brewmoney

Recipes 

Last night I made a stout, it is the second beer I have brewed. Both times I have had trouble maintaining a temp at which the yeast will stay active. Does anyone have any suggestions or tricks that can help me out with this? What is the best temp to keep the beer at while fermenting?

ifishsum

Recipes 

A water bath setup with an aquarium heater to raise temps, or ice to bring down temps is a very common way to control temperature. I like to keep my ales around 62-65 while they're fermenting.

You can also get a "brew belt" which is essentially a thin electric heating pad that goes around your bucket or carboy, sometimes simply insulating with a blanket will get you there if you're not far off.

Of course the easiest method is to conduct your fermenting in a room that you can keep at the correct temperature.

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brewmoney

Recipes 

Thanks for the advice! I wrapped it up in a towel an put it next to the radiator, its working very well!

Yooper

Recipes 

Do you have a stick on themometer? You can use the kind they sell for aquariums. My concern is next to a radiator might be way too warm for most ales.

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ifishsum

Recipes 

Yes, be careful you don't get it too warm. You don't want to let it get over 70, so don't leave it too close to the heat source.

__________________
"If you're gonna be an ape, be a hairy one" - Spyder

Primary 2: Edwort's Robust Porter
Secondary 1: LW Pale Ale
Secondary 1: Blackened Soul RIS
Kegged: Dead Guy Ale
Kegged: Rye Pale Ale
Kegged: Haus Pale Ale
Kegged: Nut Brown Ale
Kegged: Afrikan Amber
Kegged: Jock Scott Ale
Kegged: Afrikan Amber