing
I recently finished building my fermentation chambers and decided to brew my first lager. I brewed a 5 gallon PM German Helles and used Wyeast Bohemian Lager yeast. Wyeast recommended a primary fermentation temperature range of 8 to 12 degrees Celcius. I set the temp. controller to 11 degrees and had no problems with the chamber maintaining the temp. I have been reading a lot about diacetyl rests for lagers and many suggest that once 2/3 of the way through primary fermentation, the rest should be completed. I checked my gravity for the first time since I brewed last Friday night (6 days ago) and missed my window of opportunity. My brewing calculator had me at an OG of 1.054 with an FG of 1.013. My OG wasn't far off at 1.052. My gravity reading is currently 1.009, so the attenuation exceeded my expectations, so I assume I am very near the end of primary fermentation. I tasted the sample that I pulled and detected no signs of diacetyl, whatsoever.
I will not have time to tend to this beer until Sunday (3 days from now). Would it hurt to elevate the temp about 10 degrees or so for a few days and do a diacetyl rest anyway before racking to a secondary and starting the lagering process? Or, should I let it ride out the next few days at the primary fermentation temp. before racking? I'm new to lagers, so please be kind.
I will not have time to tend to this beer until Sunday (3 days from now). Would it hurt to elevate the temp about 10 degrees or so for a few days and do a diacetyl rest anyway before racking to a secondary and starting the lagering process? Or, should I let it ride out the next few days at the primary fermentation temp. before racking? I'm new to lagers, so please be kind.