Lagering question...

[Plinythelderphan]

I am interested in brewing an Oktoberfest later this month. I've got a couple Zymurgy clone recipes to work with and each one suggests that the fermentation take place at 50 degrees for 4 weeks...

I'm curious as to how this can be done...most refrigerators are colder than that and most refrigerators have other things in them! I don't have a spare fridge that I can use just for this purpose...any thoughts?

I have only brewed Ale's so I'm not seeing how this will work.

Thanks

 

[Yooper]

I am interested in brewing an Oktoberfest later this month. I've got a couple Zymurgy clone recipes to work with and each one suggests that the fermentation take place at 50 degrees for 4 weeks...

I'm curious as to how this can be done...most refrigerators are colder than that and most refrigerators have other things in them! I don't have a spare fridge that I can use just for this purpose...any thoughts?

I have only brewed Ale's so I'm not seeing how this will work.

Thanks

There are a couple of ways this can work. One is a fridge or freezer with an external temperature controller. Another is a swamp cooler or fermentation chamber set up.

I usually only make lagers fall through spring, when my basement is 60 or under. Then, I can use a cooler and a water bath to keep my fermentation temperature at 50 degrees. It only needs to be 50 degrees for about 10-14 days, as by then fermentation would be about over. Then, I do a diacetyl rest at 60 degrees and rack the beer for lagering. Lagering is done cold, so I lager at 34 degrees for 6-10 weeks, depending on the beer, and that's right in my kegerator.

 

[TopherM]

Check out Biermucher's Oktoberfast Ale. It has a similar look and taste to a traditional Oktoberfest, but is fermented with ale yeast at ale temps. Might work better for you until you can easily control fermentation temps:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f63/biermunchers-oktoberfast-ale-ag-39021/

You really don't even want to attempt lagering unless you have a pretty good expectation to control fermentation temps. Lagers are so light in body that even the slightest esters or other off flavors willl be noticible in the brew.

I personally got a commercial beverage cooler off Craigslist for $125.00, added a Johnson temp controller for $55.00, and have very precise temperature control for $180.00. This has easily been the single best addition I've made to my brew procedures, and results in MUCH more consistently good beer. Well worth it, in my book.

Good luck!