First Lager - Temp Advice

[majorvices]

Since talking about lagering for some reason my fridge with j control won't go below 48 degrees even though it was working just fine last week. Will I be alright if I lager at 48 degrees?

You need to be at 38 degrees at least or the yeast will not drop out (or it will take forever). You won't get the cold conditioning benefits at 48 degrees. Sounds like your compressor in said fridge is dying, probably not the controller. Once it starts to go it will probably go all the way bad in a short time.

[snowtiger87]

+1. "Lagering" by definition happens at near freezing temperatures. 48F is not near freezing.

[hopfenundmalz]

+1. "Lagering" by definition happens at near freezing temperatures. 48F is not near freezing.

That is what I do.  Get it down to < or =35F.  Take it down 2 to 3 degrees per day.  Duration is at least one week for every .008 (2 Plato) of gravity.

[majorvices]

The only real reason to take the temp down so slow is to keep the yeast working cleaning up the beer. If you do a "forced maturation" or d-rest then the slow cooling toward lagering temps really isn't beneficial. At that point you can just crash cool.

[bo]

The only real reason to take the temp down so slow is to keep the yeast working cleaning up the beer. If you do a "forced maturation" or d-rest then the slow cooling toward lagering temps really isn't beneficial. At that point you can just crash cool.

I agree. A couple of days at room temperature and then crash. Works for me and I don't have to remember to mess with a thermostat every day.

[ynotbrusum]

A month at 48F and then transfer to keg or bottle (if bottle, then 2 weeks at room temperature) then drop it down to cold temperatures (you don't have to go to 32F for a good lagering).  I like to keep it in the keg for 2-3 weeks cold before serving.  The last week is under CO2 pressure.

Works for me.

[jimrod]

Take out or bypass the analog thermostat in your fridge. Use only the Johnson controller.   A lot of small refrigerators only get 40-42 degrees. Also move it away from the wall, sometimes the lack of air circulation makes the compressor overheat and shut off.