Help with California Common...

[Nkliph]

Although not a true lager, this is the closest I've ever come to doing one. I fermented in primary, then primed and bottled. Read that a lager phase was a good idea, so I've kept bottles in fridge since bottling.

One week later, I tried one bottle, and there is virtually no carbonation. Usually when I test an ale at this point there is some degree of carbonation.

So, does lagering in bottles slow the carbonation phase, or do I need to take the bottles to room temp after lagering for a few weeks?

 

[BowAholic]

I would think that you have the bottles so far below the temp range of the yeast that it is dormant and can't do it's thing. I would put them in a 75 degree room for carbing.

 

[kh54s10]

The bottles will take a very long time to carbonate at refrigerated temperatures. You could leave them to "lager" if you want but will then need to carbonate them at near 70 degrees for about 3 weeks. I did a California Common and just treated it as an ale brewed with lager yeast. It came out fine.

The style was originated because the brewers could not achieve lager temperatures.

 

[microbusbrewery]

Yep, room temp is where you want it for conditioning. Lagering usually takes place at near freezing temps, which is too cold for conditioning.