Best way to control ferm temps...

[DatsyukianDeke]

I've got a Two-Hearted clone in primary in a closet that ranges from 68 to 72 degrees. Is that kind of fluctuation acceptable for most ales? If not, what's the most practical way for me to stabilize the temp?

 

[muels]

Search the forum swamp cooler. Simple and cheap

Edit to add link.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/swamp-cooler-199965/


Sent from my iPad using Home Brew

 

[chewse]

In my opinion, buy a chess freezer and temperature controller. Cost will be under $200 but avoids a lot of hassel when targeting specific fermentation temps.

 

[adamranders]

In my opinion, buy a chess freezer and temperature controller. Cost will be under $200 but avoids a lot of hassel when targeting specific fermentation temps.

This /\

Or if you are a DIYer and looking for a slightly cheaper route look up "son of fermentation chiller," it's a pretty easy build.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I've got a Two-Hearted clone in primary in a closet that ranges from 68 to 72 degrees. Is that kind of fluctuation acceptable for most ales? If not, what's the most practical way for me to stabilize the temp?

Sorry, but if your beer has already hit active fermentation, it's too late. The critical time to control temps is prior to high kreusen, once you hit active fermentation / peak activity, the mold has been cast. Like said above, a swamp cooler is the cheapest / simplest, and a chest freezer w/ temp controller works great as well.

Also, if temps in the closet are 68-72, your beer will likely soar higher during fermentation to the mid 70's, which is too hot, you generally want to try and stay mid sixties w/ ale yeast.

 

[JayDubWill]

Why do we always assume brewers are broke? If your rolling in dough check out the Brew Pi double conical fermenters featured here. For me, it's a t-shirt in a bucket. (kidding) I actually have a chest freezer and johnson temp controller. You pretty much need too in the Florida summer.

 

[DaNewf]

Here's my setup:

5 cubic foot chest freezer
Two stage temp contoller built from STC-1000 and home depot parts
Brew belt

Bought everything brand new, cost was less than $300CDN. Could have done it a lot cheaper if I had more patience to look for a second hand freezer.

Fermenter goes in the fridge with the brewbelt and the temp probe (well insulated) attached to it. Freezer plugs into the cold side of the temp controller, heat belt plugs into the hot side. Set it (desired temperature +/- 0.5C) and forget it. Temperture controlled is the temperature of the fermenter not the air temperature inside the freezer.

This setup is optimized for fermenting a single full sized batch (single 5-6 gallon fermenter) at a time. It allows for fairly precise year round temperature control regardless of ambient temperture outside the freezer.

 

[DatsyukianDeke]

Sorry, but if your beer has already hit active fermentation, it's too late. The critical time to control temps is prior to high kreusen, once you hit active fermentation / peak activity, the mold has been cast. Like said above, a swamp cooler is the cheapest / simplest, and a chest freezer w/ temp controller works great as well.

Also, if temps in the closet are 68-72, your beer will likely soar higher during fermentation to the mid 70's, which is too hot, you generally want to try and stay mid sixties w/ ale yeast.

Yea, fully aware of this. Just trying to get these temps dialed in for future batches.

 

[kh54s10]

Here is my setup:

The frame is made from culled (warped or damaged) from Home Depot. The plywood I scrounged somewhere. Pink insulation foam covered with a butyl coated drop cloth, rubber side up, mini fridge and a Johnson A419 temperature controller. I place the sensor on the outside of the current batch to control it's temperature. Total cost <$200.

 

[firerat]

If you have like $200, then a chest freezer and temp controller are not only effective, but incredibly easy.

kh54 that thing looks awesome.

I feel like I'm following you around here repeating all your posts today. LOL

 

[2ellas]

Here is my setup:

The frame is made from culled (warped or damaged) from Home Depot. The plywood I scrounged somewhere. Pink insulation foam covered with a butyl coated drop cloth, rubber side up, mini fridge and a Johnson A419 temperature controller. I place the sensor on the outside of the current batch to control it's temperature. Total cost <$200.

How do you warm when needed?

 

[kh54s10]

Here is my setup:

The frame is made from culled (warped or damaged) from Home Depot. The plywood I scrounged somewhere. Pink insulation foam covered with a butyl coated drop cloth, rubber side up, mini fridge and a Johnson A419 temperature controller. I place the sensor on the outside of the current batch to control it's temperature. Total cost <$200.

How do you warm when needed?

It is in my basement in the heated portion. I never have to heat. I cool all year round..

 

[BowAholic]

You have all of the advice you'll ever need, but I wanted to throw my story in... I got married way back in 1979! I bought a huge chest freezer because they are better than uprights for keeping cold in... anyway, it still works but my wife doesn't trust it so won't put food in it any more. I bought a $20 temp controller, made a H/C box with it and now have a freezer that easily holds 4 fermenting buckets! "set it and forget it"

 

[kombat]

Like the others, I use a small chest freezer that perfect fits 3 corny kegs (with a 5 lb CO2 tank on the hump) or 1 carboy. I have it hooked up to an STC-1000, although I don't have anything connected to the "HEAT" circuit. Beer being too cold is never really a problem for me. I intentionally overchill my wort by a couple of degrees so that when I pitch the yeast, it gently comes up to temperature over a few hours while the yeast wake up and get to work. Then they take care of the heating for me, and the STC-1000 just keeps it all at 17.7° C +/- 0.5° C.

That said, if you're spending $300 on a freezer and STC-1000 (and parts), then go the extra mile and spend $20 on a thermowell stopper so you can be sure you're actually measuring the true temperature of the fermenting beer. They're pretty cheap.

 

[bobby4]

+1 to cheap freezer and STC-1000. I use reptile tape on the warm side, works great.

 

[DatsyukianDeke]

I work at the local Lowes. Looks like it's time to start scoping out some discounted freezers.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I work at the local Lowes. Looks like it's time to start scoping out some discounted freezers.

Too bad employees are usually not eligible for "scratch n dent", for obvious reasons haha