Wyeast 2124 @ ale temps

[madscientist]

Preliminary results are in - Fermenting at ale temps with 2124 results in a very clean beer.  I used it in an “Oktoberfest.”  I used 2 smack packs and made about a 1.5 L starter.  OG was 1.052, FG is sitting at 1.010 on the nose.  Fermented at about 62-64 for 2 weeks, and in week 3 let the temp rise up to 68.  Will bottle it probably Thursday night.

Anyone thinking of trying this, I highly recommend it.  Just my 2 cents.

[punatic]

2124 is my go to lager yeast when I brew German style lagers.  It is an excellent yeast.  I’m not surprised it is well behaved at ale fermentation temps too.

Of course when I brew with it I wear sweaters with elbow patches, quote beat poetry, and drink coffee from a bowl-sized mug.    8)

[erockrph]

Thanks for the feedback. I’ve heard mixed things on this strain at ale temps, but I will definitely look into it in the near future. I have a starter of 2633 crashing as we speak for my Ofest, but if I can cheat a bit and only need to keep my swamp cooler in the low 60s instead of 50 I will probably use 2124 for my future “lagers”.

Anyone ever use 2124 in a dopplebock?

@punatic

Of course when I brew with it I wear sweaters with elbow patches, quote beat poetry, and drink coffee from a bowl-sized mug.    8)

I know what I know, if you know what I mean.

Hmm… this could get real obscure real fast…

[punatic]

[u]“Woman,  whoa man, whooooooa man…”[/u]

[tschmidlin]

@madscientist

Preliminary results are in - Fermenting at ale temps with 2124 results in a very clean beer.  I used it in an “Oktoberfest.”  I used 2 smack packs and made about a 1.5 L starter.  OG was 1.052, FG is sitting at 1.010 on the nose.  Fermented at about 62-64 for 2 weeks, and in week 3 let the temp rise up to 68.  Will bottle it probably Thursday night.

Anyone thinking of trying this, I highly recommend it.  Just my 2 cents.

I just want to point out for people that you are pitching at higher than normal ale rates for that beer, which will also affect the flavor and make it cleaner.  If you used the same yeast in all respects as if it were an ale yeast (ale pitching rates and temps) you might have different results.

[erockrph]

What temp did you pitch at? I was thinking of getting down as close to 45 as I can to pitch, then let it rise to about 60-62 and hold the temp there.

[kylekohlmorgen]

@tschmidlin

@madscientist

Preliminary results are in - Fermenting at ale temps with 2124 results in a very clean beer.  I used it in an “Oktoberfest.”  I used 2 smack packs and made about a 1.5 L starter.  OG was 1.052, FG is sitting at 1.010 on the nose.  Fermented at about 62-64 for 2 weeks, and in week 3 let the temp rise up to 68.  Will bottle it probably Thursday night.

Anyone thinking of trying this, I highly recommend it.  Just my 2 cents.

I just want to point out for people that you are pitching at higher than normal ale rates for that beer, which will also affect the flavor and make it cleaner.  If you used the same yeast in all respects as if it were an ale yeast (ale pitching rates and temps) you might have different results.

Agreed. We had a commercial brewery that brewed an “aleger” - a beer with lager yeast fermenting at ale temperatures. It was TERRIBLE.

[madscientist]

@erockrph

What temp did you pitch at? I was thinking of getting down as close to 45 as I can to pitch, then let it rise to about 60-62 and hold the temp there.

I pitched probably at 60, 62?  Getting the tap water cold enough has been a pain in the rear my bast two batches, and I unfortunately don’t have a pre-chiller (yet, its on the to do…).  But it’s also the reason I haven’t brewed anything more.