Can i get away with fermenting this weekend's brew in my cellar,because of the hot weather.
The temperature in the cellar has been stable at 16.8c most of last 2 weeks.
Graham.
Fermenting in the cellar
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chivelegs
Re: Fermenting in the cellar
Should be fine, did you take that temperature reading at floor level or higher? I've found that my cellar is much cooler lower down.
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boingy
Re: Fermenting in the cellar
You could always use an aquarium heater to keep the temperature of the wort up.
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gunner
Re: Fermenting in the cellar
Thanks for you replies,yeah my upper floor level is between 22-26c on average over the hot weather,i have been trying to get a fridge off freecycle/get hold of a cheap one with no luck so far.
My thinking was,if the cellar is at just under 17c,it should be suitable, as its the temp of the wort not the ambient temp that is the primary concern.
How would an aquarium heater work,is it just put into the wort and a desired temp set/adjusted.
I have an ATC 800+ ready for action but cant get hold of a fridge,i have spent so much on this hobby lately dont really want to spend anymore at the mo,but with the weeks going past with no joy,i may well have to bite the bullet.I was under the impression it was easy to pick up a fridge on freecycle.
My thinking was,if the cellar is at just under 17c,it should be suitable, as its the temp of the wort not the ambient temp that is the primary concern.
How would an aquarium heater work,is it just put into the wort and a desired temp set/adjusted.
I have an ATC 800+ ready for action but cant get hold of a fridge,i have spent so much on this hobby lately dont really want to spend anymore at the mo,but with the weeks going past with no joy,i may well have to bite the bullet.I was under the impression it was easy to pick up a fridge on freecycle.
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boingy
Re: Fermenting in the cellar
In a perfect world you would use the ATC800 to control the aquarium heater but you can also use the built-in thermostat on the heater. They are not calibrated very accurately so you need to do a bit of trial and error with a bucket of water to find the best setting. Once it is set it will work fine though.
If you are sure that 17C is the absolute lowest temp the cellar will see then you would probably be fine without any heating. The danger is that a slight dip in the temperature could cause the yeast to surrender prematurely.
Round here the freecycle and freegle pages actually have wanted ads on them for fridges and freezers! On the odd occasion that one is offered it is snapped up within minutes.
If you are sure that 17C is the absolute lowest temp the cellar will see then you would probably be fine without any heating. The danger is that a slight dip in the temperature could cause the yeast to surrender prematurely.
Round here the freecycle and freegle pages actually have wanted ads on them for fridges and freezers! On the odd occasion that one is offered it is snapped up within minutes.
Re: Fermenting in the cellar
If your ATC is ready to go then use that. I have an acquarium heater (well actually it's the ELECTRIM 75 THERMOSTATIC IMMERSION HEATER from art-of-brewing.co.uk or any other homebrew shop), which is immersed in the beer. I've set the thermostat on it somewhere pretty high (maybe 25C) so when the ATC says its too cold, the heater definitely comes on, and then the ATC turns it off when its warm enough. Any heater would do though.
However......
17C is pretty much perfect, as as you say, the beer will be fermenting a bit warmer than ambient. I would pitch the yeast with the beer at about 25C, move it to the cellar. After 4 days when the beer has calmed down a bit, move it upstairs to warm it up a bit to make sure the yeast fully ferments the beer out. (I'd prob then move it back downstairs for a few more days after that for it to rest before kegging....all depends on how slippery your cellar stairs are holding a fermenter !!)
However......
17C is pretty much perfect, as as you say, the beer will be fermenting a bit warmer than ambient. I would pitch the yeast with the beer at about 25C, move it to the cellar. After 4 days when the beer has calmed down a bit, move it upstairs to warm it up a bit to make sure the yeast fully ferments the beer out. (I'd prob then move it back downstairs for a few more days after that for it to rest before kegging....all depends on how slippery your cellar stairs are holding a fermenter !!)
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hebbstar
- Steady Drinker
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Re: Fermenting in the cellar
gunner
I have only every fermented in my cellar. The temp stays fairly constant even the hot weather,around 18C. In winter drops to around 8C. I use a heat plate in winter with lagging around the fermenter to keep the brew around 20C. Only problem is flooding when really wet but just bought some wellies !!!
I have only every fermented in my cellar. The temp stays fairly constant even the hot weather,around 18C. In winter drops to around 8C. I use a heat plate in winter with lagging around the fermenter to keep the brew around 20C. Only problem is flooding when really wet but just bought some wellies !!!