I'm sure there are similar threads... but its getting cold outside here and Montana. If you're like me, you have no option for shelter when doing 5+ gallon all-grain batches. Here are some lessons I learned last year.
1. Do your mash inside. The obvious being you won't lose your temperature. It may take a bit longer to heat strike/sparge water on the stove, but it beats sitting outside in 0 degree weather.
2. Keep a dry towel near by. You're bound to get a little wet, and nothing is worse then freezing cold hands.
3. Blow out your wort chiller and hoses after use. The hose is a given, but took me a few batches to figure out why my boils stopped completely after inserting wort chiller.
4. At least for me, evaporation rate increased. I had to adjust +1/2 gallon. Fuel usage will also increase.
5. Careful where you run off the water from the wort chiller. Don't want an ice rink in your driveway or sidewalk.
6. Dress warm of course.
What are your outside winter brewing tips?
1. Do your mash inside. The obvious being you won't lose your temperature. It may take a bit longer to heat strike/sparge water on the stove, but it beats sitting outside in 0 degree weather.
2. Keep a dry towel near by. You're bound to get a little wet, and nothing is worse then freezing cold hands.
3. Blow out your wort chiller and hoses after use. The hose is a given, but took me a few batches to figure out why my boils stopped completely after inserting wort chiller.
4. At least for me, evaporation rate increased. I had to adjust +1/2 gallon. Fuel usage will also increase.
5. Careful where you run off the water from the wort chiller. Don't want an ice rink in your driveway or sidewalk.
6. Dress warm of course.
What are your outside winter brewing tips?