Fermentation temp varience

[dickiedavis]

Hi All,

New boy here... be gentle...

I've been reading about temperature when fermenting ale from kits and am mighty confused about the optimum temp. I've done a few kits with varying results and all said ferment at 18 - 20 degrees. Is that a 'ball park' figure by the manufactures? I would have thought that it depended on the type of yeast and kit?

I currently chuck them all in a water bath at 18 degrees, or thereabouts. Would a degree or two higher or lower do any harm?

Cheers,

D

 

[PD]

Its an approximate figure. I've found its beneficial to keep fermentation under 20c ( dont forget the yeast give off heat when working ) but even a degree or 2 higher will cause you no great problem.
Thats for ale yeasts of course...it using Lager yeasts you should be fermenting a lot cooler around 9-12C.
Importantly for beers it should be kept at fermenting temps for a few weeks after fermentation has finished and then moved to a cooler spot for 2 weeks before bottling. Thats to help the yeasts fall out of suspention so clear beer can be racked off.

Welcome to the forum

 

[NickW]

Importantly for beers it should be kept at fermenting temps for a few weeks after fermentation has finished and then moved to a cooler spot for 2 weeks before bottling. Thats to help the yeasts fall out of suspention so clear beer can be racked off.

Do you mean weeks PD? Seems like a long time....

 

[dickiedavis]

Blimey, I only ever leave mine for a few days after ferm has stopped in the same bucket and then keg it. That may explain my cloudy beer!
I'll take the next brew off of the dead yeast for a bit, then.

 

[rpt]

I think he means days. I usually bottle ales 2 weeks after brew day.

 

[PD]

nope I meant weeks around two to be precise..
when fermentation is finished or over 10 days I rack to a secondary vessel for 2 weeks for the yeasts to finish off and begin to settle out.
I then leave my beer for a further one - two weeks cool before I corny or keg.

It might be excesive for some but its what I do, my bottles have very little sediment in them after priming and I seem to get clearer beer.