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carolinabrewer · 10-27-2011, 02:01 AM

I am a November-March kind of brewer. Mostly because the temp is easier for me to control in the fermenter and partly because the wife can only endure it for part of the year...call it a compromise.
What I am wondering is at what time of the year is the most popular time for homebrewers to brew and why? Ok...I know there are some lucky dogs out there that have an awesome set-up and freedom to brew all the time, but for all the others ...what season do you do the most brewing ?

ReverseApacheMaster · 10-27-2011, 02:04 AM

December-March. It's the only time it's cool enough to do it where I'm not studying for finals.

KFH · 10-27-2011, 02:05 AM

Year-round. People who avoid brewing because of the heat are pansies.

***Yooper*** · 10-27-2011, 02:17 AM

I brew year-round, except now in late January, then February and March, when we spend part of the winter in Texas.

BUT, I've been scouring the forums for some "locals" in Corpus Christi so I can at least go to a brewday. I miss it so much when I'm not able to brew!

**eanmcnulty** · 10-27-2011, 02:27 AM

I brew mostly from April/March to November/December. I am a pansie who hates the cold. Why do I live in Chicago? I wake up every November to April morning wondering that same thing.

My basement hovers at 64-68 year round, so fermenting is no problem. I do brave the cold in January once to brew a stout for March, but I truely am a wimp when it comes to cold.

Wish my wife liked the smell of brewing. I would get a whole electric setup and brew in the basement.

Ah, to dream...

**Dan** · 10-27-2011, 02:35 AM

Cool weather brewer here. I do brew in summer but it's a pita. Ground water is to warm to cool wort from late May till October. Plus, just nice brewing in the fall and mild California winter

johngault007 · 10-27-2011, 02:36 AM

I try to brew all year. I live in a row house so outside is my best/only option most of the time. So when it gets too cold outside, I'll either do extract brews in the kitchen or lay off for a month or so.

ABrewingApe · 10-27-2011, 02:47 AM

Fall and spring. Don't have to do anything to modify the temperature and I'm all about eliminating as much hassle as I can--unless it's fun hassle. Temperature fussing is not fun hassle.

BBKing · 10-27-2011, 02:56 AM

I brew pretty much year round, some exception being the summer. Those that live in IL know how it is, you go outside for an hour and hang around the boiling kettle and feel like you've just taken a shower.

Right now is my favorite time of year. The closet on the exterior wall is perfect temp for fermenting (just brewed a stout that sat at 60 and still came darn close to erupting) and I can wear a t-shirt and a flannel and be comfortable while brewing. Love it!

**Bulls Beers** · 10-27-2011, 03:04 AM

I brew year round. Summer is a little more challenging to brew because of the heat. I have a chest freezer for my lagers, so the heats not a problem. Ales are a little tougher. I usually throw the fermenter in a cooler with a bunch of ice water.