Does heat effect my fermentation??

[dylan25]

Hi. Just wondering if the heat makes a difference on the fermentation. The room I do it in can get considerably warm sometimes up to 25C/77F! Not sure if it is good or harmful to the Cider? If anyone noticed anything or knows please let me know :)

Thanks,
Dylan

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I don't make cider but my wine sits at 26c this time of year and I have never had a bad one.

 

[klaus]

I did quite a few gallons of wine this summer, mainly juice and recently some fruit. July/August my cupboard was minimum 24C but no issue. Clearly increases in temp can accelerate fermentation. Personally I prefer lower temps, around 18C for beer or wine. I'm not into the technical background but from experience over many years slowish fermentation has always resulted in a nice product, though as was said 26C will produce good quality.

 

[dylan25]

Yeah I just read online higher temp=faster fermentation as long as it doesn’t get too warm. Thanks people

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Yeah I just read online higher temp=faster fermentation as long as it doesn’t get too warm. Thanks people

I think a low temperature is far more important in beer brewing wine is far more forgiving, if you are worried drape a damp towel over the FV i don't know if it makes much difference but know some members use this method.

 

[obscure]

My first attempt at cider got up to about 26°C and hovered at around 24-25°C for the two weeks it was in the fermentor it turned out fine, this could be pure luck will have to see if the second batch I am due to bottle which was at a similar temperature comes out as well, so based on this purely anecdotal example 25°C is likely fine.

 

[foxy]

Hi. Just wondering if the heat makes a difference on the fermentation. The room I do it in can get considerably warm sometimes up to 25C/77F! Not sure if it is good or harmful to the Cider? If anyone noticed anything or knows please let me know :)

Thanks,
Dylan

Fermenting yeast is exothermic, so so depending on the yeast, the busy yeast can lift that temperature 5, 6, 7, or 8 degrees Celsius. Might be better off trying to keep it cool.

https://pricklycider.com/2021/12/08/the-impact-of-temperature-on-yeast-fermentation/

 

[jof]

Just dont worry about it.
In the past people would just brew at ambient temperature.

Even beer chippy
Surely it's modern styles that worry too much about temperature control, and we should just adjust the beer style for season.

Cider would traditionally be seasonal, so starting in September & expecting lower temperature as the year goes on anyway. I wouldn't expect to drink until the following year.

 

[dylan25]

Do you use water to fill up your airlock because I see some people fill it up with alcohol like vodka. Tbh I don't think it really makes a difference.

 

[dad_of_jon]

Do you use water to fill up your airlock because I see some people fill it up with alcohol like vodka. Tbh I don't think it really makes a difference.

I use starsan in mine

 

[Stevieboy]

Water is fine. Maybe plug the top with cotton wool to stop the flies getting in

 

[MrRook]

Hi. Just wondering if the heat makes a difference on the fermentation. The room I do it in can get considerably warm sometimes up to 25C/77F! Not sure if it is good or harmful to the Cider? If anyone noticed anything or knows please let me know :)

Thanks,
Dylan

Depends on the yeast. I use EC-1118 every summer at that temperature with good results.

 

[obscure]

Do you use water to fill up your airlock because I see some people fill it up with alcohol like vodka. Tbh I don't think it really makes a difference.

Personally I use gin doubt it really makes much if any difference but I have fallen into the habit of doing so.

 

[dylan25]

Depends on the yeast. I use EC-1118 every summer at that temperature with good results.

Yeah thats what im using as well, hope it all goes well.

 

[dylan25]

Is it normal for a layer of foam to form on my cider brew after a few hours of fermenting? Idk bc its my first brew

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Do you use water to fill up your airlock because I see some people fill it up with alcohol like vodka. Tbh I don't think it really makes a difference.

I use sanitiser from the sink where i sanitise my gear before starting.

 

[obscure]

Is it normal for a layer of foam to form on my cider brew after a few hours of fermenting? Idk bc its my first brew

Little quicker than I would expect but perfectly normal.

 

[dylan25]

Little quicker than I would expect but perfectly normal.

 

[obscure]

@dylan25
For some reason it is not letting me quote you directly but to me this looks like a perfectly healthy fermentation, incidentally this is one of the reasons why you leave a bit of head room in the fermentor cider (from my limited experience) I find doesn’t tend to be too bad but some of my beers the krausen has being big enough to try escaping from the fermentor. It will be mostly CO2 a little yeast and possibly some of the material from the apple juice.

 

[dylan25]

Thank you @obscure

@dylan25
For some reason it is not letting me quote you directly but to me this looks like a perfectly healthy fermentation, incidentally this is one of the reasons why you leave a bit of head room in the fermentor cider (from my limited experience) I find doesn’t tend to be too bad but some of my beers the krausen has being big enough to try escaping from the fermentor. It will be mostly CO2 a little yeast and possibly some of the material from the apple juice.