Fermentation temp question

[flbrewer]

I’ll be brewing my first batch this weekend (American Wheat extract) and have been testing my makeshift fermentation chiller (big plastic tub with water and ice packs). I’m still trying different types and sizes of packs but have the following questions;

1. is a constant temp more important than a lower temp? I’m thinking ill be around 68-70 using packs
2. do frozen water bottles stay colder longer vs the blue gel packs?
3. doing no ice my water tub stays around 73. Will this make bad beer?

Thanks everyone!

[denny]

@flbrewer

I’ll be brewing my first batch this weekend and have been testing my makeshift fermentation chiller (big plastic tub with water and ice packs). I’m still trying different types and sizes of packs but have the following questions;

1. is a constant temp more important than a lower temp? I’m thinking ill be around 68-70 using packs
2. do frozen water bottles stay colder longer vs the blue gel packs?
3. doing no ice my water tub stays around 73. Will this make bad beer?

Thanks everyone!

1. all things being equal, maybe…;)  If the constant temp is 75, that’s no good.  68-70 is barely acceptable
2. dunno
3. if the water temp is 73, the beer temp will be higher.  Not as much higher as without the water, but enough higher that it won’t make great beer.

[goschman (Iliff Ave)]

What yeast are you going to be using? If you can’t get the temp below 70, I recommend WLP001/WY1056/US05. They will be the most forgiving at higher temps. I usually hear that fermentation temp is usually about 5 degrees higher than ambient temp depending on the vigor and initial conditions.

[klickitat_jim]

Go to home depot, buy a couple sheets of Styrofoam insulation and make a box to cover the tub and all. Maybe one sheet would do. Cuts with a knife and you can just tape it together.

[flbrewer]

@klickitat_jim

Go to home depot, buy a couple sheets of Styrofoam insulation and make a box to cover the tub and all. Maybe one sheet would do. Cuts with a knife and you can just tape it together.

After playing with the tub, I may be getting a large cooler. Apparently the 64 quart Igloo works well with a 6.5 carboy.

[flbrewer]

@goschman

What yeast are you going to be using? If you can’t get the temp below 70, I recommend WLP001/WY1056/US05. They will be the most forgiving at higher temps. I usually hear that fermentation temp is usually about 5 degrees higher than ambient temp depending on the vigor and initial conditions.

US05

[klickitat_jim]

If you go to buy the cooler bring your carboy. Make sure to account for airlock or blowoff

[flbrewer]

@klickitat_jim

If you go to buy the cooler bring your carboy. Make sure to account for airlock or blowoff

good point. I’ve researched the heck out of it and I have to either 1) use no airlock (foil) or make a hole in the top of the cooler or 3) remove the cover and use a makeshift cover out of foam.
I’ve posted a similar thread about this a couple of weeks ago.

[bluesman]

I would try to maintain a steady temp if possible. Aim for 64-68F range for US05. This yeast performs well from 58-68F range, but I think fermentation temp control is very important for any beer. Start out pitching in the low sixties and allowing the beer to warm up slightly via the natural exothermic reaction of the yeast is best.

[klickitat_jim]

I remember it. Go forth and conquer. Lots of options out there. I’m a fan of the 14 cf chest freezer with a dual control

[pansybrian (BP79)]

I purchased this cooler after a year of filling up my bathtub and rotating frozen 2L bottles:

http://www.target.com/p/igloo-ice-cube-maxcold-70-qt-roller-cooler/-/A-10281497#prodSlot=medium_1_6

I ended up cutting a 3"x3" square into the top of the square for my blowoff valve to pass through. This cooler has incredible insulation.  Last summer, even with my condo being a toasty 72-75 all day, I would only have to rotate 1 16 frozen poland spring bottle every other day and it would hold the water temp at 64 no problem.

[flbrewer]

@klickitat_jim

I remember it. Go forth and conquer. Lots of options out there. I’m a fan of the 14 cf chest freezer with a dual control

so am I. Sadly, any big (financial or size) purchases must be approved through the senate as well.

[wort-h.o.g]

@flbrewer

I’ll be brewing my first batch this weekend and have been testing my makeshift fermentation chiller (big plastic tub with water and ice packs). I’m still trying different types and sizes of packs but have the following questions;

1. is a constant temp more important than a lower temp? I’m thinking ill be around 68-70 using packs
2. do frozen water bottles stay colder longer vs the blue gel packs?
3. doing no ice my water tub stays around 73. Will this make bad beer?

Thanks everyone!

also soaking a towel and wrapping it around carboy with it hanging into the ice water bath, and a small fan really helps keep temps down. forget the gel packs, they dont really freeze and loose temp quickly. i used 20lb bag of ice, added chunks of the ice as needed over the week, and had no problems keeping low to mid 60’sF.  good luck.

[jrdunne (Joe Sr.)]

These are all good recommendations.

Here’s mine.  It’s your first batch.  Do your best.  Don’t over stress about temperature and don’t think you have to dump it if the temp rises to 70.  Try to keep it in the mid 60s.  You’ll have beer either way.

[jonhughey_att.net (HoosierBrew)]

These are all good recommendations.

Here’s mine.  It’s your first batch.  Do your best.  Don’t over stress about temperature and don’t think you have to dump it if the temp rises to 70.  Try to keep it in the mid 60s.  You’ll have beer either way.

+1

[flbrewer]

Good advice everyone! This may not be a good hobby for the OCD brain! I ended up picking up this,
http://www.walmart.com/ip/16606386?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227000000000&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=21486607510&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem
which (no surprise) doesn’t entirely close with my 6.5 gallon carboy. I think I’m going to just cut a small hole at the top for the neck and airlock to stick out while still sealing the lid. Nice cooler though, plenty of room around my carboy for ice or water.

[jrdunne (Joe Sr.)]

Nice!  A big plus is that this cooler can also be used as a rolling kegerator.

[duboman]

Nobody mentioned the type of beer. If you choose to brew Belgians or Saisons your higher temperatures will work well.

Investigate style and yeast and try to brew beer that enjoys those higher temperatures and you won’t have any problems;)

Really any other style will really prefer mid 60’s so as you move forward you can find something that works.

I use a swamp cooler in the summer and IME need 2-4 2L frozen water bottles twice a day to maintain 62-65 degrees during active fermentation

[majorvices]

@duboman

Nobody mentioned the type of beer. If you choose to brew Belgians or Saisons your higher temperatures will work well.

He said he’s using US05. You can’t make a Belgian beer with US05 no matter how warm you ferment.

[flbrewer]

@majorvices

@duboman

Nobody mentioned the type of beer. If you choose to brew Belgians or Saisons your higher temperatures will work well.

He said he’s using US05. You can’t make a Belgian beer with US05 no matter how warm you ferment.

Sorry, updated original post, American Wheat extract kit.