Hello to all brewers, from Clearwater, FL

Hey guys,

I've been a member here for about a year, but just as a lurker. First time brewer, but I am a long time craft beer fan, and specifically love me some Belgian beers.

I live in hot sunny FL and the indoor temps are seldom below 76 degrees (more like 78 through summer), so I have always been reluctant to try my hands on brewing beer. I've done some scattered research through out the last year, but just recently I have begun more extesive research on brewing. I am currently reading John Palmers How To Brew, which I hope to finish in a week or two.

Now that it is early October the temperatures will inevitably lower in another couple of weeks (fingers crossed) and I wanted to be ready for when they did. So I went out and spent the money on a kit with everything I need to make my first attempt using a partial extraction kit for an American Pale Ale style beer. As soon as I see some steady low temps in the forecast is when I'll begin.

Looking forward to my brewing future. Good day to all!

Welcome!!! I am a fellow Floridian. I live in Tampa right across the pond from you. You can still ferment during the summer once you learn a few tricks of the trade. Good luck!

Nice! How do you keep it cool during fermention?

If it doesn't cool down soon I was thinking of doing the water bath/frozen water bottles and wet towel method. But thats a lot of upkeep. I guess I gotta do what I gotta do.

BeerKillLogic said:

Nice! How do you keep it cool during fermention?

If it doesn't cool down soon I was thinking of doing the water bath/frozen water bottles and wet towel method. But thats a lot of upkeep. I guess I gotta do what I gotta do.

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This is what I do but you can also search Craigslist for old refrigerators and then get a temperature control unit to keep the temp where you want it.

I live in Clearwater also. Finally got a freezer and temp controller for fermenting and it's much better than a swamp cooler.

I use a cooler (large IGLOO cube) filled halfway up with water. I exchange 1 or 2 one-liter frozen water bottles a day to maintain 60-70 F. I can drop those temps into the 50's with extra bottles if needed. My house is always 78'.



Or you can try your hand at this SOFC: http://home.roadrunner.com/~brewbeer/chiller/chiller.PDF

Good luck Clearwater brewer. Look me up when you want to go all grain, I can help.