Need immediate answer on lager pitch question...

[betarhoalphadelta]

I just finished brewing my first lager, and got the fermenter in the fridge. My goal was to pitch the yeast at 43 degrees, and let it rise to ferment temp of 49. My wort chiller only got me to 48, and it's unlikely the fridge will get me beyond 47 before I go to bed.

I have two options:

1) Pitch now, set the temp controller for 49 degrees, and let it go.
2) Wait until morning, when I'll probably be down to 43, pitch, and let it rise to 49 as planned.

Any pros/cons to either?

 

[Ryush806]

Why are you wanting to pitch at 43 degrees?

How confident are you in your sanitation procedures? If you aren't worried about sanitation and are dead set on 43 degrees then go ahead and let it cool off overnight.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Why are you wanting to pitch at 43 degrees?

How confident are you in your sanitation procedures? If you aren't worried about sanitation and are dead set on 43 degrees then go ahead and let it cool off overnight.

I don't sanitize; I sterilize.

I was shooting for 43 based on this -- https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Fermenting_Lagers#Cold_vs._Warm_pitching -- but now realize that it recommends pitching anywhere between 43 and 48. So I believe I'll go pitch some yeast...

 

[Ryush806]

I don't sanitize; I sterilize.

I was shooting for 43 based on this -- https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Fermenting_Lagers#Cold_vs._Warm_pitching -- but now realize that it recommends pitching anywhere between 43 and 48. So I believe I'll go pitch some yeast...

Got one of those household autoclaves?

 

[Hobnob]

Yeah... Go with your original plan and pitch at 43 in the morning if your sanitation was good -- A lot of people wait until the next day. I always pitch 5 degrees below target fermentation temperature.

Although I usually stay up and wait on the temp to drop. But really, as long as it's under and not over temp you're good to pitch.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Got one of those household autoclaves?

No... I ferment in a Sanke keg, so prior to adding wort I boil some water in it, vigorously enough to steam-sterilize any surface inside the fermenter. The only other hot-side post boil piece of equipment used is my CFC, which gets 10 minutes of boiling wort recirculated through it before flameout, so it's also sterilized by the heat.

I suppose that's not *true* sterilization, but it's close enough for government work.

 

[RiverCityBrewer]

With lagers I almost always pitch the next day... as long as you use sanitary practices you should have no problem.

 

[Hobnob]

bwarbiany, what lager yeast strain were you using and what were you brewing? Just curious.

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Oktoberfestbier, with the SafLager W-34/70. 10 gallon batch at 1.052, so I pitched 4 packs of yeast.

 

[Hobnob]

Sweet! Sounds good!