Temperature Control Options?

I have brewing for a few months now and I've a couple batches under my belt, an American Cream Ale that turned out pretty decent, and a Honey Ale that I just bottled saturday, and which I have high expectations for. Both were extract brews. I really want to have more control over my fermentation temps but I don't want to drop the money on a mini fridge set up, plus my wife would probably kill me if I came home with one just to support my new brewing habit. So whit that said what else can I do, are there other options or what do those of you that don't have the fridge set up do to maintain more consistant temps?

What is the problem with a freezer with a temperature controller set up? Is it a space issue or a money issue?

How much space can you dedicate to fermentation and how much money can you spend?

The Son of Fermentation is an option.

http://home.roadrunner.com/~brewbeer/chiller/chiller.PDF

moorerm04 said:

I have brewing for a few months now and I've a couple batches under my belt, an American Cream Ale that turned out pretty decent, and a Honey Ale that I just bottled saturday, and which I have high expectations for. Both were extract brews. I really want to have more control over my fermentation temps but I don't want to drop the money on a mini fridge set up, plus my wife would probably kill me if I came home with one just to support my new brewing habit. So whit that said what else can I do, are there other options or what do those of you that don't have the fridge set up do to maintain more consistant temps?

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Go down into the Do It Yourself form, or, the Equipment form and poke around a bit. You will find projects that use coolers, ice and yes mini fridges.

And don't BTW forget that Craig's list is your friend.

IMHO it is really temp control that will give you the most bang for your buck in producing good beer.

Also, don't forget to brew beer that SWMBO likes.

LVBen said:

What is the problem with a freezer with a temperature controller set up? Is it a space issue or a money issue?

How much space can you dedicate to fermentation and how much money can you spend?

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It's not so much a space issue, it's more of an I am a tight wad and don't want to spend any more money on brewing equipment. Plus my wife supports my hobbies much better when I am not dropping a bunch of bills.

moorerm04 said:

It's not so much a space issue, it's more of an I am a tight wad and don't want to spend any more money on brewing equipment. Plus my wife supports my hobbies much better when I am not dropping a bunch of bills.

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You can get used chest freezers on Craiglist for as low as $60, and temperature controllers on ebay for about $50.

$110 and you have a set it and forget it fermentation chamber. Like the other posters said, there are cheaper DIY methods that use ice if you want.

LVBen said:

You can get used chest freezers on Craiglist for as low as $60, and temperature controllers on ebay for about $50.

$110 and you have a set it and forget it fermentation chamber. Like the other posters said, there are cheaper DIY methods that use ice if you want.

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That is for a digital temp controller. You can get an analog controller and save even more money. There are even DIY instructions for making analog temperature controllers for as little as $10-$15.

Keep in mind, go big here.

Remember you also have to condition the beer in your bottles for 3 weeks as well.

My goal is to replace my store bought beer with home brew, thats a lot of beer.:cross:

I bought a full size freezer on Craig's list for $50 bucks. A thermostat controller from the local Brew Store for $60. This is all in the garage.

The problem with the freezer was that the coils were part of the shelves. So I had to buy a pipe bender from Home Depot for $20, and bend the coils flat against the back wall of the freezer. Do NOT do this by hand, get a pipe bender.

I left the middle shelf in place, and can now ferment 4 Ale pales, at 68 degrees.

I live in Arizona, so I have to also condition the beer in the freezer for 3 weeks as well. So I used a Drimmel roto tool and cut out all the shelves from the door. And but in 4 shelves to hold 24oz bottles.

With a staggered brew schedule and only 3 primaries going at any one time, I can condition 70 24 oz bottles at a time.

This better do it for me, or the wife is going to get another freezer. Good luck with yours (your wife that is, I'm sure your beer will be awesome).


Grossy

If you're looking for low cost temp control, get some keg tubs. Insert carboys, fill with water, add ice packs as necessary. This is how many of us started and it works pretty well.

dutchoven said:

If you're looking for low cost temp control, get some keg tubs. Insert carboys, fill with water, add ice packs as necessary. This is how many of us started and it works pretty well.

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my girlfriend offered to buy me some homebrew equipment for a gift and I have been spending a bit of time on here and in bookstores looking for what I need. Temp control was one of my biggest initial cost concerns (want to get started w/ as little cost as possible to see if it's really something for me!). Especially with a Colorado winter coming up, I have no basement, but plenty of garage space, and the house will likely be a bit cold (should temp control be a +/- 5degrees accuracy? +/- 2?)

I like the keg tub (plastic trash can? or is this something specialized?) option w/ water. are there drawbacks other than needing to check on it a couple times a day?

Any other advice for what equipment is vital for getting started would be great! in an effort to not hijack this thread of course... Thanks!

Really you wont be sorry with a chest freezer and temp control setup. Its no hassle, no melting icecubes or water bottles to change out. Perfect temp control. Ive even seen chest frezers on C-List for free! Also you can get Temp controller prewired so no work on your part. Just plug it into the wall and freezer into controler and yer set. Make sure you get it big enough though so you can do more then one batch at once lol

Craigslist is your friend. You can get "garage" fridges off CL all day long for $30-40 as long as your willing to go pick them up. Also just let your friends know your looking for a fridge, I've gotten 2 free ones from friends or friends of friends.

LVBen said:

That is for a digital temp controller. You can get an analog controller and save even more money. There are even DIY instructions for making analog temperature controllers for as little as $10-$15.

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Can you post a link for this controller?

Thanks for all your responses guys, for sure some good advice here!

andysim said:

Can you post a link for this controller?

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Not sure where the $10-$15 DIY instructions are, but here are instructions for a digital one for only $25:
http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/Remote-Sensing-DIY-Controller-for-Less-Than-$25

There is also a thread about setting the internal temperature controller that is already in the freezer, but there seems to be mixed levels of success with this:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/gu...mostat-32f-eliminate-external-control-249612/

dutchoven said:

If you're looking for low cost temp control, get some keg tubs. Insert carboys, fill with water, add ice packs as necessary. This is how many of us started and it works pretty well.

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I recently bought a cheap tub at Target for $7.99 and a case of .5L water bottles from the grocery store for $3.99. I freeze 8 bottles at a time and throw those in about a foot of water in the tub and put my fermenter in the water. Then load the freezer with 8 more bottles. I swap these out once or twice a day depending on my schedule. I'm currently doing my first ferment on this system so I cant report how well it works yet, but I am very optimistic. Thats only $12 I spent

I am a new brewer and been watching this thread. So with this setup you can keep it at 70 deg? What range will the built in thermostat "try" to keep it at. It just seems the freezer would want to be at 30 deg. Danny

dbmorris said:

I am a new brewer and been watching this thread. So with this setup you can keep it at 70 deg? What range will the built in thermostat "try" to keep it at. It just seems the freezer would want to be at 30 deg. Danny

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It depends on the freezer. Some freezers have different settings, but it seems like most freezers go for the -20°F to -10°F range.

dbmorris said:

So with this setup you can keep it at 70 deg?

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Yes, you can keep it at any temperature that is below the room temperature. I've fermented beers at 62, 65, 67, 70, 72, and 75 all with the same setup.

My thing isn't so much trying to cool my fermenter, but trying to keep it warm. I keep it cool in my house during the fall and winter, those of you who heat with gas understand why. Without temp control my fermenter will stay in the 65 range. I can keep my brew at the right temp in the summer with my closet it stays in th 70 range, but cooks below that in the fall and winter.

Oh, then you might want to look into the heating wrap/temp controller options. Many temperature controllers can be configured to heat or cool.

moorerm04 said:

My thing isn't so much trying to cool my fermenter, but trying to keep it warm. I keep it cool in my house during the fall and winter, those of you who heat with gas understand why. Without temp control my fermenter will stay in the 65 range. I can keep my brew at the right temp in the summer with my closet it stays in th 70 range, but cooks below that in the fall and winter.

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Tub of water plus a big submersible aquarium heater might be a cost-effective means of controlling your temps.