Northern brewer Oktoberfest secondary temp.

[wentsj28]

Hi everyone,
I just brewed Northern Brewers Oktoberfest all grain kit, and I'm wondering what I should set my temperature to while in secondary. The yeast packet says that the yeast like 48-59, so for primary I have my temp at 50-54. Should I just leave it here until kegging?

 

[Rambleon]

You're going to want to lager it once fermentation is done. Drop it to the mid 30's for as long as you can stand it. You can do this while it's in the keg.

 

[wentsj28]

So, in like a week and a half check my gravity? If its low enough, drop temp?

 

[Rambleon]

Yeah something like that. I would wait two weeks then take a reading. Wait two or three more days and take another. When there is no change between readings you're good to go.

 

[jdauria]

Not sure what you are using for yeast, but you may want to do a diacetyl rest before dropping to lager temps. I follow the 75-80% rule for lagers. Once the gravity has dropped 75-80% of the way to the estimated FG, I raise the temp to around 64F to clean up any diacetyl from the yeast for 2-3 days.

Those warmer temps usually finish the fermentation and then I love to the lager stage, but don't go right from 64F to 34F, I lower then temp 5 degrees a day until reaching my lager temp.