Ideal Fermentation Temp?

Brew-ta-sauraus · 10-11-2008, 11:29 PM

What si the ideal fermentation temp for ale's?? Been just putting carboy in the closet for a week or two. See bubbles with in 24 hours so figured all was good. I figure temp in the closet is around 60-70 ish. Should I be fermenting colder? I am reading guys cooling down carboy's to 60.

**Mutilated1** · 10-11-2008, 11:35 PM

Mid 60s in general. Maybe higher or lower depending on what style Ale you want to make. You can't go wrong with 65.

**eddie** · 10-11-2008, 11:48 PM

Yep, 65F is what I have my fermentation chest set at and is what I use on just about all of my ales.

**fat x nub** · 10-12-2008, 12:00 AM

+1 to 65. Thats a good general temp for all ales

**YooperBrew** · 10-12-2008, 12:02 AM

If you don't have one, a stick on thermometer is great. Room temperature is a good place to start, but the temperature that really matters is the temperature of the wort/beer. Sometimes an intense fermentation can raise the temperature inside the fermenter 8-10 degrees!

They sell those strips, called fermometers, in a homebrew store, or you can use an aquarium thermometer strip.

**eddie** · 10-12-2008, 12:11 AM

That's a good point, too. If you're just starting out and don't have a dedicated fermentation chest then using a stick-on thermometer (I have those on all of my primaries as well) and a water bath can help you get a level of control over your fermentation temps.

Brew-ta-sauraus · 10-12-2008, 04:30 PM

Thanks all for the replies. I have the stick on therm on my glass primary, but have been using my ale pale lately which is a plactic bucket so no good way to keep track with that. I may go back to glass, and move my fermentation down to my basement where I know it's a constant 60ish or less with winter on it's way. Then use water and an aquarium heater to keep it at the recommended 65deg.

10-11-2008, 11:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brew-ta-sauraus Member Recipes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 38	Ideal Fermentation Temp? What si the ideal fermentation temp for ale's?? Been just putting carboy in the closet for a week or two. See bubbles with in 24 hours so figured all was good. I figure temp in the closet is around 60-70 ish. Should I be fermenting colder? I am reading guys cooling down carboy's to 60.

10-12-2008, 12:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
YooperBrew Ale's what cures ya! Recipes Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Upper Michigan Posts: 11,887 YooperBrew's Gallery	If you don't have one, a stick on thermometer is great. Room temperature is a good place to start, but the temperature that really matters is the temperature of the wort/beer. Sometimes an intense fermentation can raise the temperature inside the fermenter 8-10 degrees! They sell those strips, called fermometers, in a homebrew store, or you can use an aquarium thermometer strip. __________________ Broken Leg Brewery

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10-11-2008, 11:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mutilated1 Beer Drenched Executioner Recipes Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Pell City, Alabama USA Posts: 1,358 Mutilated1's Gallery	Mid 60s in general. Maybe higher or lower depending on what style Ale you want to make. You can't go wrong with 65.

10-11-2008, 11:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
eddie Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hermon, Maine Posts: 867 eddie's Gallery	Yep, 65F is what I have my fermentation chest set at and is what I use on just about all of my ales.

10-12-2008, 12:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
eddie Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Hermon, Maine Posts: 867 eddie's Gallery	That's a good point, too. If you're just starting out and don't have a dedicated fermentation chest then using a stick-on thermometer (I have those on all of my primaries as well) and a water bath can help you get a level of control over your fermentation temps.

10-12-2008, 04:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
Brew-ta-sauraus Member Recipes Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 38	Thanks all for the replies. I have the stick on therm on my glass primary, but have been using my ale pale lately which is a plactic bucket so no good way to keep track with that. I may go back to glass, and move my fermentation down to my basement where I know it's a constant 60ish or less with winter on it's way. Then use water and an aquarium heater to keep it at the recommended 65deg.