Ale Ferm. Temp too high?

[aekdbbop]

anyone think that i am going to have a problem if my fermentation temps are around 75f for a ale? is that too high?

I am a poor college student, and have limited resources, and my roomates wont let me turn the thermostat down any further than it already is...

 

[Brewpilot]

Eh, I have brewed that high... but you need to keep in mind, though, that the beer will taste different than it "should" You may very well detect some higher alcohols, warm feeling alcohols, and it probably won't be as smooth as youd have hoped. LUCKILY I am getting some great cool weather and fermented my Amber Wheat a couple weeks back at 68F and it is so smooth! Higher temps, more warm and astringent flavors generally follow. BUT IT IS BEER.

Maybe tell your buddies that the extra $.50 a day for the a'c for the week of primary fermentation, is WELL worth it lol

Brewpilot

 

[aekdbbop]

i have my fermenters in a large plastic container.. could i just add some 2-liters with ice around it and just keep an eye on it? that may be my only option to do something about it...

 

[Blender]

i have my fermenters in a large plastic container.. could i just add some 2-liters with ice around it and just keep an eye on it? that may be my only option to do something about it...

That works, keep a towel on it and it will lower the temp.

 

[Brewpilot]

That would work better than nothing, if you are there daily, that should work out nicely. I am gone 4 days at a time... imagine that!

 

[Brew-boy]

It has been my experience at the warmer temps you will get the Banana flavor to your beer. Do a search for Banana.

 

[Brewsmith]

Since we're talking college, keep the fermenter in the bathtub with a water bath around it.

 

[aekdbbop]

how can i get an accurate temp reading on the beer if the thermometer is on the outside of the carboy?

 

[aekdbbop]

well, I filled up the plastic tub my carboy was in, and its down around 65 or so, is that a pretty sound number? Also, is it gonna hurt it that i lowered the temp halfway through the secondary? or is it even going to have an effect?

 

[jar]

Depending on the yeast, 65 is a great temp. If you know the yeast you used, you can find the optimal temperature range. 65-70 is good for most ale yeasts. I'm not sure how much effect lowering the temp in the secondary will have. You'll just have to wait and find out when you drink it. If you can keep the primary temp down on the next batch, you'll be able to compare.

 

[aekdbbop]

can ya tell me if it is important to keep the beer at that temp level the whole process? or just during primary or what?

 

[Porcelon]

From what I understand the yeast ferment things that they shouldn't at higher temperatures. So now that the flavors are made, they are there to stay. The good news is I brewed a 1 gal kit amber (bad ingredients) at about 78º and it was drinkable. No matter what you make, it will be better than Miller Lite.

Matt

 

[aekdbbop]

No matter what you make, it will be better than Miller Lite.

haha, good point