LalBrew NovaLager – brew clean lager and pilsner at ale temperature

Want to brew a clean, fresh and crisp lager or pilsner, but lack the ability to hold a traditional fermentation temperature of 10–12°C? Then LalBrew NovaLager may be the answer.

NovaLager is a modern lager yeast from Lallemand that can ferment at temperatures as high as 20°C while retaining the clean flavour profile we associate with pilsner and lager. That makes the yeast especially interesting for homebrewers who want to brew lager at normal ale temperature – without a fridge, glycol chiller or advanced temperature control.

In short: With NovaLager you can brew a clean, easy-drinking pilsner at around 18°C, a temperature many people can easily achieve in a basement, storage room or a normally heated room.

What is LalBrew NovaLager?

LalBrew NovaLager is a robust lager yeast developed by Lallemand in collaboration with Renaissance Bioscience in Canada. The strain was developed through classical breeding methods and is not genetically modified.

NovaLager represents a new type of hybrid lager yeast. It combines traits of traditional lager yeast with traits normally associated with ale yeast. The result is a yeast that works efficiently at higher temperatures but still gives a clean, neutral lager profile.

The yeast was developed specifically for pilsner, lager and modern styles such as Cold IPA. It has high attenuation, high flocculation and produces very little diacetyl and sulphur compared with many traditional lager strains.

Technical specifications Recommended temperature range: 10–20°C Attenuation: 78–84% Flocculation: High Alcohol tolerance: Up to 13%

Can you really ferment pilsner at 18°C?

Yes. NovaLager was developed precisely to produce clean pilsner and lager at higher temperatures than those normally used with traditional lager yeast.

Regular pilsner yeast often works best at around 10–12°C. Fermenting at this temperature usually requires a fridge or other equipment for temperature control. If traditional lager yeast gets too warm, it can produce more fruity esters, sulphur compounds and other flavours that don't belong in a clean pilsner.

NovaLager, on the other hand, can ferment at around 18°C and still give a clean, crisp lager profile. All the beer kits below have a recommended fermentation time of 14 days at 18°C.

That doesn't mean the temperature should be allowed to swing freely. A stable temperature always gives a more predictable result. The difference is that you can keep fermentation stable around normal ale temperature, instead of chilling the wort all the way down to traditional pilsner temperature.

Why NovaLager is easier to work with

For many homebrewers, temperature control is the biggest barrier to brewing lager and pilsner. NovaLager makes this type of beer considerably more accessible.

No need to ferment at 10–12°C

Fermenting at around 18°C can be done without a dedicated fridge in many Norwegian homes. That makes NovaLager well suited to brewers with limited space or equipment.

Shorter, more efficient fermentation

NovaLager works faster at higher temperature than traditional lager yeast does at low temperature. Even so, we recommend following the recipe and leaving the beer in the fermenter for 14 days. Always check that the final gravity is stable before packaging the beer.

Clean flavour with little diacetyl

Diacetyl can give an unwanted butter or butterscotch flavour in pilsner and lager. NovaLager was developed to produce very little diacetyl, which contributes to a cleaner and more predictable flavour profile.

High flocculation

The high flocculation means the yeast drops out well once fermentation is complete. This contributes to clearer beer and makes NovaLager especially well suited to pale styles where high clarity is desired.

Suits both beginners and experienced brewers

NovaLager makes it easier to succeed with pilsner the first time, while giving experienced homebrewers greater flexibility and better use of their fermentation capacity.

Fresh Wort Kits with NovaLager

Want the easiest route to homemade pilsner and lager? Our Fresh Wort Kits contain 20 litres of professionally brewed, water-adjusted wort that is ready to ferment. You skip mashing, sparging and boiling – just transfer the wort to the fermenter and add the included NovaLager yeast.

Match Pilsen – fresh and easy-drinking

Match Pilsen 20L Fresh Wort Kit contains the same ready-brewed wort previously sold as VM Pils – our most popular Fresh Wort Kit ever.

The pilsner is professionally brewed by Amundsen Bryggeri with classic pilsner malt and Saaz. The result is a pale, clean and very easy-drinking pilsner with mild bitterness, a crisp finish and high drinkability.

• Volume: 20 litres of ready wort
• Alcohol: Approx. 4.9%
• Bitterness: 8.1 IBU
• Yeast: LalBrew NovaLager
• Fermentation: 14 days at 18°C

Suits you if you want: A mild, crowd-pleasing pilsner for sport, barbecues, parties and get-togethers.

Bohemian Pilsner – more malt and bitterness

Bohemian Pilsner 20L Fresh Wort Kit is a Czech-inspired pilsner with a richer malt character and more pronounced bitterness. The wort is professionally brewed by Austmann Bryggeri and hopped with classic Saaz.

This is the choice for you if you like a pilsner with more character, good malt aroma, pronounced bitterness and a spicy, floral hop profile.

• Volume: 20 litres of ready wort
• Alcohol: Approx. 5.3%
• Bitterness: 40 IBU
• Yeast: Two packs of LalBrew NovaLager
• Fermentation: 14 days at 18°C

Suits you if you want: A classic, flavourful Czech pilsner with distinct hop character.

Mexican Lager – pale, crisp and refreshing

Mexican Lager 20L Fresh Wort Kit is professionally brewed by Austmann Bryggeri. Flaked maize contributes to a pale, dry and easy-drinking lager, while Magnum gives controlled bitterness and Saaz adds a mild aroma.

With low bitterness and an alcohol content of around 4.7%, this is an excellent thirst quencher for tacos, barbecues and hot summer days.

• Volume: 20 litres of ready wort
• Alcohol: Approx. 4.7%
• Bitterness: 15 IBU
• Yeast: Two packs of LalBrew NovaLager
• Fermentation: 14 days at 18°C

Suits you if you want: A pale, dry Mexican Lager with low bitterness and very high drinkability.

All-grain beer kits with NovaLager

Prefer to do the whole brewing process yourself? These all-grain beer kits include malt, hops, NovaLager and tailored brewing instructions.

Refresco Mexican Lager – summer in a glass

Refresco Mexican Lager is a pale, crisp, thirst-quenching lager with low bitterness. Malt and flaked maize give a clean, light body, while a slight tartness and dry finish make the beer especially refreshing.

• Final volume: Approx. 23.5 litres
• Alcohol: Approx. 5.0%
• Bitterness: 13 IBU
• Yeast: LalBrew NovaLager
• Fermentation: 14 days at 18°C

Suits you if you want: An easy-drinking lager for tacos, barbecues or hot summer days.

LITE Lager – low-carb without sacrificing flavour

LITE Lager is a refreshing low-carb lager in the Czech pilsner style. It is brewed with pilsner malt and Cara Pils and hopped with Saaz for a balanced, classic profile.

The enzyme Ultra-Ferm is added during fermentation. The enzyme makes more of the sugar available to the yeast and contributes to a final gravity of about 1.000. The result is a dry lager of around 5.1%, with a calculated energy content of around 35 kcal per decilitre.

• Final volume: Approx. 23.5 litres
• Alcohol: Approx. 5.1%
• Bitterness: 20 IBU
• Final gravity: Approx. 1.000
• Yeast: LalBrew NovaLager
• Fermentation: 14 days at 18°C

Suits you if you want: A dry, flavourful low-carb lager with fewer calories than regular beer.

Fairytale Pils – Norwegian malt with local character

Fairytale Pils was developed in collaboration with Bonsak Gårdsmalteri in Skogn. The beer is brewed with Fairytale Pils and Fairytale Munich, made from barley grown on Bonsak's own farm in Trøndelag.

Willamette hops add a mildly spicy and floral character, while NovaLager ensures a clean, crisp finish at normal ale temperature.

• Final volume: Approx. 22 litres
• Alcohol: Approx. 5.0%
• Bitterness: 28 IBU
• Yeast: LalBrew NovaLager
• Fermentation: 14 days at 18°C

Suits you if you want: A balanced pilsner with quality Norwegian malt and a distinct local character.

How to succeed with NovaLager

NovaLager is easy to use, but a few basic routines give a better and more predictable result.

1. Cool the wort to about 18°C before pitching the yeast.
2. Make sure the fermenter is thoroughly cleaned and sanitised.
3. Pitch the right amount of yeast according to the recipe or recommended dosage.
4. Keep the temperature as stable as possible throughout fermentation.
5. Let the beer ferment for the recommended time, normally 14 days for the kits in this article.
6. Measure the final gravity and check that it is stable before packaging.
7. Cold-condition the beer after fermentation if you can.

NovaLager removes the need for a cold primary fermentation, but pilsner and lager still benefit from some time cold once fermentation is complete. Cold crashing contributes to better clarity, a rounder flavour and a more polished lager character.

Brew lager and pilsner without advanced temperature control

LalBrew NovaLager makes it possible for far more homebrewers to make a clean, fresh and crisp pilsner. You don't necessarily need a dedicated fridge holding 10–12°C. With stable fermentation at around 18°C, the right amount of yeast and a little patience, you can achieve a distinct lager character at a temperature previously associated mainly with ale.

You can use LalBrew NovaLager dry yeast in your own recipe, or choose a Fresh Wort Kit or all-grain beer kit where the recipe, yeast quantity and recommended fermentation temperature are already tailored to NovaLager.