Saccharomyces

Recipes 

So, folks seem to like my solution, so I thought it was worthy of a post.

Meet the redneck illegitimate child of fermentation chiller:


-and-


(HBT logo not a requirement )

* 32 gallon can $12
* Box fan $12
* Old T-shirt free
* Re-usable ice blocks (soda bottles filled with water to 1" from the cap) free.

With the fan on low, and ambient temp 72-74 it stays 66-67 in there, a solid 6-7 degree drop from evaporative cooling. Adding two 24oz soda bottles twice a day drops the temp down to 62-63.

I figure if I wanted to get REALLY fancy I could nest this can in a 55 gallon can and stuff the gap with blankets for insulation, then I could do lagers in it if I used enough ice. But I digress, since the whole point is really cheap, easy temperature control for ales. No more excuses for fusels and fruity stouts...

The liquid pool is old Star-san, I threw the contents of my homer bucket in there when I mixed up a fresh batch of Star-san so the blowoff tube could go right into the "moat". No worries about slime.

Messy blowoff from barleywine not included.

__________________
[How to Calculate Mash Efficiency | Do I Need a Yeast Starter? | My Ghetto Fermentation Chamber | Twitter | 6 Gal. HDPE Fermenters | Slanting Yeast | No Sparge Brewing]

A4J

Recipes 

Using the box fan is a great idea! Do you get any kind of condensation at all?

__________________
Primary 1: pale ale
Primary 2: blondie

My mid-century modern keezer build thread.

Saccharomyces

Recipes 

No, because of the air conditioning... otherwise it would be quite damp since the outside dew point is about 72 this time of year.

__________________
[How to Calculate Mash Efficiency | Do I Need a Yeast Starter? | My Ghetto Fermentation Chamber | Twitter | 6 Gal. HDPE Fermenters | Slanting Yeast | No Sparge Brewing]

brewmastercontrols

Vendor Ads 

Recipes 

Was setting here looking at your ferm cooler. Nice....

If you wanted to let things get just a bit cooler without adding more ice etc you could increase evaporation by punching some 1 inch holes just above your water line, then place the fan blowing up and out of the can. You will get a jet of air rushing in over the water and crashing into the ferm. Evaporation will go up, temps will go down.

If you make this upgrade I request you find a turbo, or supercharged sticker and put on your setup.

Cheers.

__________________
Dustin

Check out our National Home Brew Day Give Away we are giving away a pICO HERMS or RIMS electric brewing control system, a value over $2250!

Looking for an electric brewery HERMS, RIMS, and Fermentation control? www.brewmastercontrols.com provides a pre assembled and tested ready to brew control solution out of the box.

Calico Jack

Recipes 

That's a pretty cheep and efficient method. Love the blow-off idea!

__________________
Don't try and church it up boy.

terrazza

Recipes 

looks like beer fermenting in a sess pool.

mandoman

Recipes 

word to the ghetto style

__________________
www.wolfhillsbrewing.com

wendelgee2

Recipes 

Must be a mess getting that carboy out of there.

Jack

Recipes 

Great idea! If SWMBO will get onboard, I may make one of these.

You could even wrap insulation around the sides of the garbage can to improve its performance.

And add a rack to the bottom so the carboy will be exposed to cool water.

And add a nozzle to the side making it easier to drain the water out.

carl spakler

Recipes 

Dumping the blow off back into the cooling liquid looks nasty. Interesting concept, but IMO, too sloppy for practical usage.