The Cold Side of Brewing… It’s Getting a Little Colder

Several weeks ago Andy purchased a chest freezer and until last weekend it sat empty. While this freezer will someday turn into a keezer providing us fresh home brewed beer on tap, it allows us to ferment at colder temperatures which gives us the ability to brew lagers. To this point in our brewing adventures we have done exclusively ales. The main difference between lagers and ales is the yeast and how they like to be treated. Ale yeast typically likes temperatures between 60-72 degrees Fahrenheit, while lager yeast likes temperatures between 45- 69 degrees Fahrenheit. Ale yeast is also top-fermenting while lager yeast bottom ferments, typically lagers ferment for a longer period of time before they are removed from the yeast cake.

With the addition of the chest freezer and a temperature controller made by our resident electrical engineer Andy, we were able to brew the Model de Mayo: Vienna Style Lager kit from Northern Brewer. This kit was won at the AHA rally that Andy and Brian attended in April, membership has its benefits.

The beer is fermenting well at about 59 degrees Fahrenheit right now and in a few days we will lower the temperature as we continue the lagering process. This crisp lager should be ready for the end of summer or early fall and will be fun to try on a hot day.