Controlling fermentation temperature for Newbies

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:33 am

As a newbie I have so far completed two kits which while not officially ready, still taste crap at a week or two after bottling. (Not a little off, but crap).

Now I do everything right apart from being able to exactly control temperature during fermentation. Currently the room temp is 19 (needs to be between 18-20) but the thermometer on the side of the FV says 22. I understand why the liquid is higher but how do I knock off those other two degrees or should it not effect the taste too much.

If I stood it in water would it take it too low?

My question is to those of you who are also fairly newcomers and dont have a fermenting fridge.......,

How do you maintain the right temperature?

If you dont, has it effected your brew?

millemg · Post by **millemg** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 7:37 am

I brew all my stuff in a heated brew cupboard at 21 degs, but on a warm day the temp can rise. Never had a bad brew yet with these temps.

Which kits are they that taste crap ?

Barloch · Post by **Barloch** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:33 am

I wouldn't panic if only a couple of weeks in the bottle, what kits are you doing? What fermentables?

I have had kits in my FV's at 24 degrees and it does no harm (imo)

sbond10 · Post by **sbond10** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 9:44 am

Newbie brewer here I use a aquarium heater 50w (only a tenner looks suspicously like what homebrew shops sell for 35 quod plus )I believe to keep a constant temp but believe me all beer after only 2 weeks of conditioning will taste bloody rank

lovelldr · Post by **lovelldr** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:00 am

I have a water bath in the garage, which I have an aquarium heater in. Have this put down to the lowest value (20'c), and then put the FV in this water bath. Keeps the temp nice and steady. Would've like a water heater that had a lower range (starting at 16 would've been great), but it didn't

I've also got another FV in spare room upstairs, and this seems to fluctuate between 18-23'c. First time fermenting in there (with a ginger beer), so hopefully will come out just as good, but those from in the water bath have worked great...

Dr. Dextrin · Post by **Dr. Dextrin** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:04 am

I place the FV into a larger plastic box and fill that with water. Then I put a fish tank heater in the water. With the heater off, evaporation keeps the water temperature a bit below ambient. The heater then adjusts it to the correct temperature. Just the tip of a teaspoon of steriliser (like VWP) in the water will stop it going smelly and slimy, which it otherwise tends to do.

This will cope with cold conditions and slightly warm days, but for heatwaves you'll need some sort of fridge.

To be honest, with the common dried yeasts, I find the temperature needs to be quite a long way out before you notice, although more specialist yeasts may be a bit more sensitive.

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:10 am

millemg wrote:I brew all my stuff in a heated brew cupboard at 21 degs, but on a warm day the temp can rise. Never had a bad brew yet with these temps.

Which kits are they that taste crap ?

The kits so far have been Coopers Australian lager and St Peters Ruby Red. I appreciate they are not ready yet but lots of people on these forums comment at bottling stage how "it tastes great already, shouldnt need long, going to be a great pint already" etc etc

The coopers after 2 weeks in the warm, one in the cold, still tastes crap and the st peters sample during bottling was crap as well.

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:13 am

Barloch wrote:I wouldn't panic if only a couple of weeks in the bottle, what kits are you doing? What fermentables?

I have had kits in my FV's at 24 degrees and it does no harm (imo)

My middle name is panic

Seriously though, I enjoy brewing the stuff but obviously there's not much point if the stuff tastes crap.

Of course it may well come good after a couple of months but Im not getting that warm glow that others seem to be achieving even at the bottling stage.

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:14 am

sbond10 wrote:Newbie brewer here I use a aquarium heater 50w (only a tenner looks suspicously like what homebrew shops sell for 35 quod plus )I believe to keep a constant temp but believe me all beer after only 2 weeks of conditioning will taste bloody rank

Problem is mine is the opposite problem. Brew needs cooling not warming up.

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:25 am

Cheers fellas, seems that its either not high enough to cause the poor taste or I need to try and find somewhere safe in the house for the water / aquarium heater route. Garage converted into teenager bedroom which in turn rules out over full shed.

lovelldr · Post by **lovelldr** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:45 am

Barticus wrote:
sbond10 wrote:Newbie brewer here I use a aquarium heater 50w (only a tenner looks suspicously like what homebrew shops sell for 35 quod plus )I believe to keep a constant temp but believe me all beer after only 2 weeks of conditioning will taste bloody rank
Problem is mine is the opposite problem. Brew needs cooling not warming up.

Have you not a garage or something? I leave my FV in the garage, as SWMBO will not let me brew in the house. This works great, as in the garage, it rarely gets above 16'c. Currently, it's around 14-15'c, and the other week when there was a good hot spell, it was 16'c. In winter, it's around 4-10'c. So, always need the heater on... Best option for you imo...

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:48 am

lovelldr wrote:
Barticus wrote:
sbond10 wrote:Newbie brewer here I use a aquarium heater 50w (only a tenner looks suspicously like what homebrew shops sell for 35 quod plus )I believe to keep a constant temp but believe me all beer after only 2 weeks of conditioning will taste bloody rank
Problem is mine is the opposite problem. Brew needs cooling not warming up.
Have you not a garage or something? I leave my FV in the garage, as SWMBO will not let me brew in the house. This works great, as in the garage, it rarely gets above 16'c. Currently, it's around 14-15'c, and the other week when there was a good hot spell, it was 16'c. In winter, it's around 4-10'c. So, always need the heater on... Best option for you imo...

See above re garage however currently in the garden weighing up options for 2nd shed

sbond10 · Post by **sbond10** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 10:52 am

My swmbo refuses to partake in brewing so all my brewing supplies have to come thru amazon vouchers but she does let me brew in house And ah yes I misread your problem stick in bath and if other half complains say it will do wonders for her hair

Barloch · Post by **Barloch** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:10 am

Barticus wrote:Cheers fellas, seems that its either not high enough to cause the poor taste or I need to try and find somewhere safe in the house for the water / aquarium heater route. Garage converted into teenager bedroom which in turn rules out over full shed.

Wat kinda temps will give an off flavour? I do mine in the loft and got temps of 26 some days

, nothing i could do about it either

Barticus · Post by **Barticus** » Wed Jun 20, 2012 11:11 am

sbond10 wrote:My swmbo refuses to partake in brewing so all my brewing supplies have to come thru amazon vouchers but she does let me brew in house And ah yes I misread your problem stick in bath and if other half complains say it will do wonders for her hair

Lol with a wife and three daughters my lovely brew wouldn't stand a chance! It would be full of all sorts of shampoo and cosmetics in no time!

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