Aging in a keg.....

[cherrob123]

I got a late start on a beer that I need to take on a lake trip in late April.

I boiled up a kolsch on 3/17. I will definitely let it ferment for a minimum of 14
days.

My question is this. Is it unusual to keg right out of the fermenter, let it carbonate for a week under pressure, and then keep it at lagering temps right up until I drink it?

I am fermenting at 52 deg. and I always lager this beer at 36 deg.

In case it matters, my OG was 1.050 and the target OG was 1.049.

This is my fourth time to make this beer.

 

[zachattack]

Sounds like a good plan to me. I'd let it carbonate for more like 2 or 3 weeks, but it's fine to lager in the keg.

 

[DPBISME]

I "age" beer in a keg all the time, after it has been in the Primary for about 4 weeks. (ALES mostly)

I would not fully carbonate it until you are about ready to drink it since I don't know if there is any effect of presure on yeast.


SO say you just put enough pressure on it to seal it and let it go until around the 14th and then crank up the pressure......

DPB

 

[cherrob123]

I "age" beer in a keg all the time, after it has been in the Primary for about 4 weeks. (ALES mostly)

I would not fully carbonate it until you are about ready to drink it since I don't know if there is any effect of presure on yeast.


SO say you just put enough pressure on it to seal it and let it go until around the 14th and then crank up the pressure......

DPB

Great advice!! Would you go ahead and rack directly to the keg from the primary, put 5 or 6 lbs of pressure on it, and then lager it?

How many days would you allow for full carbonation if you were attempting to do it at lagering temps?

Does carbonating at lagering temps make a difference?

Should I bring the beer up to fermenting temps to carbonate?

 

[DPBISME]

Great advice!! Would you go ahead and rack directly to the keg from the primary, put 5 or 6 lbs of pressure on it, and then lager it?

How many days would you allow for full carbonation if you were attempting to do it at lagering temps?

Does carbonating at lagering temps make a difference?

Should I bring the beer up to fermenting temps to carbonate?

Does carbonating at lagering temps make a difference?
DPB:I would think, I think that is the old way, not but I am unsure.

Should I bring the beer up to fermenting temps to carbonate.
DPB No! cold liquids will allow more gas to disolve in them... ever shake up a warm can of soda?


So you are doing a Kolsch I would just relax and carbonate at the end,,, a QUICK "Forced" Carbonation.

I would leave it in the Primary for two weeks. So about the "first".
Pull it out and do a Diacetyl Rest for two or 2.5 days at room temp. Untill the 3r
Lager for a couple weeks about the 17th.
Keg, put preasure on (at serviceing presure.
Then continue to lager until you take off

Test the beer the day before and see if you have enough carbonation and if so you are good... if not crank up the pressure and start shaking the thing...

You can force carbonate in 15 minutes so this is not a worry... Now I am not saying you should try to serve immedeatly...

 

[cherrob123]

Does carbonating at lagering temps make a difference?
DPB:I would think, I think that is the old way, not but I am unsure.

Should I bring the beer up to fermenting temps to carbonate.
DPB No! cold liquids will allow more gas to disolve in them... ever shake up a warm can of soda?


So you are doing a Kolsch I would just relax and carbonate at the end,,, a QUICK "Forced" Carbonation.

I would leave it in the Primary for two weeks. So about the "first".
Pull it out and do a Diacetyl Rest for two or 2.5 days at room temp. Untill the 3r
Lager for a couple weeks about the 17th.
Keg, put preasure on (at serviceing presure.
Then continue to lager until you take off

Test the beer the day before and see if you have enough carbonation and if so you are good... if not crank up the pressure and start shaking the thing...

You can force carbonate in 15 minutes so this is not a worry... Now I am not saying you should try to serve immedeatly...

Thanks for the advice. Those ideas were exactly what I was thinking, but it's always nice to get some validation too.