Lagering with a break

[tezcatlipoca]

Hi, I'm still brewing!

I have once again landed myself in a predicament. I started a pilsner at the end of November and it's been lagering for 5 weeks now at 40 degrees. I wanted it to go 6 weeks, but I entered into this local iron brewer competition. We are doing a strawberry hibiscus saison and it olis time to cold crash it to 40 degrees for 24 hours. I can only keep 5 gallons of beer cold currently. Should I bottle the pilsner a week early?

Would it hurt to leave it outside cold storage for a day and put it back in, adding a couple days to it? Would the extra week be beneficial? Any other ideas?

As always, I have appreciated past advice and appreciate any comments on this question!

 

[solbes]

I would say lagering for 5 weeks at 40F will make it pretty much done. If you lagered colder, at say 33-34, then maybe another week or two may still offer a limited benefit.

I will say dropping it to 32F for a week will assure all proteins and tannins drop, giving you that brilliantly clear look and taste. So maybe put it outside for a day or two (protect it from freezing) while you cold crash the other brew, and then put it back in, set to 32, and hold near freezing temps for a week. Then package.

 

[tezcatlipoca]

Thanks for the response Solbes! I'm going to do exactly that except keep it inside. It's 71F where I am now and yesterday we saw 80. Yes, my AC is on. I guess I'll put it in an ice bath for a day to keep it somewhat cold. Would it hurt if it warmed up to 65F?

 

[solbes]

I guess I'll put it in an ice bath for a day to keep it somewhat cold. Would it hurt if it warmed up to 65F?

No, your sugars are all fermented, and your byproducts are all cleaned up. Your yeast should not contribute anything negative at 65F for a day or two.

I have a similar situation where my next keg due up is a Vienna. It fermented for 2 weeks, and lagered for 5 weeks in secondary. It's been sitting in my basement room in a keg at about 58F waiting for its spot in the keg fridge. Its been waiting for 3 weeks now and I don't expect that will harm it any at all.

 

[tezcatlipoca]

Ok, thanks again. End game I will have a chest freezer for beer making, but this probably won't happen until August. Sadly, I've already been given a freezer but I won't have the space for it until then.

I appreciate the help!

 

[Cyclman]

What was your OG?

1050 or less, go ahead and bottle. 1060 or more, I might lager after the other beer is done.

Or, lager in bottles.