How hot is too hot? (Brewjacket solution?)

[Llamaman]

So, I was all set to order my kit and get brewing, when the sudden warm snap made me think about ambient temperature.
My flat is naturally warm - it retains heat really well and sits around 22-23C even during cooler weather. During the hot snap we just had in the UK, my brew cupboard got up to 26-27C. It's currently sat at a stable 24C.

Aside from the obvious saisons and Belgian styles, am I going to be able to brew anything else? I don't have room for a beer fridge and I don't want to use a swampcooler as a permanent solution.
I saw the Brewjacket Immersion Pro chiller but I have reservations about that - it's officially too tall for the 15L fermenter I was going to get, it will need me to route power to the cupboard and it's quite a big investment for a newbie. Has anyone here tried one?

 

[Covrich]

Brew jacket is expensive and you'd need to import from USA.. however it looks like a good solution so ill keep an eye out in the future.

You could try a brewcool bag.. with a a 2L ice bottle in it with a 15L fermenter it will reduce the temp a good few ºc.. the bag is huge however (you could get a 23L fermeter and a 10L in if you wanted so you would need to pad/ collapse it down.. But the solution does work.. You just need to swap the ice bottles once or twice a day

 

[Llamaman]

Just seen how expensive a Brewjacket is - blimey!
Unfortunately, I have little capacity to make loads of ice - we only have a small larder fridge with a tiny ice box. Also, changing bottles twice a day for evermore sounds like an immense faff that would soon put me off.

It looks like my options are;
1. Pony up for a Brewjacket
2. Gets used to making saisons and Belgian ales and little else (shame - I was hoping to make some porters/stouts)
3. Give up on the idea!

 

[Saisonator]

Keep in mind yeast activity can raise the temperature of the wort by 3 or 4 degrees.

 

[BeerCat]

Kveik yeast goes up to 39c. Soon many strains are apparently going to be available commecrially.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

1. Pony up for a Brewjacket
2. Gets used to making saisons and Belgian ales and little else (shame - I was hoping to make some porters/stouts)
3. Give up on the idea!

To save those that don't know what a Brewjacket is searching -

 

[GerritT]

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2. Gets used to making saisons and Belgian ales and little else (shame - I was hoping to make some porters/stouts)
<>

Save brewing porters and stouts for when you can ferment outside on the balcony or in the shed, and the rest of the year for glorious ales!

 

[AdeDunn]

I've fermented with Mangrove Jack's Liberty Bell at an ambient of 22 degrees C before now, and it's been done.

When it's warm though, it's the perfect time for Saison, wheat beers, and Belgian styles.

It's easier when doing all grain though, as I can cool the wort down to 18 degrees C easily, so by the time it hits 23 and over the danger zone has passed.

 

[Llamaman]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I've done some further research on this and there's a couple of other options open to me. I'm adding them here to assist anyone who might come across this thread and want some ideas.

I've seen some people have had moderate success building their own peltier fridge using 1 or two CPU coolers inserted through a Styrofoam box. This might work for me as I only need a small temperature differential (I can control my start temp by using cooled water and I won't be brewing lagers) and my volume is small (I'm planning 10-12L brews in a 15L bucket).

Then I cam across something I didn't know existed - a peltier cooled coolbox. Essentislly this is my idea from above, made commercially. I found one which will fit my chosen fermenter (with a bit of space to spare - perhaps not ideal) for about £100. I'd still need an inkbird on top of that, so this seems a bit pricy for a less than ideal solution.

Finally, I think I've found a proper peltier wine cooler that can fit a 15L brewbucket. It's a Kalamera KR-12AJPE. I'm checking with the manufacturer that it's wide enough (I need 28cm minimum) but if it is, it seems ideal. You can set the target temp to be up to 18C, so I might not even need an inkbird. I've also asked the manufacturer what happens to the settings if it gets powered off an on at the mains. I'll update this thread if I get a response.

 

[Llamaman]

I can cool the wort down to 18 degrees C easily, so by the time it hits 23 and over the danger zone has passed.

I like that idea! I could get my start temp low by using cooled water (I will be doing kits or extract) but my concern is that my high ambient temperature (24C or higher) and low volume will mean my wort warms up too quickly.

 

[Saisonator]

I like that idea! I could get my start temp low by using cooled water (I will be doing kits or extract) but my concern is that my high ambient temperature (24C or higher) and low volume will mean my wort warms up too quickly.

It’s not even a good idea with a 5 gallon batch.
It will heat up to and beyond ambient temperature way too quick and all you will be doing is standing there watching it with no way of controlling it.
Remember it will be heating up from outside and from within.

 

[AdeDunn]

Tell that to my last Saison, that took 3 days to hit 23 degrees C in a room at 21 degrees C. I wouldn't try it in a room at 24 degrees or higher though, I'd just stick with warm tolerant yeasts. Even that bit cooler, the only yeast I've found so far that doesn't taste funky fermented above 20 (other than Saison, wheat beer and Belgian) is the Liberty Bell.

One day however I will be getting a fermentation fridge, but don't have the space nor the money right now, so I find other ways.

For the record, I don't use cooled water to cool the wort. I have a copper immersion chiller, and one brew my wort hit 17 degrees C so quickly (I was aiming for 18)....

 

[Llamaman]

Update to my earlier post... that fridge is too small even for a 15L bucket.
W 26.4 x 35.1H x 33D.
They didn't answer my other query.

 

[Oneiroi]

I have a similar problem and have been looking at most of the things you mentioned.

DIY peltier chillers seem to be reported as a bit ineffective, especially immersion ones. But if you only want to take a couple of degrees off maybe it could be a cheapish solution.

Two other options I’ve come across that I don’t think you mentioned:
1) custom size insulation box from foam with a portable AC unit funnelled into it.
2) DIY Glycol chillers. A pretty hefty diy ask (for me at least) but potentially very effective and moderately cheap. Can also be smaller and more easily stored/moved than a fridge.

All in all I think I might just have to keep my eye out for a really small fridge (what the Americans seem to call dorm fridges) but will have to see how my new flat deals with my first summer in it ...




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[Llamaman]

I have a similar problem and have been looking at most of the things you mentioned.

DIY peltier chillers seem to be reported as a bit ineffective, especially immersion ones. But if you only want to take a couple of degrees off maybe it could be a cheapish solution.

Two other options I’ve come across that I don’t think you mentioned:
1) custom size insulation box from foam with a portable AC unit funnelled into it.
2) DIY Glycol chillers. A pretty hefty diy ask (for me at least) but potentially very effective and moderately cheap. Can also be smaller and more easily stored/moved than a fridge.

All in all I think I might just have to keep my eye out for a really small fridge (what the Americans seem to call dorm fridges) but will have to see how my new flat deals with my first summer in it ...

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Check out the Husky HN5, It looks likes a peltier fridge, so hopefully no compressor box taking out half the lower part of the fridge.
* Height: 485mm
* Width: 430mm
* Depth: 480mm
* Internal Height: 415mm
* Internal Width: 355mm
* Internal Depth: 325mm

I'm considering this or the Novatec IceProbe - it's a peltier rod (like the Brewjacket) but it goes through the side of the fermenter and you have to buy an Inkbird (or similar) controller. It also doesn't heat (but I'd get a brewbelt to do that). About £120 imported from the US.

 

[melhaer]

Hey guys, I am also looking for a solution to control fermentation temperature.

I have a space for a fridge, not that much but I will find some, and I already have INK Bird controller and heating pad, I only need one more spare fridge, but for now I can also use my beer storage fridge.

May be I can find a fridge for about 50-100 Euros second hand, or about 200 for a new one.

On the other side the Brew Jacket is 350 euros.

If we don't consider size and price...does the inkbird, fridge and heating pad works as good as the brew jacket?