Steam Beer Question

[BigJerk]

I'm making a steam beer this weekend. I've never done this style before, and I was wondering if the lager yeast creates a krasen like ale yeast. Do I need to use my blowoff hose or will the airlock be enough?

 

[bgraham]

Mine never went crazy, it was fine. I hope you're using a california lager yeast or just a california ale yeast and not a regular lager yeast. You can never be too careful though,
I almost always use a blowoff tube anymore.

Here's some great discussion with Jamil about steam beer...
http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/membersarchive/Jamil07-31-06.mp3

 

[BigJerk]

Thanks, I'm using wyeast's california lager yeast. I always use a blowoff hose for their american ale yeast, I just didn't know if the lager yeast would act differently since it ferments differently.

 

[overflow]

I would definitely suggest using a blowoff. California Lager yeast can be a beast once it get's going.

 

[avidhomebrewer]

Yeah, use a blowoff tube. The California lager yeast does get going.

 

[Beer604]

I think it depends on what temperature are you fermenting on.
I just used the California Lager yeast 2112 @15C (58F) it was in primary for 12 days and no blow off tube was necessary.
I hope this helps.

 

[agroff383]

I would definitely suggest using a blowoff. California Lager yeast can be a beast once it get's going.

Yes yes it does, I hope you have a way to keep it at the right temp or you will end up with some very undrinkable beer.

 

[BigJerk]

its been pretty cold here, and the SWMBO doesn't let me me turn on the heat, so it should stay pretty cool. I can always swamp cool if needed. keeping it under 64 is no problem. if it needs to be under 60 I'll swamp cool. It's an experimentation, and the recipe says to keep it around 60, I think I can do that.

 

[jfr1111]

Use a swamp cooler. If the recipe calls for 60F, you can't trust the fermentation temperatures to stay in that range if your ambiant temperature is around 64-66F.

 

[Stellrbrewr]

I've used this strain a lot, with a few different styles including cali common. I've always used the blowoff tube, but I've never had it touch the tube for anything 65F and under. I use a 6 gallon better bottle. I've also had very drinkable beer come from fermenting this even up to 72F, its just not as smooth.

 

[BigJerk]

cool, thanks for the info, I think I will swamp cool, since it's a lager yeast I guess I don't really have to worry about going too cool, I don't think it's possible for me to get it below 55 anyway, and after the first 4 days of primary with my ales the temp will drop below 60 if I don't heat the fermentor.

 

[Yooper]

Make sure you pitch the correct amount of yeast. When I use Wyeast 2112, I use a fairly big starter so I can ferment in the low 60s easily.

 

[BigJerk]

I don't have time to make a starter, the original recipe only says one pack, and I've never had a problem in the past, so I guess this might be a learning experience. I also used centennial hops instead of northern brewer, but I thought the flavors would be fun. we'll see, I've only ever used the 1056 before, so I haven't had a lot of experience with yeasts. I've been working on temp control as best I can in an apartment, and now that I've got that solved, I'm moving towards yeasts. Next is going to be partial to all grain (I've been doing extract with specialty grains) I kinda like to focus and master one thing at a time, and I'm a big trial by fire person, so I'll make some mistakes, then come here and read about what I should have done, spew out some curse words, then do what I should have done in the first place. Sometimes I get some happy mistakes :fro:

 

[BigJerk]

Ok, so I just pitched at 60 degrees and set up the swamp cooler, so hopefully it'll stay around that temp. I'll cross my fingers for a good brew!

 

[wildwest450]

Sometimes I get some happy mistakes :fro:

Unfortunately, you never will under pitching yeast.

 

[BigJerk]

Signs of active fermentation after less then 24 hours, hopefully a good sign for the pitch rate.

 

[david58]

Yeah, use a blowoff tube. The California lager yeast does get going.

Brewed Saturday evening, and things got active yesterday afternoon. Used a blowoff tube as I ran short on fermentation locks - we keep going into the laundry room just to listen to the bubbling. Most active fermentation I've had yet (this is batch 7). Hope it comes out good....

Used one vial White Labs Calif Lager. Temp is about 66.