I currently use a 15gal conical fermenter, as I have been making session ales and fermenting at around 70 degrees, which is my garage temperature most of the year. I have recently installled a shed ""brewery" and want to branch out and make lagers. I will also have lower (fluctuating) temperatures in the brewshed. I want to move to using the standard 23 litre glass carboys I have seen so often. I have three questions :
1 : Temperature. My conical has a nice screw in temp guage. What is the most efficient means to measure and check temperature of your fermentation in a carboy? Easy to do if making a lager or something at cool temperatures in a kegerator with thermo control, but what about fermenting at 70F when it is colder? Do you stick a thermometer in every little while, and use a heating blanket or so? Is there a rig you can get which would control the heating blanket via a thermostat to maintain the right temperature in the carboy?
2 : Tapping : Again, my conical has a nice tap to tap off beer to my secondary. I have not seen glass carboys with taps on them. Are these all siphoned?
Is this the way to go, or do you recommend getting a larger fermentation chamber and fitting my conical into that?
1 : Temperature. My conical has a nice screw in temp guage. What is the most efficient means to measure and check temperature of your fermentation in a carboy? Easy to do if making a lager or something at cool temperatures in a kegerator with thermo control, but what about fermenting at 70F when it is colder? Do you stick a thermometer in every little while, and use a heating blanket or so? Is there a rig you can get which would control the heating blanket via a thermostat to maintain the right temperature in the carboy?
2 : Tapping : Again, my conical has a nice tap to tap off beer to my secondary. I have not seen glass carboys with taps on them. Are these all siphoned?
Is this the way to go, or do you recommend getting a larger fermentation chamber and fitting my conical into that?