California Common and hops

[kevin]

Last weekend I brewed a CC since my basement is cold enough to lager. I use only Northern Brewer hops for bittering, flavor and aroma. Last night I'm flipping through my byo magazines and the recipe in there has only Cluster.
I know I'm not going to nail the clone right on the head but I thought they used only NB hops.

[Bruno_78]

Isn't a california common fermented at ale temps with lager yeast? or is it vice versa?

[Stodbrew]

Yes, its fermented at ale temps with a lager yeast.

[Bruno_78]

so would it be safe to say that Kevin might get more flavor deviation from fermentation temps rather than hop selection?

[davesarman]

My last batch was a CC, and I used NB hops. Turned out great. Used White Labs California Lager yeast at about 64 degrees for the first week, then about 54 degrees for the remainder. I thought it was quite good. My wife, who after trying it without know what style it was supposed to be said, "Hey this is Anchor Steam!". I took that as a compliment.

[Wolf359]

It's my understanding that Anchor Steam is flavored only with Northern Brewer hops, however, Cluster should impart a similar profile. Both sound quite tasty.

[Grog]

Everything I've read is NB too.

-G-

[S.F.B.]

I'll chime in for Northern Brewer also. That is what I have always used.

[kevin]

after 5 days I needed to move the carboy to a warmer side of the basement. I dropped only 12pts. The temp on the cold side had a air reading of 48. I thought all was going well I was getting occasional bubble, lots of krausen but when I measured the gravity an relooked up the SF Yeast apparently I had the room too cold. Now she is bubbling away about once every 8 seconds. Oh and the taste is well sweet but the hop flavor may be pretty close with the NB...

[kevin]

wow after two days the gravity dropped 12 points. When I'm ready to rack to the secondary could I rack to my corny keg instead and place it in the fridge to lager for a couple weeks?