Ale yeast @ 52F

[Gold Creek]

This is a result of bad planning on my part. I have a wide open schedule this weekend and would love to brew an American Stout using Safale US-05. The problem is with the fridge I've been using to ferment. I currently have an Octoberfest sitting in there at 50 F ambient. The strip thermometer on the bucket shows 52 F. The Octoberfest will need another 10 days before I move it to a keg for laggering.

I searched this forum and from what I read it seems the stout will be ok. It's just going to take longer. My other option is to set it in the basement where I have another ale finishing up and is holding steady at 70. So, I can't decide if I should ferment too cold for a while, too warm or just wait a couple weeks before I brew. I really don't like the last option.

I'm leaning toward fermenting too cold, but would like to hear other opinions.

Thanks,

I_C

 

[BBL_Brewer]

Personally, I'd ferment it in the basement @ 70. 52 seems a bit too cold.

 

[joeybeer]

Is a water bath and ice bottles an option in the basement ?? If not, 70 it is!

 

[BBL_Brewer]

I would think a water bath with a wet towel or old t-shirt should be sufficient to drop her down a few degrees.

 

[SwampassJ]

I would think a water bath with a wet towel or old t-shirt should be sufficient to drop her down a few degrees.

I would do this, or just use lager yeast in the fridge and make an Island style stout. Last time I used 05 I let it drop below 60 and it threw a lot of peachy esters.

 

[bad67z]

Welcome to the forum IC. We live on about the same latitude give or take 40 miles. I have a number of thermometers in my basement and at this time in the non-insulated portion 68-70 deg. is it about chest high, 65 deg. or so a foot or so off of the cement floor and a pretty constant of 63 deg. in the corners of the basement and in contact with the concrete floor.

So you may be able to get away with a Rubbermaid tote with a few gallons of water and your beer. Give it a shot, you could test it out if you wish by putting a bucket or carboy in the basement tonight fill with water and see what you have in the am and the pm. If the temps are not satisfactory for your process the frozen water bottles work rather well. Good luck!

Edit: BBL Brewer is spot on the t-shirt trick will give you 3-5 degrees of cooling because of evaporation. Nice!

 

[Gold Creek]

Thanks for the great ideas. I'm glad I asked the pros, because I was really leaning toward the colder temp. I have a rubbermaid tub laying around here somewhere... time to put it to use and start testing before the weekend.

I also like the idea of using the lager yeast, I'll have to try this after I get more experience. The Octoberfest I brewed is my first lager.

Thanks Again!