Lagering Munich Helles

[MW66]

I did a Helles this past weekend and plan to ferment for 2 weeks, rest for 2 days, and then lager. I made this for my FIL who will not be in town until the beginning of August. If I lager close to 34F, will it keep that long without any significant drop off in flavor? I was planning to lager in my keg until about 2/3 weeks before he arrives. Then, throw in my keezer to carbonate. My OG is 1.050.


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[Yooper]

Yes, that would be ok. Beer doesn't age fast at all at 34 degrees, so you'll be fine with that timeline.

 

[chemman14]

You can also carbonate while you lager

 

[MW66]

I could, but I don't keep my keezer at 34F.


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[BigFloyd]

Your plan is fine. The extra time in the cold will only make it more clean and mellow.

 

[reinstone]

How are you going to keep oxygen out of the keg if there is no co2 pressure?

 

[BigFloyd]

How are you going to keep oxygen out of the keg if there is no co2 pressure?

I believe that would be the function of lid o-ring. I purge them well, but don't keep my kegs hooked up to gas while lagering.

 

[Braufessor]

Could hit them with some gas now and then as it will go into solution at cold temps.

 

[MW66]

My process is to hit it with 10 psi just to seal the lid and then put into my fermentation freezer w/temp controller. I also backfill with CO2 before I transfer so that keeps oxidation to a minimum.

 

[Bulls Beers]

I believe that would be the function of lid o-ring. I purge them well, but don't keep my kegs hooked up to gas while lagering.

I never do either. When I rack to a keg, I blast with CO and purge. Lager for two months. Never had an issue.

That's not entirely true. I have a keg that I just tapped. A few days before I went to drink, I put keg on gas to carb. Before I added gas, I checked to see what gas if left after two months of lagering. This particular keg I noticed was the purge pin was left up and air has been able to get in all this time. Not good, but when I pulled a few pints, it seemed to be fine. I need to be a little more careful.

 

[reinstone]

I believe that would be the function of lid o-ring. I purge them well, but don't keep my kegs hooked up to gas while lagering.

Sure hope your temps don't fluctuate at all. Otherwise you will draw in oxygen-if it's not pressurized. The o ring won't seat without pressure. You need to total carbonate before you let them sit. Otherwise co2 will dissolve in beer and the headspace will replace with air.

 

[reinstone]

Your plan is fine. The extra time in the cold will only make it more clean and mellow.

And oxidized

 

[thegreatmaibockaddict]

Pressurize the keg with CO2 before lagering as people here are hinting.

It looks like you are assuming that fermentation will be complete in 2 weeks. Check and make sure. Sometimes fermentation can be slow. when you do the diacetyl rest (at 60 F I assume) it could even kick up a bit. Nothng to worry about, but be patient. Especially since you have a long time.