Brewing in Cold Weather - Page 2

OCLemon · 10-20-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortyjacobs

.....by that logic, does that mean it's better to throw a mixed drink into the freezer instead of putting an ice cube in it?

No - the reason snow is a good insulator is because it isn't very dense. There is a lot of trapped air in there, and air is the most commonly used insulator there is.

The ice cube in the mixed drink is effective at cooling because it melts - the drink loses energy to the ice cube by melting it. If you were to put a 32 degree plastic block in your drink, for instance, it wouldn't have nearly the same effect as an ice cube.

**springer** · 10-20-2009, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400d

I'm really interested in how you ferment if it is so cold?

I think his house is a little warmer than outside.

Snow banks are not that good a cooling wort as been said.Now if you use a pond pump and snow and water you can pump slush threw your chiller..I left it too long and had to wait till the wort warmed up to 68° to pitch.It was 48° when I brought it down to the basement

kappajoe · 10-20-2009, 10:02 PM

I just had my buddy install a hose bib inside my house for those cold MT weekends.... Now if I can get my chiller to quit dripping I will be all set.

**rcrabb22** · 10-20-2009, 10:32 PM

I live in Illinois and I have brewed in single digit temps. I brew in the garage and since afraid of CO poisoning I leave my garage door fully open and open the rear service door as well.

I use the outside hose bib and have not had issues with freezing hoses. I keep my garden hose in the house until ready to use it to keep it supple. Once chilling is done back into the house they go so they won't freeze.

I have had issues with ice glazing on the garage floor from spilled liquid. I once almost took a nasty fall into the boiling brew kettle but was able to avoid it, whew! The good thing is water temp going into my chiller from the tap is around 44F, makes for quick cooling.

I make 10 gal batches and in dead of winter I need to start with 13.5 gal for an hour boil to end up with 11 gal for fermentation. As temperatures warm 12.5 to 13 gal do fine. Thick steam from the kettle can make actually seeing the start of the boil difficult.

I ferment in the basement and use a 30 gal rubbermaid tub filled with water. I have a Ranco temp controller with a 50 gal aquarium heater, and a pond pump to keep the water moving to manage fermentation temps. If unheated the water temp in the tub is 61F.

For me, winter is easier to brew for me. Summer and the warmer temperatures are harder for me to manage.