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Author Topic: Slow lager ferment  (Read 8412 times)

Offline a10t2

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Re: Slow lager ferment
« Reply #15 on: March 27, 2012, 04:04:03 pm »
Interesting. I always thought one of the reasons why many craft brewers choose to brew ales over lagers is becasue lagers take much longer to ferment.

IME, it isn't the fermentation (though it does take longer) so much as the conditioning time. An average-gravity lager will be finished with fermentation and warm maturation after maybe 7-10 days, but it isn't going to taste "right" without a couple weeks of lagering.
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Offline pyrite

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Re: Slow lager ferment
« Reply #16 on: March 27, 2012, 06:32:18 pm »
Interesting. I always thought one of the reasons why many craft brewers choose to brew ales over lagers is becasue lagers take much longer to ferment.

IME, it isn't the fermentation (though it does take longer) so much as the conditioning time. An average-gravity lager will be finished with fermentation and warm maturation after maybe 7-10 days, but it isn't going to taste "right" without a couple weeks of lagering.

That makes sense. Thanks for the clarification.
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Offline mainebrewer

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Re: Slow lager ferment
« Reply #17 on: March 28, 2012, 06:36:45 am »
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions.
As far as copper goes, I think my IC probably takes care of that.
I have read in the Jamil Z/Chris White book about the relative slowness of first gen yeast. Maybe I'll harvest some of the yeast from the current batch and make another CAP just to see what impact that might have.
Also, from the Jamil Z/Chris W book on yeast, I did figure out that I might have under pitched by 20% from the recommended level.
I guess the take away for me is more/better yeast and some additional nutrients.
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