Cleanest lager yeast between 65-72F?

[crazyjake19]

It's been several years since I've used it, but before I had a fermentation fridge I fermented WLP925 under pressure at 65-68F and I felt it was very clean. Made several American light lagers, German pils, and Märzens, though I feel it was best suited for the light lagers that weren't malt-forward.

 

[hungupdown]

Only experience was Mangrove Jack's M54 Californian Lager yeast. Which came with a Californian Common AG kit (from TMM UK) brewed last month.

Fermented at 18-20°C (64-68 °F) it certainly gave a clean flavour, with no sulphur apparent an any stage, and cleared well. Will certainly do a larger brew this summer.
M54 wasn't such a polished clean taste as Wyeast 2000 Budvar, but was so much quicker and easier.

Update: Poor flocculation, and certainly not good as a bottling yeast.
After a month,though clear the, bottles still had 1/2 inch layer of loose solids. On pouring, the very bottom yeast layer, just mixed in with everything else.

 

[Jmspears]

I have Novalager going now, split the batch, half warm under pressure and the other my traditional cold lager schedule. Will be a couple weeks but bringing the results to a club meeting for feedback.

Hey! Wondering if you have an update on this. I’ll be brewing a light lager with Novalager here soon. I plan on doing it under pressure with no temp control. It will be in my basement so will probably stay in the 65-70 F range.

 

[jdubdvdt]

Hey! Wondering if you have an update on this. I’ll be brewing a light lager with Novalager here soon. I plan on doing it under pressure with no temp control. It will be in my basement so will probably stay in the 65-70 F range.

Personally, I'd still rather use 34/70 warm at 65 than Novalager.

I was surprised at how well it was at warmer temps. Even better if you put the fermenter in a bucket with some water and toss a couple ice packs in the water right before peak fermentation and then let it free ride from there. 34/70 is clean.

 

[Jmspears]

Personally, I'd still rather use 34/70 warm at 65 than Novalager.

I was surprised at how well it was at warmer temps. Even better if you put the fermenter in a bucket with some water and toss a couple ice packs in the water right before peak fermentation and then let it free ride from there. 34/70 is clean.

Thanks! I have never used Novalager before but I’m looking forward to trying it out. If it doesn’t turn out well, I will probably try the same recipe with 34/70. I was really bouncing back and forth between the two options.

 

[CyberFox]

I haven't used NovaLager, but I just made an IPA with 34/70 fermented at 68 F (not under pressure) and it turned out very clean. Nothing except hops and malt, which is what I'm after. It would be hard to beat 34/70.

 

[JohnDBrewer]

Hey! Wondering if you have an update on this. I’ll be brewing a light lager with Novalager here soon. I plan on doing it under pressure with no temp control. It will be in my basement so will probably stay in the 65-70 F range.

Sorry , I posted this over on the Warm Fermented Lager thread a few days ago forgot to update here.

Did a simple Helles, 10-gal batch. Split it and warm pressure (WP) fermented (8-12lbs, 65 degrees) and cold fermented (no pressure, 52 degrees), both for 14 days using Nova Lager. When the cold fermented raised for diacetyl rest, lowered the WP to this temp, then crashed both together and kegged. Sat in my keezer for 10-weeks under the same pressure. Took samples to my club meeting, did a three way test. 9 folks took the test, 2 BJCP Certified Judges, 2 Pro Brewers, 2 homebrewers and 3 avid beer drinkers. 2 samples of the cold lager and one of the WP were given out. 5 correctly picked out the WP being the different beer. Also asked, which beer they want to drink more of and that was pretty split. Unfortunately, some folks put down multiple numbers. Next time I'll be clear to put only one. Got to tell you, I was very impressed with the WP. It's a great beer. I'm a die hard lager fan and lager brewer. I always cold ferment, because I can and I'm not in a hurry to get it on tap (well, try not to be.) The reason I waited 10-weeks to do the test was the club only meets once a month and the previous meetings had too much going on to get people focused. Nothing statistical here, but an interesting test and had fun doing it. Nova Lager does a good clean lager.

 

[Jmspears]

Sorry , I posted this over on the Warm Fermented Lager thread a few days ago forgot to update here.

Did a simple Helles, 10-gal batch. Split it and warm pressure (WP) fermented (8-12lbs, 65 degrees) and cold fermented (no pressure, 52 degrees), both for 14 days using Nova Lager. When the cold fermented raised for diacetyl rest, lowered the WP to this temp, then crashed both together and kegged. Sat in my keezer for 10-weeks under the same pressure. Took samples to my club meeting, did a three way test. 9 folks took the test, 2 BJCP Certified Judges, 2 Pro Brewers, 2 homebrewers and 3 avid beer drinkers. 2 samples of the cold lager and one of the WP were given out. 5 correctly picked out the WP being the different beer. Also asked, which beer they want to drink more of and that was pretty split. Unfortunately, some folks put down multiple numbers. Next time I'll be clear to put only one. Got to tell you, I was very impressed with the WP. It's a great beer. I'm a die hard lager fan and lager brewer. I always cold ferment, because I can and I'm not in a hurry to get it on tap (well, try not to be.) The reason I waited 10-weeks to do the test was the club only meets once a month and the previous meetings had too much going on to get people focused. Nothing statistical here, but an interesting test and had fun doing it. Nova Lager does a good clean lager.

Good to hear! Thanks for the update!