Quick Lager Fermentation Calculator

I built a lager fermentation calculator following a modified Narziss fermentation profile. See How To: Lager Fermentation for more information on fermenting lagers.

Narziss Fermentation Schedule

For a bit quicker turnaround of your lager, you can follow one of the lager fermentation schedules from Professor Ludwig Narziss. One such schedule is as follows:

1. Chill the wort to 9–10 °C (48–50 °F).
2. Pitch the yeast and maintain the temperature at 10 °C/50 F for 3-7 days.
3. Raise the temperature to 13 °C/55 °F and maintain for 3 days.
4. Raise the temperature to 16 °C/60 °F and maintain for 2 days.
5. Raise the temperature to 18 °C (65 °F) and maintain for 2 days.
6. Check the gravity with a hydrometer to see if the target final gravity has been reached.
   • If so, package and carbonate the beer.
   • If not, maintain the temperature at 18 °C/65 °F for 2 more days and check the gravity again. If the gravity hasn’t changed, proceed to packaging.

With a Narziss-type fermentation schedule, you can have a lager in your glass as soon as 2 weeks! What a time-saving method!

Brew the Looking Glass Lager Fermentation Profile calculator

Are you looking to perform a (modified) Narziss fermentation to have a quicker turnaround for your lagers? Use this calculator to determine what gravity “milestones” you should reach before upping the temperature.

Once final gravity is steady and there is no detectable diacetyl, you can 1) proceed to packaging, or 2) if your system allows for this, cold crash the beer to 0–1 °C (32–33 °F) for 2 days then package the beer.

Need less fuss?

Try the warm lager method (as published by Brülosophy).

NOTE: You may want to ease raising the temperature by bumping the temperature up 2 °C/5 °F every 12 hours until you reach the target temperature.

Once final gravity is steady and there is no detectable diacetyl, you can 1) proceed to packaging, or 2) if your system allows for this, cold crash the beer to 0–1 °C (32–33 °F) for 2 days then package the beer.

Feedback Welcome

Let me know if you found this tool helpful in your lager brewing!