Diaceytl rest, is it time yet?

[GmanVet]

My lager with an OG 0f 1.045 has been in the fermenter for 60 hours. No bubbles. I removed the airlock and peered in, bubbles on top. Followed directions to the tee. Fermenter in a 51-55 Deg. F space. How long to wait to take a gravity reading? After transferring to a secondary is the slow temp drop necessary?

 

[fxdude]

Sometimes it's taken my lagers three or four days to start showing signs of activity, give it a little more time before you start to worry.

 

[losman26]

I had mine at room temp for the first day and 1/2 before it showed any activity.

 

[GmanVet]

So can I be confident my temp of 51-55 is proper? This is my first lager and this is much different in the fermentation activity dept.

 

[losman26]

So can I be confident my temp of 51-55 is proper? This is my first lager and this is much different in the fermentation activity dept.

What kind of yeast did you use? I'm guessing it should start up at any moment. I've only done one lager myself, but over 20 ale batches.
I'm curious as to how long I should actually lager with a low gravity beer of 1.040 that I have. I'm planning on 3-4 weeks. I won't be doing too many lagers after this one. They take too damn long.

 

[1Mainebrew]

Lagers are very gentle fermenters. They are not like ales, they are much more subdued. If you pitched enough (aka boatloads of) yeast at the right temperature (~48 ) and have it fermenting at the specified temperature and you shook the snot out of it before you pitched, sit back relax and patiently wait it out. Get a gravity sample in a couple weeks, then move to the d-rest, then lager...simple.

 

[fxdude]

Lagers are very gentle fermenters. They are not like ales, they are much more subdued. If you pitched enough (aka boatloads of) yeast at the right temperature (~48 ) and have it fermenting at the specified temperature and you shook the snot out of it before you pitched, sit back relax and patiently wait it out. Get a gravity sample in a couple weeks, then move to the d-rest, then lager...simple.

+1

Best way I've found to brew lagers for those that are a little impatient is to brew ales while you're waiting for your lager to finish

 

[losman26]

+1

Best way I've found to brew lagers for those that are a little impatient is to brew ales while you're waiting for your lager to finish

The problem is that by the time the lager finishes you could have done 2 ales. Also, I don't have space for a 3rd fermenter

 

[fxdude]

Ah, yeah, my apartment is always at 68 degrees wether using the heater in winter or AC in summer so my whole place is an ale fermenter Probably the only good thing about brewing in a small apartment in LA.

 

[GmanVet]

My lager was bubbling away all weekend. I will do gravity readings later on this week. After the d rest is the secondary critical? Can I bottle this into my magnum champagne bottles, then step down temp before putting the bottles in the fridge? I don't have another fermenter. Thanks.