Temps & control

[eccipoo]

I'm brewing a coopers Canadian blonde atm and it's starting to get slightly colder here in Ireland. I think my temps might stay between 16-18 degrees in my house, which I think is fine seeing as this is lager....however with coopers own instructions it's calling for between 18-26

I was always under the assumption lagers were for brewing in colder temps? Will the colder temps effect the taste of my beer in the end compared to a fermentation on the higher end of scale? Cheer!

 

[user 144271]

I have brewed that same brew at 16-18. It turned very good. It may take a little longer to ferment though.
Coopers has their own strain of lager yeast that likes warmer temps than most other lagers but it will handle the 16-18 degrees

 

[eccipoo]

Magic, thanks a million!

 

[BigFloyd]

Some of those sort of kits call it a lager, but they include their standard ale yeast. I can imagine it turning out well if kept at 16-18*C (beer temp, not air).

I'm also thinking that those who ferment at the upper range of what those instructions say (26*C is 79*F!) are going to end up with a batch of horrible-tasting, undrinkable swill. Why does Coopers (btw, Mr. Beer does the same) encourage their customers to ruin their beer like that?

 

[eccipoo]

From reading about how important temps are through info on this site, I gathered it might have effected the taste if temps were higher!

My first LME kit, a woodefordes wherry, was done during quite a warm spell at home, really fast fast fermentation, sat at 26 degrees pretty much the whole time. And even though it was also my first time drinking home brew, I did think there was a slight after taste from the ale even though it was still really nice!! I put that down to possible high temp fermentation.

I'll be really pleased if this Canadian blonde stays at around 18

Has anyone ever brewed any coopers kits and not used the specified yeast? For example, if a coopers lager kit was bought. Used an actual lager yeast?

 

[BigFloyd]

From reading about how important temps are through info on this site, I gathered it might have effected the taste if temps were higher!

My first LME kit, a woodefordes wherry, was done during quite a warm spell at home, really fast fast fermentation, sat at 26 degrees pretty much the whole time. And even though it was also my first time drinking home brew, I did think there was a slight after taste from the ale even though it was still really nice!! I put that down to possible high temp fermentation.

I'll be really pleased if this Canadian blonde stays at around 18

Has anyone ever brewed any coopers kits and not used the specified yeast? For example, if a coopers lager kit was bought. Used an actual lager yeast?

I'm sure it's been done. You would have to, however, pitch and ferment around 9-10*C, followed by a d-rest for a few days at 15-16*C. Then you'll want to lager it for a month or two at 2*C.

Unless you have a fermenter chamber, it's rather tough to do.