Brewing temp advice

[TheFerret]

Hello
Just started brewing kits, seem to struggle maintaining temperature, have left bin in airing cupboard but think it might be getting too warm...
Do people use ambient temperature as a gauge or actual temperature of the brew?
Has anyone used a fish tank heater to maintain the temp?
Was just going to leave it in the shed but with our UK summer, temps are varying between 8oC - 22oC during the night & day.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Hello
Just started brewing kits, seem to struggle maintaining temperature, have left bin in airing cupboard but think it might be getting too warm...
Do people use ambient temperature as a gauge or actual temperature of the brew?
Has anyone used a fish tank heater to maintain the temp?
Was just going to leave it in the shed but with our UK summer, temps are varying between 8oC - 22oC during the night & day.

airing cupboard will most likley be too warm for the yeast that comes with kits, but there are quite a few packet yeasts that can handle temps of 30 deg.

i can brew indoors fortunately at temps of down to 18 in winter up to 26 in summer dependant on where in the house I put the fv.

your shed needs some form of temp/control fv insulation for acceptable results. plenty on here use a fish tank with heater and put the fv into that. Best of luck.

 

[sjacksonuk]

Hello
Just started brewing kits, seem to struggle maintaining temperature, have left bin in airing cupboard but think it might be getting too warm...
Do people use ambient temperature as a gauge or actual temperature of the brew?
Has anyone used a fish tank heater to maintain the temp?
Was just going to leave it in the shed but with our UK summer, temps are varying between 8oC - 22oC during the night & day.

Your probably better off placing your brew in the garage or somewhere that's normally cool and then purchasing yourself a heating pad. They aren't that expensive but allow you to control the temperature of your brew a little more easily.



You should remember that the heating pad won't automatically turn on or off depending on the temperature so it's best to buy a little stick on thermoniter that you can stick to the brewing bucket and keep checking every couple of hours.

However if you want to move into the world of controlling your temperature at a more accurate level then you can come across the STC-1000 temperature control unit. I have linked a guide to explain the STC - 1000 and how to make one. http://www.berrybrew.co.uk/fermentation-fridge-build-brew-fridge/

With the STC - 1000 the idea is you should have a source for heating your brew and a source for cooling your brew. This where the brewing fridges come into play. However you are now getting into the world of spending a bit of money for keeping the temperature of your beer just right!

I would suggest that you give the heating pad a go and see how you get on. Sorry for bombarding you with information! :

 

[BeardySi]

Fish tank heater and a water bath. Simple and effective. Only downside is you can't get cooling from that setup, though that's not often a problem up here!

Just leave it in a cool room and come back in a few weeks!


Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[morebeer]

I am selling up my brewing equipment and have a beer fridge fitted with STC-1000 and tube heater for sale if it is of interest to you. photos and description can be found in the Articles for sale section....:

 

[stevey]

You could swap the yeast for Mangrove Jack M10 workhorse. It's apparently good up to 30 degs. I haven't had chance to use it myself yet, but I ordered 3 packs from ebay on friday afternoon and they were delivered saturday morning. £3.05 each, free delivery.

 

[TheFerret]

Why not put the heater straight into the fv?

 

[MyQul]

You could swap the yeast for Mangrove Jack M10 workhorse. It's apparently good up to 30 degs. I haven't had chance to use it myself yet, but I ordered 3 packs from ebay on friday afternoon and they were delivered saturday morning. ��£3.05 each, free delivery.

Used it on my latest brew. 28C in the FV. Took 2 days to ferment out because of the low OG and warm temp and the gravity sample tastes fine. No off flavours that can taste at the mo.

Have you got a link for where you got them off ebay. I cant find any on ebay

 

[MyQul]

Why not put the heater straight into the fv?

Because of possible infection of your beer

 

[Brightonnik]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171723146676

 

[stevey]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171723146676

Yep, thats the one. It took about 20 hours to reach me :thumb:

 

[stevey]

Why not put the heater straight into the fv?

Surely at this time of year, you've got to be more concerned with keeping it cool rather than warm? In my spare room upstairs with windows open front and back, the temperature is at a pretty constant 23degs; I would imagine your uninsulated out buildings would be swinging from around 15 to 30+. Not great for fermenting with most ale yeasts.

 

[MyQul]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171723146676

Superb! Thanks :hat:

Edit: Seems I just bought the last one

 

[JapanBrew]

I envy you guys. Here in Japan it's been 37 degrees and 90% humidity for the last month. Even in the spring, we are well into 25 degrees with nasty humidity. Fun living in a jungle.

 

[BeerisGOD]

Fish tank heater and a water bath. Simple and effective. Only downside is you can't get cooling from that setup, though that's not often a problem up here!

Just leave it in a cool room and come back in a few weeks!


Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

I second this. john palmer writes about a mate of his that just left his in a bath of water. over night the cooler temps would help control the overall heat at a lower end temp during summer periods. didn't mention a cooler room but this definitely helps, blinds/curtains drawn