Best way to control fermentation temperature inside the home?

bol · 02-06-2010, 06:51 AM

My fermenters are kept inside my home (a condo) and ambient temperature is never less than ~72F inside the closet the carboys are kept in. This is already at the high end and with increased temperature from fermentation I'm sure the carboys are at 80F+. This obviously is going to cause some issues. My first beer brewed here has a definite ester/banana aroma. It's not awful and still perfectly drinkable; however when combined with the fusels you can tell the fermentation temperature was too high.

Since I live in a condo placing the carboys in a bathtub isn't really an option as I don't want to use up valuable bathroom space.. I *DO* however have the space to put a couple of bar fridges (not enough height space to put another full size fridge.)

Is this the best way to go to control fermentation temperature for me? Are there any other solutions I am missing?

I had thought about converting a chest freezer to use for fermentation but the thought of lifting full carboys out of it repeatedly makes me sad. With all the effort put into these all grain brews I want to make sure they are as good as possible.

Thoughts for fermentation temperature control? Aesthetics DO matter. I also considered converting a large wooden cabinet (maybe Ikea, like http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50119167) with insulation and a compressor from a bar fridge. This might get temperatures down to reasonable levels (only making ales) and not look out of place.

weetodd · 02-06-2010, 07:29 AM

If you're willing to lay out that kinda coin for an Ikea cabinet, I'd say the chest freezer with a controller is your best bet.

There are plans on the net for wooden box "fermentation chillers" see: Smaller Son of Fermentation Chiller that others have had success with.

As for me, you can knock 10 degrees off of ambient with a bunch of frozen 20 oz water bottles floating in a swamp bucket. My basement runs a little hot in the summer. I'll stick a carboy in water and swap out 5 frozen bottles every 12 hours or so. This may not meet your requirement for aesthetics though.

Mista_Sparkle · 02-06-2010, 07:35 AM

swamp cooler should work out as long as its not too humid. plus then you get an extra couple gallons as a thermal buffer type thing

alcibiades · 02-06-2010, 07:35 AM

I agree with the swamp bucket (I've always called it a keg bucket). They are cheap at home depot.

I don't use ice bottles though. I simply put a cotton shirt over the carboy while in the bucket, with the last six inches soaking in the room temp water. Then aim a small fan at the carboy. The wet t-shirt technique cools the carboy as the water evaporates.

Bassman · 02-06-2010, 02:19 PM

I am still using fermenting buckets. If do the t-shirt method do I need to worry about small amount of water dripping in by the airlock grommet hole?

**Mirilis** · 02-06-2010, 02:28 PM

+1 for the cooler. Its ugly and cheap but it works

johnnybob · 02-06-2010, 05:14 PM

I use a 60 qt. Igloo Ice Cube cooler (roughly 20" x 20" X 16")with a hole cut in the top for the air lock/blowoff tube. A 6 gallon Better Bottle fits nicely inside with plenty of room for the frozen water bottles . You can control the temps easily by using different sizes of frozen plastic water bottles. I brew ales and lagers with this cooler and can maintain fermentation temps here in Las Vegas even in the summer ( I ferment inside the house). I bought mine at Walmart. Cut the hole in the top with a Dremel tool.

Krrazy · 03-21-2010, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybob

I use a 60 qt. Igloo Ice Cube cooler (roughly 20" x 20" X 16")with a hole cut in the top for the air lock/blowoff tube. A 6 gallon Better Bottle fits nicely inside with plenty of room for the frozen water bottles . You can control the temps easily by using different sizes of frozen plastic water bottles. I brew ales and lagers with this cooler and can maintain fermentation temps here in Las Vegas even in the summer ( I ferment inside the house). I bought mine at Walmart. Cut the hole in the top with a Dremel tool.

I really like this idea. I think I'll have similar cooling need this summer in Arizona. This will be my first summer as a home brewer and I was just thinking about what I'd do to keep fermenting temperatures where they need to be. In fact… my Irish Red is approaching 68 in the house right now. Thanks for the idea.

**Yooper** · 03-21-2010, 03:47 AM

Here's mine:

It's much cooler here, of course, but I can add water and frozen water bottles to this cooler and keep the beer at just about any temperature. I float a thermometer in the water bath, to monitor the temperature, and it works really well for me.

Krrazy · 03-21-2010, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnybob

I use a 60 qt. Igloo Ice Cube cooler (roughly 20" x 20" X 16")with a hole cut in the top for the air lock/blowoff tube. A 6 gallon Better Bottle fits nicely inside with plenty of room for the frozen water bottles . You can control the temps easily by using different sizes of frozen plastic water bottles. I brew ales and lagers with this cooler and can maintain fermentation temps here in Las Vegas even in the summer ( I ferment inside the house). I bought mine at Walmart. Cut the hole in the top with a Dremel tool.

I really like this idea. I think I'll have similar cooling need this summer in Arizona. This will be my first summer as a home brewer and I was just thinking about what I'd do to keep fermenting temperatures where they need to be. In fact… my Irish Red is approaching 68 in the house right now. Thanks for the idea.