Davik Brewing

This is the time of year to brew those favorite lager beers that will sit in cold storage for months, aging and mellowing and creating the complex flavors we all love in a good lager. Since lagers ferment at lower temperatures, a yeast starter is highly recommended. The yeast must become comfortable at the lower temperature to be able to work properly, consume all the sugars and complete fermentation.

A high pitch rate will help all this happen, but the yeast needs to be accustomed to working at this lower temperature. To make this happen, start your yeast starter 5 to 7 days before brew day. Keep the starter in the cooler temperature at which you will conduct primary fermentation. Let it work it’s magic, getting used to the lower temp.

Once the starter has completed fermentation, probably in 2 days, depending on the gravity of your starter, add another small batch of wort. Continue this process up to brew day, by then you could have 1 gallon of starter.

It’s advised that you pour of the excess beer in the starter, and only pitch the yeast slurry. You should have a large amount of comfortable working yeast by the time brew day comes around. Be sure to cool the boiled wort to the temperature the yeast is comfortable, probably around 50F-55F depending on your yeast strain.

Once this is achieved, pitch your yeast and let fermentation take place.

Filed under: Brewing 101 on June 30th, 2009