Question On Fermentation

[snook32]

Brewed an American Style Lager (5gal) Target OG was supposed to be 1055 came in at 1060. Transferred to 6.5 mini brew conical at 65F and pitched 2 packs of Wyeast american lager yeast, no activity in the first 48 hrs, dropped it down to 48F and saw activity the next day. It has been 9 days very little activity but the SG is now 1040. Trying to hit 1012- 1013 for final reading.
1. Do I use SG to tell when Primary is done?
2.How long could a primary take for a lager?
3.Any need for a secondary if so when?

 

[Cimerian]

You should not drop down a lager until primary ferment is done from what I understand. They say lagering is flying blind unless you do a test ferment where you ferment a sample to get the true final gravity. I'm doing my first lager right now and I am using a secondary. I lagered at 50Fish for 2 weeks but I had bad yeast so had to repitch at day 5ish then I took a gravity and was .007 above what I wanted for FG. About the same as you are. I went ahead and racked to a secondary and began slowly lowering temps about 2F / day.

 

[Tim_Kreitz]

I'm no lagering expert, but I'd let it lager for 4 to 5 weeks. Lager yeast apparently works very slowly.

 

[dcp27]

1) yes
2) 1-3 weeks, (10-14 days on average)
3) not necessarily, but most rack it prior to lagering

you shouldnt have waited 2 days after pitching to drop to the proper temps, it really should be there prior to pitching. you likely stalled the yeast. id rouse the fermenter and raise it up a few degrees

 

[snook32]

Thanks, I'll try that.