Brewing outdoors

[doubletapbrewing]

I am attempting my first outdoor brew today. I have cleaned everything, put everything in star San in my 5 gallon fermenter. Once the brew starts I will transfer some of the star San into some gallon jugs and dump the rest out since I have quite a bit already premade. A few questions I have, do you guys do everything outside including transferring wort into fermenter or do you move inside once the wort chills. I am going to do everything outside. I want to hear about your outdoor processes!

 

[Revvy]

I do everything outside....

 

[doubletapbrewing]

Should I be worried about wild yeast finding its way in?

 

[bacchusmj]

Nothing better than outdoor brewing, unless its raining, or really windy. So much better than brewing in the garage.

 

[bacchusmj]

I pitch my yeast in-doors or pitch when the carboy is already in the ferm chamber.

 

[cgg]

I do everything outside, unless it's colder than 20F. Comfort demands change at that temp. You'll be fine outdoors, and generally, it's more pleasant out there.

Don't leave the kettle open too long after the boil is complete. Infection is possible, but it's not likely to be a problem so long as you don't dawdle, and you pitch a proper amount of yeast that will win out over the forces of evil wild beasts.

 

[doubletapbrewing]

Ok I think I am going to chill indoors and pitch where I plan on fermenting.

 

[LandoLincoln]

I am attempting my first outdoor brew today. I have cleaned everything, put everything in star San in my 5 gallon fermenter. Once the brew starts I will transfer some of the star San into some gallon jugs and dump the rest out since I have quite a bit already premade. A few questions I have, do you guys do everything outside including transferring wort into fermenter or do you move inside once the wort chills. I am going to do everything outside. I want to hear about your outdoor processes!

You don't really need to Star-San anything but stuff that's going to touch wort after it's cooled. Your fermentors, your airlocks, your bungs, the hoses. That kind of stuff. Everything else is going to be messing with the wort either before boiling or during boiling, so no need to sanitize that stuff.

I do everything outside except for pitching the yeast, but I only pitch the yeast inside because my stir plate is inside.

As for worrying about wild yeasts getting in your brew...provided that you pitch relatively soon after getting done, you have little to worry about wild yeasts taking over your batch. Undoubtedly, there will be some stray wild yeasts that will get in the wort after cooling. "Hey, guys! We made it into the wort! Look at all this sugar to eat! Woo hoo!" And then ONE HUNDRED BILLION BEER YEASTS SHOW UP. "Yeah, so you wild yeasts thought that this sugar was yours? Nah, sorry. This sugar is ours now. Prepare to die, wild yeast scum!"

Take precautions against wild yeasts, but don't be too worried about it.

 

[DaxBrewery]

I also do all my brewing outside, including sanitation, mashing, brewing and cleaning. I've yet to have an issue with contamination. One thing I do is keep my pot cover while cooling and as much as I can until the lid is on for fermentation.

 

[Revvy]

As for worrying about wild yeasts getting in your brew...provided that you pitch relatively soon after getting done, you have little to worry about wild yeasts taking over your batch. Undoubtedly, there will be some stray wild yeasts that will get in the wort after cooling. "Hey, guys! We made it into the wort! Look at all this sugar to eat! Woo hoo!" And then ONE HUNDRED BILLION BEER YEASTS SHOW UP. "Yeah, so you wild yeasts thought that this sugar was yours? Nah, sorry. This sugar is ours now. Prepare to die, wild yeast scum!"

Take precautions against wild yeasts, but don't be too worried about it.

This.

OP, you're overthinking/overworrying something that hundreds of thousands if not millions of folks do all the time, and have been doing since ancient times...brewing outdoors. Before there were buildings where people brewed, they did it outside...



In fact in a few weeks on the first Saturday in may brewers around the world, though mostly in north america are going to gather in the back parking lots or driveways or alleys and all brew out doors at the annual big brew day....and thoughs of us who are going to gather at are favorite homebrewshops, like we do every year. And there IS no place "inside" to do anything. And that includes pitching yeast or cooling our wort. And yet we gather together twice a year to dp this....

If there was such a risk to brewing by being outdoors....do you think we would be doing this?

 

[pannell77]

I do 100% of my brewing outdoors, everything all the way up to sealing the fermenter then I carry that bastard upstairs to find its happy place in the ferm chamber.

 

[Ridire]

My one outdoor brew was great and I plan to do them all that way from now on. Did it in the garage with outdoor temp of about 38 F. I did everything, including cooling the wort and pitching the yeast outside. Sealed up the Ale Pale and carried her to the basement. Most enjoyable brew day yet.

EDIT: not sure I will cool the wort if temps are below freezing, though. Suppose that will need to done indoors.

 

[doubletapbrewing]

Finished up a few hours ago. Everything went fairly well, no mistakes or problems. We will see in about 3 weeks or so how it is.

 

[Mutt98]

Tell me more about the big brew day!

 

[BigFloyd]

As for worrying about wild yeasts getting in your brew...provided that you pitch relatively soon after getting done, you have little to worry about wild yeasts taking over your batch. Undoubtedly, there will be some stray wild yeasts that will get in the wort after cooling. "Hey, guys! We made it into the wort! Look at all this sugar to eat! Woo hoo!" And then ONE HUNDRED BILLION BEER YEASTS SHOW UP. "Yeah, so you wild yeasts thought that this sugar was yours? Nah, sorry. This sugar is ours now. Prepare to die, wild yeast scum!"

Love it.

"YEAST WARS", coming to you soon on Sci-Fi!!!

 

[JeepDiver]

Ok I think I am going to chill indoors and pitch where I plan on fermenting.

You really think you want to carry five gallons of boiling sugar water? Sorry but I like my skin more than you I guess. Do it all outside

 

[Cyclman]

I live in beautiful CO, so being outdoors is part of the reason brewing is such a pleasure. Also, way easier to clean up.

 

[Revvy]

Tell me more about the big brew day!

AHA Big Brew Day

 

[MrNatural]

Respectfully, I must question the authenticity of Revvy's pics.

Of the nine he posted, there is only one with a fat guy (like me), offering middle-finger salute.

My own experience suggests a much higher percentage.

Back on topic. Outdoors here too. Hope to have the new rig going by May 4!

 

[allenH]

AHA Big Brew Day

off topic, Revvy, you seriously need some stickers on that site. Awesome logo, my kegerator is begging for one.

 

[Revvy]

Respectfully, I must question the authenticity of Revvy's pics.

Of the nine he posted, there is only one with a fat guy (like me), offering middle-finger salute.

My own experience suggests a much higher percentage.

Back on topic. Outdoors here too. Hope to have the new rig going by May 4!

LOL...

That's one of our old members Decojuicer, at the HBT Michigan Masher's Tent.

 

[tgmartin000]

I live in beautiful CO, so being outdoors is part of the reason brewing is such a pleasure. Also, way easier to clean up.

Amen!

And why don't people want to chill outside when it's below freezing? That's the best time! I throw my kettle into the snow bank and with my IC it's chilled in 10 min.

 

[JeepDiver]

Amen!

And why don't people want to chill outside when it's below freezing? That's the best time! I throw my kettle into the snow bank and with my IC it's chilled in 10 min.

You would be better off leaving it on.the stand. Snow is a great insulator and will hold heat in.

 

[edds5p0]

I steep on the stove, then the kettle goes outside and wort in the carboy comes back in for pitching.

 

[Revvy]

off topic, Revvy, you seriously need some stickers on that site. Awesome logo, my kegerator is begging for one.

If I can figure out how to add them, I will. I've never met a more user un-friendly site as Cafe Press.

 

[plumber_bob]

I'll try this.
Prepping my fermenter:


And then my, F150, brew sculpture:


pb

 

[doubletapbrewing]

The day lasted a little longer than I wanted, just have to tweak my outdoor processes. I don't want to have to carry my wort inside, I need to get a way to cool it, a wort chiller is a little out of the budget and down on the wish list. I also need to get a smaller bucket to put all my things to sanitize instead of using my fermenter as my sanitizing bucket and then have to transfer the sanitizer water out right before I put the wort in. Overall there were no problems and it is happily bubbling away as of this morning!

 

[Soc]

I've been brewing for about 6 years and I have never brewed anywhere other than a back porch/deck. Outdoor brewing is the best and I have never really understood why so many people spend so much money to switch to indoor electric brewing.

 

[LandoLincoln]

I've been brewing for about 6 years and I have never brewed anywhere other than a back porch/deck. Outdoor brewing is the best and I have never really understood why so many people spend so much money to switch to indoor electric brewing.

You sound like a guy that lives down south. I love brewing outside too, but brewing in 15 degree weather sucks.

 

[PackerfaninSanDiego]

I'll try this.
Prepping my fermenter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW620WeA0hM

And then my, F150, brew sculpture:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Knc8PaAkGlU

pb

something is wrong with your 150 brew rig,,not sure, but something is wrong

cool rig,very mobile