Fermenting Lagers July 21 2014, 0 Comments

For lager fermentation, try following this fermentation schedule:

  1. Pitch into cold wort, around 45F.
  2. Allow the beer to free-rise up to your primary lager fermentation temp, 52-55F, and ferment at that temp for the duration of primary.
  3. Once primary fermentation is complete, preform a diacetyl rest, which entails raising the temperature to around 68F and holding it at that temp for 2-3 days.
A temperature controller (in conjunction with a fridge or freezer) makes lager fermentation much easier. Otherwise, consider using Wyeast 2112 California Lager which retains a clean fermentation character without a refrigerator between 58 - 68F.