Hello!
I upgraded to equipment that allows for 5 gallons of brewing, which is a joy and also terrifying because I also picked up a temperature controller as my pale ale kit was fermenting.
I've heard all about cold crashing and would love to go that route. I have the Inkbird ITC-308 Temp Controller and I have a chest freezer. Some questions before I proceed:
I upgraded to equipment that allows for 5 gallons of brewing, which is a joy and also terrifying because I also picked up a temperature controller as my pale ale kit was fermenting.
I've heard all about cold crashing and would love to go that route. I have the Inkbird ITC-308 Temp Controller and I have a chest freezer. Some questions before I proceed:
- Would I add the priming sugars before I go to cold crashing or after?
- The lid for the fermenter does not have an extra hole for threading the thermometer into it. What are my options here? I saw somebody recommended taping it to the outside of the fermenter at center and insulating it with tape and paper towels.
- What do I do about the airlock in the fermenter? Does that stay in?
- If I understand this right, I'm plugging the temp controller into the power source and the chest freezer into the temp controller. The chest freezer would be plugged into the heating outlet, correct? So as to prevent the wort from freezing?
- Is the ideal temp for a pale ale (or most any beer) 32 F?
- How long should I cold crash for?
- Anything else you think I should know? I'll be transferring this to a keg (first time!) when it's ready afterwards.