almost out...

[bluedragoon85]

Hi,

I am very sad right now because I'm almost out of homebrew. I live in southern California and it is near impossible to brew beer without ending up with horrible results. The heat here reaches sometimes even up to 100 F but it usually stays around the high 80s. I have read that it isn't a good idea to brew in these hot temperatures because during fermentation your brew will probably be ruined. I wasn't well prepared and I'm about to suffer the consequences. I only got about a 12 pack of ESB homebrew. I was thinking about maybe using my small Sanyo fridge (usually used as a kegarator conversion DIY project) and fermenting my wort in there at the lowest temperature setting it has. Has anyone done this? does it work? I may try some hybrid beers like kolsch to make this possible.

 

[TheFlatline]

I live in so cal too, and am brewing just fine. I'm not using a fridge yet myself. I just froze a bunch of gallon water jugs and keep the fermenter in an ice bath with a tshirt over it. No problems. I'd love to keep my beer at a more consistent temperature, but it's working for right now.

Seriously, there are dozens of tops in the DIY thread on just such a project that you're talking about. Mosey on over there and take a long look. Also look at son of fermentation chiller, and other ideas.

 

[Mustangfreak]

I'm in Texas with high 90's every day and havn't had any issues.

 

[beerthirty]

I live in AZ. I brewed last Sat temp was 105, and plan on brewing tomorrow. I would use that fridge to ferment. but you don't need to. you could use the tub O water and towel to keep ferment temps about 10 degrees below ambient. set tub in your closet or some other out of way place. set fermenter in it and wrap with towel or t-shirt. keep the ends of the towel or shirt in the water. once or twice a day check the water level and make sure the towel is soaking up the water. If its not just use a cup and soak the towel. I used this method for almost a year before I converted a chest freezer for fermentation.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I'm with these guys. I am in San Diego. There are plenty of solutions to keep your beer the correct temperature. I use 70 quart igloo coolers to keep my fermentation temps down.

And really, if it gets bad enough, brew some belgians. A lot of the belgian yeast love 80 degree temps.

 

[bluedragoon85]

I have seen the light.

I see I don't have to suffer through summer with a limited supply of homebrew The thing is I had gotten the impression my beer would be utterly ruined, but I see there are a few tricks one can pull in order to not suffer Well, I'm down to the last bottle of London Porter I have (3rd batch ever made) and it has been in the fridge for many months and tastes the best it has ever been (ecstasy indeed). I feel inspired to make some more homebrew really soon. I think I want to make some Hefeweizens and try doing a starter for the first time. Well, I'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice

 

[Special Hops]

I'm in South Carolina and brew with 90 to 100 temps throughout the summer.

It can be done. Don't give up.

 

[Warped04]

I hate it, but it can be done (our high is 105 right now). Just prepare yourself for winter, and brew your little heart out.

 

[Couevas]

110 and on the way up here. I still brew. Just have to do a little more planning. I have to start very early in the morning...and I am fortunate enough to have found a chest freezer for very cheap that I have made into a fermentation chamber. Not to mention I have to pre-chill my immersion chiller with another copper coil in a bucket of ice water to get my wort down to pitching temps.