Lagering, How Low Can You Go?

[John Sand]

My ferm/lager chest freezer is plugged in, quietly chilling my second lager. The controller is set at 34. Because the beer is 6%abv and under pressure, I realize that I could chill below 32 without freezing the beer. Should I? What do you do?

[BlackDuck]

34 will be fine. If you want to bring it to 32, you can, but I don't think 2 more degrees will make much of a difference, if any. I lager in the same fridge that my serving kegs are in. That fridge is around 36 degrees, give or take a couple. I've had no issues lagering at those temps.

[Kealia]

I don't know the specifics of freezing while under pressure, etc. but I typically lager right around 34 so I have a margin of error available.
I don't do many lagers, but when I do, I lager for about a week after I dry hop (like I am for my IPL) or post D-rest.
I go for about a week before kegging and carbing and then the rest of the lagering, like Chris, is done at serving temps.

And because it takes me 4-6 weeks to kill a keg most of the time, I get plenty of lager time.

For this batch, I have a lot of commercial beer to drink so I may just leave it for a month before tapping.
Sory, no direct answer to your question...

[John Sand]

Thanks, I think I'll leave it in the chest freezer for a week, then put it on tap a week before the local St. Patrick's Day parade. The party here after usually puts a hit on my beer.

[BlackDuck]

I'll add one thing too. My lager period is hooked up to gas. After the D-rest, I drop 5 degrees per day until I get it to serving temp, then I let it cold crash for about a week. Then I keg and hook it up to gas. I don't hook up the beer line though, this keeps me from trying it before the lager period is over. Since the Czech Pils is such a clean style, I usually try to lager for about 2 months. The last couple of years, I brew mine in February/March and plan to drink May/June. I'll be brewing mine this coming weekend and it won't get tapped until my Nephew's graduation party at the end of May/beginning of June.

[Kealia]

Side note: Chris, I still have the Pilsner you sent me lagering!

[BlackDuck]

Side note: Chris, I still have the Pilsner you sent me lagering!

Wow...I thought you drank that one already.