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Author Topic: Variations in temp while lagering  (Read 4388 times)

Offline gmac

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Variations in temp while lagering
« on: December 04, 2012, 03:35:49 pm »
Right now, I have some beer lagering in a chest freezer set at about 34 F.  But, as winter approaches (slowly), I'm thinking of pulling the beer out of the freezer and just letting it lager in my garage.  I need the freezer to be a freezer again.
So, would variations in lagering temperature have a detrimental impact on finished beer?  The garage has not yet gotten cold enough to freeze inside although it certainly might if the temperature really drops.  But, in general I'd say it's likely to stay in the mid-30's with some swings depending on daytime temps.

Will these swings have a negative impact on the beer?

If a keg froze, is this a bad thing?  I don't think that they would get to the point of freezing solid, probably just get slushy and if they were going to get any colder, they could be put in the basement for a few days until the cold snap passes.

It's pretty warm right now so I'm gonna try to get another 10 gal batch of lager made tomorrow while the garage is still in the 50's during the day but soon I expect winter to finally arrive and lager brewing will end until spring.  But, my basement will be sitting at about 65F so ales will continue as usual.

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #1 on: December 04, 2012, 04:27:58 pm »
should be fine. frozen is not a problem. I have even heard it suggested that freezing can soften a beer a bit, make it smoother.
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Offline speed

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2012, 06:54:17 pm »
the beer temp will not fluctuate near as much as the air temp, you will probably be good to go.

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2012, 08:49:08 pm »
Attached garage? You could stick it near the wall against the house. Probably not as cold over there.
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Offline bboy9000

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2012, 08:55:16 pm »
Eisbocks are good to drink too.
Brian
mobrewer

Offline erockrph

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2012, 06:15:29 am »
If you put it in a tub of water that should mitigate the temperature swings quite a bit.
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline bwana

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2012, 08:00:37 am »
I ferment and lager in my garage and pole barn. My garage is attached and and never gets below 48 degrees. I control fermentation temps by raising and lowering windows. I'll stick a keg out in my pole barn and forget about it for a couple months or till the weather gets warm. I am very happy with the quality of my lagers. Last year I fermented a lager with WLP 830 at 60 degrees and noticed no off flavors. I say your good to go.

Offline hubie

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2012, 09:09:16 am »
I control fermentation temps by raising and lowering windows.

I'm thinking how cool it would be to put linear drive motors on your garage windows and use a Johnson controller to open and close your windows automatically.  :)

Offline gmac

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2012, 10:11:17 am »
I control fermentation temps by raising and lowering windows.

I'm thinking how cool it would be to put linear drive motors on your garage windows and use a Johnson controller to open and close your windows automatically.  :)

Like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYv8c4v_m1w
« Last Edit: December 10, 2012, 10:13:20 am by gmac »

Offline hubie

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Re: Variations in temp while lagering
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2012, 10:21:36 am »