First Lager

[endlesssurf]

i was thinking about making my first lager
i dont know which one i should attempt to make
if anyone has any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it

 

[blacklab]

Have you figured out the whole 'controlling fermentation temperature' part of it? You're going to need to primary at a lower than typical temp then go to 40-45 for a longer period.

 

[menschmaschine]

They really aren't that different from making ales, except for the lagering... and yeast pitch rate... and good temperature control throughout. The recipes themselves aren't anymore complex than ales, and in many cases even simpler. So, in other words, brew what you like to drink. Although, I would shy away from Light American Lagers, in case you like that sort of thing, because they're more difficult to get right and cheaper to just go and buy. Whatever you do, use a tried and true recipe and try to get fresh ingredients (especially if it's extract).

 

[shafferpilot]

be prepared to wait... and wait... and then wait some more. A GOOD tasting lager takes several months to mature. Sure in the next 10 minutes someone is gonna post that I'm wrong, so I don't know why I'm bothering, but hay: can't say that no one told you.

Also, no reason to be afraid of american light lagers. I've done many and they all came out great.... after several months that is!

 

[DutchK9]

be prepared to wait... and wait... and then wait some more. A GOOD tasting lager takes several months to mature. Sure in the next 10 minutes someone is gonna post that I'm wrong, so I don't know why I'm bothering, but hay: can't say that no one told you.

Also, no reason to be afraid of american light lagers. I've done many and they all came out great.... after several months that is!

Shafferpilot is correct. If this is one of your first beers, then make a Hefeweizen or an Ale. It will be done quicker than a lager and give you something to drink while you make the lager later.

 

[Yooper]

i was thinking about making my first lager
i dont know which one i should attempt to make
if anyone has any suggestions i would greatly appreciate it

If you're making one soon, a good one for the season would be a Maibock. Maibock / Helles Bock - BeerAdvocate
If you brew it this fall, it'd be perfect to serve as is traditional in May. It's a nice spring lager (and I just happen to have a recipe posted, too). A

Maibock is definitely my favorite lager, but there are other types, too, of course. What do you like best?

 

[boo boo]

They really aren't that different from making ales, except for the lagering... and yeast pitch rate... and good temperature control throughout. The recipes themselves aren't anymore complex than ales, and in many cases even simpler. So, in other words, brew what you like to drink. Although, I would shy away from Light American Lagers, in case you like that sort of thing, because they're more difficult to get right and cheaper to just go and buy. Whatever you do, use a tried and true recipe and try to get fresh ingredients (especially if it's extract).

Words of wisdom.

Don't be afraid of light lagers though, that is if you're not afraid of disapointment. Light lagers are very difficult to get right, but when you do,
you have this wonderful feeling of accomplishment. You might get it right on the first try, but, I doubt it.
It hasn't kept me from trying, and I make great lagers. Just can't seem to get the exact crisp dry taste from them as the mega boys do.

 

[endlesssurf]

im not to worried about temp control i have a keggerator and the whole shabang do ou all think i should buy a second corny keg to lager in? so i can have ales once a mounth and wait for my lager to mature?

 

[Tonedef131]

A California Common would be a good choice for a first lager as they are more forgiving in the lagering process than most lager strains. But of course if you want to make the best lager ever you have to go straight for the Baltic Porter.

 

[WortMonger]

Maibock / Helles Bock - BeerAdvocate
If you brew it this fall, it'd be perfect to serve as is traditional in May. It's a nice spring lager (and I just happen to have a recipe posted, too). A Maibock is definitely my favorite lager, but there are other types, too, of course.

Thanks for that link YooperBrew, reading it though I was shocked to see Dead Guy Ale listed as a chosen maibock on their list. Does a maibock have to be pitched with lager yeast to be to "style" or is it one of those beers that cross the line either way? I mean I am all for ale yeast "lagers" if they can do beers like BierMuncher's Oktoberfast, it just has me curious after seeing that and then going to check my Brew-Master's Bible. He says, "If cold lagering is a problem, these can be home brewed successfully with a clean, mild ale yeast strain; however, it is recommended that these beers be aged a minimum of 2 months if using ale yeast and 3 months if using lager yeast." [pg310-11] So, after trying to search for the absolute "style" answer to no avail... what say yee?

 

[Yooper]

Thanks for that link YooperBrew, reading it though I was shocked to see Dead Guy Ale listed as a chosen maibock on their list. Does a maibock have to be pitched with lager yeast to be to "style" or is it one of those beers that cross the line either way? I mean I am all for ale yeast "lagers" if they can do beers like BierMuncher's Oktoberfast, it just has me curious after seeing that and then going to check my Brew-Master's Bible. He says, "If cold lagering is a problem, these can be home brewed successfully with a clean, mild ale yeast strain; however, it is recommended that these beers be aged a minimum of 2 months if using ale yeast and 3 months if using lager yeast." [pg310-11] So, after trying to search for the absolute "style" answer to no avail... what say yee?

I definitely DON'T agree that Dead Guy is a Maibock. According to Rogue's own website, Dead Guy is a "maibock-style ale".

I'm more of a traditionalist- Maibocks are lagers. Fermented at lager temperatures, and then lagered.

I make both Dead Guy clones and Maibocks, and while similar in that they are malty flavorful beers, I disagree that they are the same style beer.

 

[WortMonger]

I agree with the way you think on lager being lagers. It is nice to know though that ale yeast will work in a pinch for time with good results, but I will stick to my lager yeast.