IPA brewing temperature

[GazzaW57]

Yesterday, I started off a Bulldog Rajas Reward, which was a Christmas present from the beloved.

As my kitchen can be a bit chilly, I used a heat pad to make sure the temperature remained constant. However, I’ve just checked it, and it’s brewing at 26/27 degrees, which is far too high. I’ve unplugged the heat pad now, but I’m really hoping it won’t affect the fermentation process. I did take a sneaky peak earlier, and it was frothing away nicely, but I am aware that the high temperature may have an adverse effect. Time will tell.

 

[klaus]

How about just wrapping FV with a sweater or two, or some insulation material? The fermentation itself creates heat, that way you'll keep it in. When we had the heatwave I had both beers and wine going at around 24C and turned out ok.

 

[GazzaW57]

Thank you, as soon as the temperature lowers enough (which will probably be tomorrow morning), I’ll do that. It’ll probably brighten the kitchen , but annoy SWMBO.

 

[GazzaW57]

Update: I’ve been keeping an eye on the fv since I turned off the heat mat and it’s steady at around 20 degrees which is a lot better than 26 or 27. I haven’t had to resort to covering it with a blanket or sweater as yet, but will do so if the temperature drops. I’m hopeful this will turn out ok

 

[The Baron]

It will be the evenings/night time when the house cools down that may start a temp drop again just monitor it. I have a heating pad that I use if it drops overnight the next morning and then wrap to insulate it too

 

[GazzaW57]

It will be the evenings/night time when the house cools down that may start a temp drop again just monitor it. I have a heating pad that I use if it drops overnight the next morning and then wrap to insulate it too

Thank you. That’s what I’m now doing. The temperature was hovering around the 18 degree mark when I was going to bed, so I put the heating belt on overnight and turned it off when I got up.

 

[The Baron]

Hi Gazza you could use the heat belt with a inkbird to control it and turn the heat on as and when it needs it to keep it reasonably constant. Not as good as a brew fridge but if you eventually do go down that avenue the inkbird will control the fridge too(get a hot and cold control plug and play inkbird so that it can be used in the future for a fermentation fridge)

 

[GazzaW57]

Thank you. I’ve looked at the inkbird, but I’ve already got more gadgets thank I need, so I’m going to have to shelve that for the time being.

 

[Brewelder]

Yesterday, I started off a Bulldog Rajas Reward, which was a Christmas present from the beloved.

As my kitchen can be a bit chilly, I used a heat pad to make sure the temperature remained constant. However, I’ve just checked it, and it’s brewing at 26/27 degrees, which is far too high. I’ve unplugged the heat pad now, but I’m really hoping it won’t affect the fermentation process. I did take a sneaky peak earlier, and it was frothing away nicely, but I am aware that the high temperature may have an adverse effect. Time will tell.

The best way, but requires more money, is to run your heat pad through an Inkbird set at 20-21 degrees. The Inkbird will switch the pad on and off as required but will maintain the desired temperature for you. I have one on the go right now and i have mine set at 21 degrees through the inkbird.

Or, try putting an insulating layer between the heat pad and the FV, just to sort of cushion the direct heat.

 

[Boatbrewer]

This is interesting as keeping a regulated temperature is a big issue for me. I live on a boat where the temperature fluctuates massively. Morning temperature before I light the fire was 5 degrees before Christmas.
I don't have room for a beer fridge set up but was thinking of a heat pad controlled by an ink bird wrapped in an old blanket. Can you tape the probe to the FV and get it to work that way?

 

[The Baron]

Yes I would think it would work with a piece of foam over the probe then tape it to the TV that should help to stabilise the temp fluctuations

 

[The Baron]

FV not TV

 

[dmtaylor]

Throw your heat pad in the trash, unless you plan on messing around with kveik yeast at some point in the future. For non-kveik yeasts, you shouldn't need a heat pad at all ever.

 

[The Baron]

Not good advice there are times when a heat pad will help in rooms that get cold as large fluctuations will stress yeasts and don not help in stopping stuck fermentations

 

[GazzaW57]

Throw your heat pad in the trash, unless you plan on messing around with kveik yeast at some point in the future. For non-kveik yeasts, you shouldn't need a heat pad at all ever.

Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t agree with that. My kitchen can get very cold in the winter, and if it wasn’t for the heat pad, I’d not be brewing anything in the colder months.

 

[Brewelder]

This is interesting as keeping a regulated temperature is a big issue for me. I live on a boat where the temperature fluctuates massively. Morning temperature before I light the fire was 5 degrees before Christmas.
I don't have room for a beer fridge set up but was thinking of a heat pad controlled by an ink bird wrapped in an old blanket. Can you tape the probe to the FV and get it to work that way?

That’s what i do mate, but instead of using tape i use cling film wrapped round the whole vessel as it doesn’t leave sticky residue on your FV. Also place a bit of foam or any other type of insulation on the outer side of the probe, so that it’s only reading the wort temps and not your boats ambient temps.

See photo of mine, insulation removed for clarity:

 

[Brewelder]

Throw your heat pad in the trash, unless you plan on messing around with kveik yeast at some point in the future. For non-kveik yeasts, you shouldn't need a heat pad at all ever.

Can’t agree wioth this at all mate. My Fermzilla is in a very well insulated garage where the ambient temps at this time of year rarely get above 14 degrees and that’s no where near warm enought for an IPA yeast. For an IPA yeast such as US-04 0r 05, Verdant (which I’m using now) or a US west coat, they all have a preferred range of between 18 - 23 degrees.

Either a heat pad, a heating belt, or one of those fish tank style heaters ran through and inkbird or other PID will do the job and has as been said, wrap an old jumper and towel round it to keep the heat in. Check out what i use below mate:

 

[Boatbrewer]

Thanks for all
the tips. I think I might go down the heat pad/ inkbird route and see how it goes. I've only done a couple of kits since getting back into brewing but I'm planning some simple BIAB brews for the spring.

 

[Brewelder]

Thanks for all
the tips. I think I might go down the heat pad/ inkbird route and see how it goes. I've only done a couple of kits since getting back into brewing but I'm planning some simple BIAB brews for the spring.

My preference is the fish tank style submersible heaters as they are in direct contact with the wort, usually in the centre so they give a good overall heat and ran through a controller they will do the job. Just depends what type of FV you have.

 

[damienair]

Can you spot my FV? Well covered up in an airing cupboard we us for clothes. Warmest room in our house at the moment. Usually holds a pretty stable 20-22 degrees C. I have it well insulated at the moment to hold 22 degrees.