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Author Topic: An ale that tastes like a lger?  (Read 4727 times)

Offline factory

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An ale that tastes like a lger?
« on: May 31, 2014, 01:08:32 pm »
I'm looking for a recipe for an American Light Lager that can be brewed and then fermented with ale yeast at ale temperatures.  Has anyone heard of such a thing?

Offline chumley

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2014, 01:18:21 pm »
Yes....I have heard of such a thing.  It's called CREAM ALE.

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=6089.0

You can use WY1007 German ale yeast for this.

Offline denny

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2014, 01:48:02 pm »
But to really be successful, you need to ferment it at pretty low temps and be able to cold condition it when it's done.
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Offline factory

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2014, 02:49:02 pm »
Haha. Newbs, like me.  I guess I should read the style guidelines.  :)
Thanks!

Offline Jimmy K

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2014, 03:56:26 pm »
Or steam beer. But cooler than average fermentation is still better.

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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2014, 05:13:25 pm »
+1 to cream ale, done cool and cold conditioned.
Jon H.

Offline majorvices

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2014, 08:08:49 pm »
The important parts are as Denny mentioned. You still need strict time temp control. You still need to lager at close to freezing temps for a period of time. But WY1007 at, say, 56 degrees makes as close a lager as you can get with an ale yeast. And you could probably pull it off with WY1056 at very low 60s. Otherwise - ain't gonna get nothin' like a lager.

Offline erockrph

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #7 on: June 01, 2014, 09:18:49 pm »
How low can you maintain, temperature-wise? Some lager yeasts will stay pretty clean up to 60ish. WY2124, 34/70, and WY2007 all come to mind. The key is to pitch a crap load of yeast, and pitch at as low of a temp as you can manage. Like close to 40F, if you can manage it. You can go through the lager phase in the bottle if you don't have a way to cold condition in the fermenter.

You can certainly brew a lager-type ale, but it's still going to taste like an ale. Although lager yeasts are noted for clean fermentations, they still have a distinct flavor profile.
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Offline troybinso

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #8 on: June 01, 2014, 10:22:02 pm »
[quote author=erockrph link=topic=19471.msg248169#msg248169 date=1401679129

You can certainly brew a lager-type ale, but it's still going to taste like an ale. Although lager yeasts are noted for clean fermentations, they still have a distinct flavor profile.
[/quote]

Agreed. Lager and Ale yeast just taste different. You can have a "clean" ferment from either one and they will give a different flavor profile. If you want something to taste like a lager, use a lager yeast and ferment it at the right temperature. If you want to brew a beer with an ale yeast but you want to hide some of the ale features, use wy1056 or an equivalent and start fermentation around 60 degrees. It won't taste like a lager, but it will hide some ale-like qualities.

Offline majorvices

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #9 on: June 02, 2014, 09:30:14 am »
I agree with these guys 100%, but I will add two points. Wy1007 is so close when handled properly that you can fool some seasoned beer drinkers.

And Chico strain (wy1056/wlp001/us05) can be very clean even in the high 60s. It won't be a lager, but it will be the closest you can get, and if that's all you can do if say go that route.

Offline rjharper

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #10 on: June 02, 2014, 12:41:16 pm »
I brew a blonde ale, fermenting with WLP-001 at 60F then lager for a month. Macrobrew lager drinkers swear by it - I think that's a compliment  :o

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #11 on: June 02, 2014, 04:31:04 pm »
I brew a blonde ale, fermenting with WLP-001 at 60F then lager for a month. Macrobrew lager drinkers swear by it - I think that's a compliment  :o

Yep, 1056 @ 60F and especially cold conditioned afterward is very clean, surprisingly so.
Jon H.

Offline sambates

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Re: An ale that tastes like a lger?
« Reply #12 on: June 02, 2014, 05:13:28 pm »
Can't go wrong with the Blonde at 60-62. I did that using WLP051 Cali V, which is just as clean as 001, but leaves some residual sugar. I also think a California Common (AKA - Steam beer) or a Cream Ale would prove to your liking. I'd even consider using Wy2112 California Lager or Wy2565 Kolsch, while following the kolsch, cream ale, or common beer guidelines.
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