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govain · 09-07-2011, 06:47 AM

I have a dilemma. Winter is coming, and it's going to be cold as hell here before too long. I currently do my boil in the garage doorway and most of the rest of my stuff in the basement and kitchen. My garage is not insulated and there's the whole carbon monoxide thing. I have an electric stove that doesn't work very well for brewing. I'm also in the process of acquiring a sanke for making a keggle and hopefully moving to all grain.

I've considered moving to electric brewing, but it seems to be a high startup cost and I'm not sure how sold I am on AG BIAB.

While I would love to be able to brew in my basement and not drag stuff up and down the stairs.

Another option (although I'm not real excited, and not sure how safe it is), is to continue to brew in the (frigid) garage and open the back door and put a fan in the window to act as exhaust.

What are people's thoughts? Any idea how much the startup cost is on going electric? Should I start off with converting that keggle straight into electric, or go gas for a while? Also, any thoughts on going Electric in general would be appreciated.

**rockytoptim** · 09-07-2011, 01:09 PM

My rig is propane and I brew in my detached garage in the winter. I set my stand up at the front of the garage right at the door and haven't had any problems with CO. It's damn cold but ones gotta do what ones gotta do.

sidboswell · 09-07-2011, 01:11 PM

I've brewed in a cold ass garage with the garage door open about 6" and a window opened on the side. It was one of those windows that opens on the top or the bottom and I opened the top up about 6" as well. Even before that, I brewed in an unfinished basement with the windows open (ground level windows ... near top of basement wall). I never died or anything.

iijakii · 09-07-2011, 01:21 PM

First make sure there's no Lannisters around.

Edit: Oh.... wrong winter is coming...

Changeduser123 · 09-07-2011, 02:20 PM

Whatever you decide to do, get a CO detector. It's cheap, and damn useful.

Changeduser123 · 09-07-2011, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iijakii

First make sure there's no Lannisters around.

Edit: Oh.... wrong winter is coming...

just finished the first season... might have to read the books to know what's going on!

**scottland** · 09-07-2011, 02:30 PM

Bring on the winter! i can't wait for it to be under 105* here.

Jublin · 09-07-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mperceau

just finished the first season... might have to read the books to know what's going on!

You should, because they're amazing, and you miss a lot even when HBO does the series.

OT: I'm thinking of getting a turkey fryer kit for faster boils and going to my garage as well. So long as there's an opening, CO won't matter. Hell, you could set up a fan to push air toward the door, but if it's warmer in the garage than outside, cold air will rush in lower half of say a normal door opening, while the garage air goes out the upper half.

It's also how I smoke cigars in the winter.

govain · 09-07-2011, 07:01 PM

Thanks. I think I'll get a CO detector for my brew areas regardless of which way I choose to go this winter.

Anybody want to weigh in on the Electric brewing?

I've only seen a couple episodes of the HBO series, but have been an avid fan of the [first 3] books since high school.

scottland: You can have my sub-zero temps this winter. With the wind here it's not unheard of to hit -40 or -60 windchill.

**Bernie Brewer** · 09-07-2011, 07:17 PM

I brew in my garage, too, and do most of my brewing in winter. There are really no worries about CO in a drafty uninsulated garage, but if it makes you feel better to get a CO detector, go for it. I am a cold-weather guy, so I actually prefer brewing in winter, but not everyone is as cold-blooded as me.