Lager yeast for room temperature

[scaryeyes]

What kind of yeast would be best for lagers? I dont have the possibility to brew very cold. In some years when im moving to a house I can buy a fridge. But as it is now in this small apartment I have no choice.
I have heard of california lager yeast. Can work and even wyeastlabs Kölsch could work too.
Someone who know other that could be useful?

[UselessBrewing]

Both of those would work, however it wont be a lager because the fermentation temp is to high. If I were to choose between the two i would go with the 2112 California Common and keep it in an ice-water bath below 20C.

Last year Charlie Papazian released his Cry Havoc yeast strain through White Labs which is a hybrid Lager that can ferment 20C-23C with no ill effects. It was a very limited release, but if you can find someone that has some on slants. You should be able to make that work. For me, that's the one that got away. I have some rare strains in my collection, but not that one. 

My suggestion would be to use a clean Ale Yeast like an S-04 if you cant get any 2112.

Cheers
Preston

[scaryeyes]

Yea, 2112 is easy to get here. But the tip on the ice bath is not as easy. We dont have ice like that to buy in stores like u have in the states. But a nice suggestion otherwise. Maybe its possible to build something.... Just fill up with water and then change the water a couple of times during the day maybe. Im gonna do some thinkin about how to hide it enough from the misses, so it turns to be ok to have it in the kitchen..... Damn! I hate small appartments....

If someone else have any ideas, please post them

[t2000kw]

The Cry Havoc yeast appears to be still available:

http://www.mdhb.com/product_info.php?products_id=3699

Another yeast that is an ale yeast but is fairly clean is Safale K-97:

http://www.fermentationtrap.com/3016.html

It's cheaper, and stores better in your fridge for a longer period of time. It's a good Kolsch yeast. It produces very little esters.

Don

[scaryeyes]

Oh thanks. I have Kölsch in the fridge. Im gonna try that on my next brewing experiment. Im gonna compare 2 equal brews. 2 lagers, one light and one black. The same ingredients but more malt in the black. And they gonna be fermented in room temp.
I actually brewed several coopers with original yeast and cane sugar real good result.. Im gonna do the same with from scratch but better. I must experiment first with the hops.....

[t2000kw]

Think about growing your own if you don't already:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grow-Hops/

There's about 4,000 members there and some professional hop growers among them, too. I grow several varieties myself. It feels good to use your own freshly dried hops in a beer.

Don

[Mij]

You know, US-05 works pretty darn well for Lager style beers for folks who can't do lager temps   Yeah, I know it's an ale yeast - I'm just sayin'...  Keep it cool 66-68*F and let it work, it is such a nice clean yeast you'll probably be somewhat suprised.

Mij

[scaryeyes]

Thanks for all tips. Im gonna keep this in mind!

[t2000kw]

You know, US-05 works pretty darn well for Lager style beers for folks who can't do lager temps   Yeah, I know it's an ale yeast - I'm just sayin'...  Keep it cool 66-68*F and let it work, it is such a nice clean yeast you'll probably be somewhat suprised.

Would it be "too clean" for a Kolsch?

[UselessBrewing]

The Cry Havoc yeast appears to be still available:
http://www.mdhb.com/product_info.php?products_id=3699

It may be on their website, but I don't think it is available. I have not seen it in my LHBS in a long time. I may just try to purchase it to see if I can get it. Like I said, thats one that got away!

Cheers
Preston

[t2000kw]

Let us know if you actually can buy it.

[scaryeyes]

Yea! Looks like its availible here in sweden and even in denmark. Looks promising!

[t2000kw]

If no one in the US can get any, maybe we can get some through you?

Or maybe get a culture from someone like you and learn quickly how to culture our own yeast and send it around to those who are interested.

If it's not available here, I'd be willing to pay shipping costs and your costs to get it. But I'm not in a hurry. Maybe someone else here would be more interested in it sooner.

My favorite ale yeast is K-97, and I need to get some of that. But I'd like to try that yeast out sometime.

[MaltLicker]

You know, US-05 works pretty darn well for Lager style beers for folks who can't do lager temps   Yeah, I know it's an ale yeast - I'm just sayin'...  Keep it cool 66-68*F and let it work, it is such a nice clean yeast you'll probably be somewhat suprised.Mij

Danstar Nottingham is also very clean and can ferment down to 57F per its spec sheet.  If I were trying to mimic a lager I'd try Nottingham since I've had great luck with it down to 62F myself. 

IMO, neither would work as a kolsch since much of a kolsch's style is the light/delicate fruitness from the kolsch yeast strain. 

[scaryeyes]

http://www.maltbazaren.se/shop/search-1.html?keyword=Cry%20Havoc%20yeast      Sorry for the language. Its danish. Cant find anything when i use the english version on the webpage. Maybe its possible to contact them by mail.