Turning off the heat

[Tensbrewer]

Hi there

I brew AG brews and normally I leave the stuff in the fermentation vessel for two weeks before bottling, although the active fermentation is over after 4-5 days. This seems to work fine but my question is whether during this post fermentation period I could turn off the heating element in the FV? Also, while I normally brew bitters with an OG of around 1.050, my latest brew is a dark strong mild with an OG of nearer 1.060. Will this need a longer post fermentation stay in the FV?

Tensbrewer

[Martin G]

What temp is your beer fermenting at? I brew at about 19C and before I got a temp controller fridge found the problem was keeping cool rather than warm enough. I think temp has the most effect early on but if it swings more than 5C the yeast may react, eg. go dormant before you want them to. Usually people want the temp to gradually increase towards the end of fermentation to help clear up.

[JammyBStard]

Ideally IMO to clean up you want a constant or slowly climbing temp for the full two weeks.
If like me you only have heat (fish tank heaters) but have a relatively cool place to ferment. I find setting them to about 20'c at pitching is a good starting point then monitor the temp as the primary fermentation starts.
On a recent split batch I pitched S-04 into the first FV. the vigorous initial fermentation pushed the temp up to 22'c overnight, so I set the heater to 22’ and it stayed there for two weeks. If I hadn't had the heater it would have dropped again after the Primary and probably would have been less effective at conditioning.
In the other FV I pitched US-05 which is a much more sedate yeast, the fermentation never went over 20' so I left the heater set at 20' and let it be for two weeks.
That's my approach anyway, both were very clean.

[Tensbrewer]

Thanks v much Martin G and JammyB, I did suspect that I should leave on the heat, only my natural thriftiness (I am Scottish after all) made me tempted to turn off. Being. Based up in the Noth of Scotland also means that my FV is not very often at risk of overheating. I usually seek to maintain c20-21C and my fish t and heaters see, to manage the just fine, ambient outside temps are very rarely over 20C here and I brew in the garage so never really find overheating a risk. I will however. Leave the heat on for the full two weeks.

What do you think about the stronger mild? Do you think it needs longer in the FV?

thanks for your help so far.

Tens brewer

[Martin G]

I'm not really sure about the stronger mild time in the FV, two weeks sounds about right to me but I'm not speaking from experience, my strongest beer was 5%. The early stages went much as normal but the time to clear and condition were longer.

[JammyBStard]

I did suspect that I should leave on the heat, only my natural thriftiness (I am Scottish after all)

I'm Yorkshire, I can relate to that!