Keeping temp down this time of year, brew at 24c

[DaveDesign]

Hi all

question for you guys, How can i get the temp down in my FV at this time of year when it is warm anyway, Currently at 24c in my coolest room. Thought about a fan but im not going to get a consistent temp that way. I't a youngs brewbuddy lager kit.

I pitched my yeast yesterday, was a little warm when i pitched at 22.9c but it was almost midnight and i couldnt cool it anymore.
it's fermenting today which is nice, not much action on the bubbler but the bucket lid is nicely domed and pushing down slightly expells air through the bubbler.

Any tips on keeping temp down :wha:

a little more about me here:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=17020

 

[StubbsPKS]

Get a container bigger than the FV, put a bit of cool water in it and stand the FV in that.

If that doesn't bring the temp down, try draping a t-shirt or towel over it and into the water. The water should wick up the shirt and cool the FV a bit further.

The last effort in this cheap method is putting a fan directly pointed at the t-shirt.

All of this should bring the temp down between 3-5c which would put you in a pretty good range.


The alternative is a temperature controlled fridge which isn't cheap and requires a spare fridge :)

 

[Eric_S]

Curiousity mainly - will the temps on a Youngs kit make *that* much difference? Seeing as it uses an ale yeast anyway, and probably the yeast is nothing special (not a criticism - I've made the Youngs lager too).

I take a gung ho approach and not worry too much - my lager was brewed in the same room as my office - which has a computer, a fridge freezer and a double patio door all kicking out lots of heat!

I suspect the cure for a good lager is cooler ambient temps - so I'm waiting until Autumn before starting my next batch.

 

[richc]

When I was making kits I tried to make a few at this time of year and ended up with very fruity beer that I now understand was due to the high fermentation temperature.

 

[DaveDesign]

cheers for the replies, Cooling does seem abit of a problem unless money is no issue, Which problem was too cool, as that is an easy fix!!!

Gunna take the temp again later see how we are today.

 

[Hollow Legs]

Dave, Coopers lager (not Euro) states temps up to 26deg C whilst fermenting as it uses an ale type yeast and that's what I brew and they have always come out alright, it's only when using lager yeast that the temps need to be much lower i.e 12deg C.

 

[DaveDesign]

thanks for the heads up hollow legs, a much cooler day today and my brew is still at 22c.
Perhaps i should prepare for 5 gal of tcp before getting a coopers kit!!!

 

[StubbsPKS]

22 shouldn't be TOO bad. Most ale yeasts that I've run into seem to prefer 18-20, but some are quite happy at 22-24 (can't think of any examples off the top of my head atm though)!

 

[Runwell-Steve]

cooling doesn't have to be an issue, and doesn't have to be expensive.

If you have space for a small undercounter fridge somewhere thats all you need plus a temp controller costing about £15.00 and then wire it all up, how you do that is up to you, there are a few variations.

You can usually pick up a small undercounter fridge off freecycle, or failing that ebay. You're best of getting a larder fridge if you can, i.e. one without the seperate ice box.

You can get the temp controllers here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-Temperatu ... 2a11f73343

If you do want full temp control then you might want a heater as well inside the fridge, this can be useful in the winter months.

You can use something like the 60 watt Bar Heater in this link.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Heating ... 168/p32265

 

[StubbsPKS]

cooling doesn't have to be an issue, and doesn't have to be expensive.

If you have space for a small undercounter fridge somewhere thats all you need plus a temp controller costing about £15.00 and then wire it all up, how you do that is up to you, there are a few variations.

You can usually pick up a small undercounter fridge off freecycle, or failing that ebay. You're best of getting a larder fridge if you can, i.e. one without the seperate ice box.

You can get the temp controllers here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-Temperatu ... 2a11f73343

If you do want full temp control then you might want a heater as well inside the fridge, this can be useful in the winter months.

You can use something like the 60 watt Bar Heater in this link.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Heating ... 168/p32265

This is the method that I am going to be using. Unfortunately, finding a fridge has proved quite difficult. I managed to find a freezer, but it has cooling coils in the shelves which don't come out.

 

[DaveDesign]

cooling doesn't have to be an issue, and doesn't have to be expensive.

If you have space for a small undercounter fridge somewhere thats all you need plus a temp controller costing about £15.00 and then wire it all up, how you do that is up to you, there are a few variations.

You can usually pick up a small undercounter fridge off freecycle, or failing that ebay. You're best of getting a larder fridge if you can, i.e. one without the seperate ice box.

You can get the temp controllers here

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digital-Temperatu ... 2a11f73343

If you do want full temp control then you might want a heater as well inside the fridge, this can be useful in the winter months.

You can use something like the 60 watt Bar Heater in this link.

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Heating ... 168/p32265

Thanks, thats food for thought.