Low fermenting temperature

[Sandybee]

About to start brewing and decided to test the temperature in my North facing garage.
Put 5 gallons of water in my fermenting vessel on a heating pad and discovered that it only reached 14 degrees C.
I know I can insulate this which should help. My question is - should I continue to experiment with insulation until I hit 20 degrees C, or will my beer come to any harm if fermented at 14 degrees C?
The temperature in the garage is fairly constant as, at this time of year it gets little sun and it is basically dug into a hill.
I'm quite happy to be patient and leave it in the primary FV for an extra week if necessary.
Somebody else out there must be brewing in similar conditions.

Sandybee

[smdjoachim]

You would struggle to get an ale yeast to work at 14 degrees,but lager yeast would be quite happy at 10-14 degrees.
Ferment in your house or get a fermenting fridge set up.

[Sandybee]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not too keen on lager - it's bitters a pale ales that I'll be brewing.

[Blackjack]

While the yeast is actively working it generates some useful heat itself, just so long as the FV is very well insulated. I use a sharp temperature drop after 3 or 4 days to indicate that ferment has finished. As well as an insulated cupboard I use a tea cosy type box made from plywood and 22mm insulating sheet. I often lift the edge of the cosy to let cold air in if the temp starts to run away too hot.

[Sandybee]

Thanks for that. I put a padded blanket round the FV and the temperature got up to 18C after 4 hours. With the heat of reaction with the yeast working I've decided it should be OK. Will just keep adding/ subtracting insulation to maintain 20C or thereabouts, but if there's anybody out there with practical knowledge of fermenting in garage/ outhouse, please let me know what you do to keep temperature in the proper range.

[lupulin]

Thanks for that. I put a padded blanket round the FV and the temperature got up to 18C after 4 hours. With the heat of reaction with the yeast working I've decided it should be OK. Will just keep adding/ subtracting insulation to maintain 20C or thereabouts, but if there's anybody out there with practical knowledge of fermenting in garage/ outhouse, please let me know what you do to keep temperature in the proper range.

I think that would be fine during active fermentation, but once it gets toward the end of fermentation it may have a tendency to quit prematurely, so it might be good to keep an eye on that.