I am 5 days into the fermentation of a Bohemian pilsener. Fermentation temp. is 50F in a plastic bucket. I am planning on racking to a glass carboy (and using a stick-on aquarium style thermometer) for lagering, but wish to do a 1 day diacetyl rest at 60F. With my beer in the plastic I can not easily monitor the temp. without removing the airlock and sticking in the thermometer (I fear contamination).
To do a dicetyl rest, from what I understand, I am relying on the yeast to absorb the offending flavors. If I rack to the secondary before doing the diacetyl rest, will there be enough active yeast in the beer to be effective?
Should I leave my beer in the plastic for the diacetyl rest and risk infection, or should I rack to the secondary to easily monitor temp, but risk a low yeast count?
Thanks in advance for your help!
-bill.
Doing first true lager...diacetyl rest question
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It relates to the yeast you are using
G'Day
The diacetyl rest needs to be done if you are having a diacetyl problem. If you don't have this problem don't worry. When the fermentation is complete rack it to your secondry and lager the beer for 3 weeks or so. Then bottle, keg and enjoy.
What I do for a diacetly rest is bring the beer to room temperature (say 20C) and leave for 2 days to complete fermentation. You can take a reading and when its 1.020 or below then do the rest. It will not spoil the lager.
Cheers
Ray Mills
The diacetyl rest needs to be done if you are having a diacetyl problem. If you don't have this problem don't worry. When the fermentation is complete rack it to your secondry and lager the beer for 3 weeks or so. Then bottle, keg and enjoy.
What I do for a diacetly rest is bring the beer to room temperature (say 20C) and leave for 2 days to complete fermentation. You can take a reading and when its 1.020 or below then do the rest. It will not spoil the lager.
Cheers
Ray Mills