Keeping fermentor cool in hot weather

[Lars]

Hi, I ferment in an unused ensuite which is normally in the high teens. Problem at the moment is its at about 24C. I brewed a ttl clone today and just pitched wyeast 1469. To keep the fermentor cool I've sat the 25 litre fermentor into a 33l fermentor in water up about half way. I also draped a t shirt over it because I read somewhere that the water will wick it's way up the t shirt and cool the fermentation by evaporating. Will this work? Any experience doing this? Shud I be stocking an ice pack in maybe? I'd be gutted if I screw this brew up. I don't brew often enough to make piss beer

Thx

L

[JammyBStard]

It sounds like you've done what you can without a fridge. Ice will help cool. but a constant temperature is very important to yeast activity so you don't want to go up and down too much.
Whats the temperature of the water bath sitting at after 24 to 48 hours fermentation? that will give you a better idea of if its cocked or not, but then it could be too late.

[Lars]

Thanks JammyB I'll have to keep an eye on it as u say. Are off flavours more of an issue during early fermentation or is temp control equally important until you hit FG?
Also will the water bath just heat up to ambient or will it actually help to cool?
Got to get damn fridge sorted

Thx

L

[Brewmeister]

It depends how much you want to spend. You could shell out for a portable air conditioner which is about £90.

The cheaper way would be to continue as you are, but have a fan pointing towards your soaked t-shirt to keep the temp down.

Another way is to get two empty 1l coke bottles. Fill them with water and freeze. They melt slower than ice cubes which would be handy if you're out at work all day. When you get home, swap the one in the freezer with the one in the tub.

[Befuddler]

It depends how much you want to spend. You could shell out for a portable air conditioner which is about £90.

Might as well get a second hand fridge and temp controller for half that (or less, depending on how lucky you get). It'll work a lot better and be much more energy efficient.

[Martin G]

Before I got my fridge I used to cover with a box and swap frozen water filled PET bottles, recon I got a few degrees cooler in the box. Didn't do a water bath but would have thought it would be much more efficient at cooling than my box was because it should conduct better. I did try fan and wicking wet cloth but cannot remember how many degrees cooler it was, I do remember that I only did it once though!

[Lars]

Last year I spend nearly E500 on a length of SWA cable to bring power to my garden shed. I just need to dig a long trench by hand to bury it. I'll then have temp control for fermentation. I brew infrequently but I love it, itll kill me if this screws up. Measured temp of my waterbath this morning and it was 24C. Pitched wyeast 1469 in starter at about 9pm last night. I threw an ice pack into the water bath this morning to bring it down. The wyeast recommended temps are 12 to 22C. I think Id rather ferment at the lower end of this.
I'm thinking, If I had the freezer in the shed theyre so well insulated it'd probably maintain a high teens temp without even being plugged in at the moment?

[fisherman]

If you dont brew much maybe try brewing by season, In the past I have brewed and bottled in large volumes in spring and autumn when the temperature is suitable, . The only problem is you need storage and hundreds of bottles. Also this way you get great conditioned beer without priming that is in peak condition.
Good luck

[Lars]

That would make loads fo sense Fisherman but I kinda squeeze a brew in when I can and cant really plan it out like that. To be honest, if I ever manage to get organised I'll probably brew in season but with a proper temp controlled fermentation chamber...

Thanks

L

[Rookie]

Yeast choice can make a difference also, some are cleaner at higher temperatures.

[gnutz2]

Yeast choice can make a difference also, some are cleaner at higher temperatures.

Which ones?

[Rookie]

Yeast choice can make a difference also, some are cleaner at higher temperatures.

Which ones?

I recently brewed a pale ale with S-05 with my brew room at 22 that turned out pretty good. Several years ago I read (BYO I think) that there's a brewery in the far east using WLP008 at fairly high temperatures with good results.