Schnitzengiggle
Well-Known Member
I've done some research on these threads and have gotten the general consensus that bottle conditioning is best at ~70°. I live in AZ and unfortunately for beer, house temps fluctuate fairly dramatically during the spring, say anywhere from 65°-68° in the evenings with doors and windows open, to 75°-80° during the day w/A.C. set at 78°. Once summer arrives, forget it, it will be no cooler than 78° in the house at all times w/some southerly exposed room temperatures warmer. Electric bills are ridiculous in the summer months so I cannot afford to turn the temps below 78°, not to mention that the A/C would just run until the sun went down at 8:30pm w/o a big difference in cooling. I think I can keep my fermentations fairly cool in my ice chest evapoartive cooler with ice bottles and wet t-shirts, but will bottle conditioning at these warmer temperatures impart off flavors? Or, will I just have carbonation sooner? I've been tempted to purchase a mini fridge or small chest freezer to ensure a stable climate for fermentation and bottle conditioning, but space is an issue right now. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.