55 too cold?

[kid_ak]

I'm getting ready to brew the BK Black Chocolate Stout clone kit from AHS. I've built up a nice starter the past couple days and would like to brew/pitch tomorrow. The problem is, with this cold snap, my usually ideal basement conditions where I ferment are now a touch cold--about 55 *F.

I could/should probably go out and get a brew belt or an aquarium heater setup, but I'm wondering about a couple alternatives.

First--I figure that when I cool the wort and pitch, I'll be mid to low 60s. With the almost 4L starter, I think things will get off to a quick start...could the heat from fermentation be enough to sustain primary fermentation in the 55 ambient? Once primary is over, is it still going to be a problem that it's so cold in the room?

The other option is to ferment in a place where the ambient will be in the low 60s. The difficulty there is that the temperature swings are greater--I've been tracking in a small cup of water and seeing it range from 57 to 68 within a day. I could use a basin of water as a buffer for the fermenter, I suppose.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
AK

 

[david_42]

All I'd add to your plan is to cover the fermenter with a blanket or a big cardboard box. That's all it will take to keep it warm. A slab of foam insulation underneath is also good.

Once the fermentation is done 55F will be fine for the clean-up.