brewing at 14C too low?

[Symmetry]

Hey guys, I've been brewing a youngs kit in my spare room. Thing is that it's pretty cold in there, I got the feeling that it was better to be brewing at too low a temperature than too high in order to avoid off flavours. It seems to fluctuate slowly between 14C-16C and I don't really want to add a heating element but nor do I want it to be brewing forever, a man needs beer! Should this be ok at this temperature? Any idea how much longer this temperature will make the fermentation? original gravity was 1.050 from a youngs harvest scottish heavy kit with 1kg spraymalt/dextrose mix.

 

[Eric_S]

It sounds quite low. Is it fermenting ok? The brew itself will raise a couple of degs if its happy, but are you seeing activity from the airlock?

 

[Symmetry]

It sounds quite low. Is it fermenting ok? The brew itself will raise a couple of degs if its happy, but are you seeing activity from the airlock?

Yep, plenty. It's been bubbling away quite happily since the yeast colonised. I pitched it on the 16th and as of today the airlock (a super major type) is bubbling about once every ten seconds so it's still alive.

 

[Eric_S]

Sounds like it's doing fine! But keep an eye on your FG as lower temps can cause fermentation to stop prematurely (so I believe anyway!). But don't check too often as it'll cause risk of infection.

 

[PD]

Put a duvet over it. 14C air temp is a little low but all it will do is extent the fermentation time, however as said it can lead to it stopping working too soon
A covering over the vessel should be ample.

 

[Symmetry]

Wicked, thanks for the advice guys. I'll go give it a blanket and report back in a few days :)

cheers :