Diacetyl Rest Before And After Racking

[steve78]

Hi guys,
I am new to AHB and am amazed at the knowledge out there. I have a question. I am lagering a German Pils at the moment at 12C and am on the diacetyl rest, but I was wondering if I can do this for a few days in the primary (its at 1016 now from 1053) at about 18-20C, then rack it off, and leave it at 18C for 6 days while I ferment an ale at the same time, then lager it for 4 weeks at 2C?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[antains]

Hi Steve78
Welcome to AHB. I hope you're still with us, considering how long ago you asked the question.

I'm only on my third lager at the moment, so my answer is based on that minimal experience.

Here goes (even though you're probably done by now):

Definitely do the d rest in the primary. I've been doing it for as long as it takes for the gravity to reach an FG and then rack. At the moment, I've got one that is on about the 5th day at 18C.

As for racking it off because you want to do another brew, I'm assuming you've got a fridgemate set up (or similar) to control the pils.

Do you really need to use this for the ale? Is there another way you can keep the ale within its temperature range? I would be fermenting the ale at around 18-20C, which is feasible without a fridge. Even if you use some damps towels and frozen recycled soft drink bottles against the fermenter. (Of course this is dud info if you intend to use a lager yeast.)

So, if it's possible, do the ale outside of whatever you're keeping the lager at 2c in.

The question then becomes, what if your pils isn't ready to rack when you want to set up the ale? I would put your options at getting another fermenting vessel (Bunnings $15-$20) to do your ale in.

If you're going to be brewing back to back, it's worth expanding your equipment range as a contingency.

I've currently got 3x25l vessels and 3x11l vessels for when I have mad streaks of brewing.

I hope this helps.

Ant.

EDIT: After reading over some of my original notes, I am bracing myself for a correction on d resting until FG.