How to cold condition (no fridge or garage)

[DaveM]

Hi all

I bottled my first brew (Festival Landlord) on Saturday and its currently sitting in the warm where it will stay for a couple of weeks.

When it comes to cold conditioning I am not sure what to do. I don't have a nice cool garage to use or a spare fridge. I have an understairs cupboard which will probably be a bit lower than the rest of the house, but not by much.

I was think of putting the bottles in a plastic storage container, which I would half fill with water. I could then add a few freezer blocks to cool it down further. I would change the freezer blocks a couple of times a day.

My question is would this help, or is it a bit unnecessary? What do other people to cold condition?

Thanks in advance.

Dave

 

[whiter shade of ale]

Hi Dave

I'm a jammy git and have a cellar which stays around 12 degrees (perfect) pretty much all year round. Lots of people seem to keep them outside in a shed or otherwise. Although obviously come this time of year that won't cut the mustard. Your idea sounds feasible but changing the blocks twice a day might be a bit of a ball ache. I'm sure there is someone on here with the same problem as you who will be along shortly with some advice!

 

[ericmark]

I keep in shed and yes it does change with time of year so in the main look at 4 months turn around which means at some point it will have been cold.

however there are many ways to reduce the temperature simple is tray of water with a towel covering the bottles used that in Algeria worked well at keeping beer cool. However in the house it will increase humidity in the house.

Add some thing to water to stop it going green and I am sure it would work well in the shed. My shed is on the old pond but wife will not let me make hole in the floor! Even without the towel any tray with water will reduce the temperature as water evaporates.

By me there were some hangers built during second world war with grass planted on top of them. During the summer they were a good 10 degrees colder than outside. I am sure turf on a shed would do the same and get it really cold. Clearly something to stop wind transporting it to next door is required.

 

[DaveM]

Thanks for the replies.

I agree changing the freezer blocks daily would be a pain, but if I get a good bottle of beer at the end of it, it will have been worth it!

I have got a shed I could use, however I was worried about the temperature variation. At night it will be nice and cool, but during the day it gets pretty warm, even now - do you think this will be OK? Will it just take longer for the yeast etc to settle?

Cheers

Dave

 

[sqrson]

I live in a flat and have the same 'problem'. I have started a similar post in the past ( http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=44641 ), and made a little experiment of my own. Have a read through it and stop worrying about cold conditioning - it is great if you can store your beer in cellar temp (they will last longer), but the beer will condition in the same way if you keep it in room temps too - not based on science, just my personal experience and observation.

 

[DaveM]

Hi sqrson

That's very interesting - thank you.

I think I'll see what the weather is doing in a couple of weeks and make a decision then - if the nights are still cool I think I'll go for the shed option, but if its getting warmer I may just stick them under the stairs (with or without the water bath) where it will be a more constant temperature (albeit warmer).

Cheers

Dave

 

[Maffa]

Thanks sqrson

Saw the other thread and good to know your findings.
I'm unable to cold condition well due to lack of cold area to store and haven't really suffered. Possibly a slightly cloudier ale but it still tastes great.

Maffa