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fa1321tx

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2006
Messages
125
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1
Location
Houston
Hello Everyone!

I am brewing the grain bag/malt extract kits and using 2 stage bucket/carboy setup and fermenting in a closet in my house. I live in Houston,TX so I keep the temp about 77F in the house so I figure the closet is a little cooler.

I mainly like to brew APA but have brewed some red ales and a great chocolate ale. (I really want try to make a Christmas ale this season!!!)

These have all been pretty good but I want to get better and was wondering if I should take more control over the fermenting temp? I have a sanyo fridge I use for my keg and could get a electronic temp control to get me closer to recommended temps for the yeast. Would this make a difference that one would notice?

Or should I just move foreword to all grain :mug:
 
fa1321tx said:
I have a sanyo fridge I use for my keg and could get a electronic temp control to get me closer to recommended temps for the yeast. Would this make a difference that one would notice?

Or should I just move foreword to all grain :mug:

I'm an extract+grain brewer, too, and the two things I have done in my brewing career that I feel made dramatic changes in my beer are:

liquid yeast
strict temperature control

But.. what's stopping you from going AG and using the fridge for temp control? The way your post is presented, it makes it sound like you can only do one of the two, but they are completely unrelated.

-walker
 
fa1321tx said:
These have all been pretty good but I want to get better and was wondering if I should take more control over the fermenting temp? I have a sanyo fridge I use for my keg and could get a electronic temp control to get me closer to recommended temps for the yeast. Would this make a difference that one would notice?

Or should I just move foreword to all grain
Temp control and going all grain are really two different issues...even if you do go all grain you've still got to control the temp of your fermenter...for some types of ales anyway. As far as whether you need to use your fridge or not...I think you can do an adequate job simply by setting your fermenter in a big tub of water and switching out ice blocks once or twice a day. With a little diligence you can keep your fermenter as low as 60F or so if you need to, with only a few degrees fluctuation.
 
El Pistolero said:
Temp control and going all grain are really two different issues...even if you do go all grain you've still got to control the temp of your fermenter...for some types of ales anyway. As far as whether you need to use your fridge or not...I think you can do an adequate job simply by setting your fermenter in a big tub of water and switching out ice blocks once or twice a day. With a little diligence you can keep your fermenter as low as 60F or so if you need to, with only a few degrees fluctuation.

I understand they are diffrent issues but was not sure if better temp control would make a diffrence that would be noticed. I think I will just get that digital thermostat as I do not want to deal with using ice and draining a big tub of water.

Thank you guys for helping I beleive temp control is my next step foreward let me see how it goes.
 
Imperial Walker said:
I'm an extract+grain brewer, too, and the two things I have done in my brewing career that I feel made dramatic changes in my beer are:

liquid yeast
strict temperature control

But.. what's stopping you from going AG and using the fridge for temp control? The way your post is presented, it makes it sound like you can only do one of the two, but they are completely unrelated.

-walker

I also use the pitchable liquid yeast for my batches and I think thats when they really starting tasting great.

I just like to add one thing at a time keep things simple till I get confortable then I add something else.


Thanks
 
fa1321tx said:
I understand they are diffrent issues but was not sure if better temp control would make a diffrence that would be noticed.
Yes, temp control can definately make a noticeable difference, depending on the style of course. Personally I wouldn't even try a hefe or a scotch ale if I couldn't keep the temp below 70F, but for an APA I'm not sure it would even matter that much.
 
Though going AG seems exciting, since now you are working more for your beer and you also expect the quality to increase, I'd recommend that you get the fermentation end of your process straigtened out first. I actually didn't even start home brewing until I had a spare frige since I was under the assumption that it wouldn't work without. Now I know better. But I still recomend that fermentation temperature control should have higher priority than doing AG batches.

Kai
 
Yes I am getting a thermostat for the fridge as soon as I search the forums for which one to get. My dad has been in a/c 30+ years Im sure he can hook me up if I buy a thermostat.

This leaves me with a new issue where or how to cool my keg? I was going to convert my sanyo 4911 into a keg cooler with 2 taps!

I am pretty lazy and the ice feed ferment box idea seems lame to me but wifey wont be to understanding about buying another fridge. Im thinking I should have married someone that had more desire for tasty ales but then I would have to share! Tough Life! Any Suggestions?

Thanks
 
fa1321tx said:
Yes I am getting a thermostat for the fridge as soon as I search the forums for which one to get. My dad has been in a/c 30+ years Im sure he can hook me up if I buy a thermostat.

This leaves me with a new issue where or how to cool my keg? I was going to convert my sanyo 4911 into a keg cooler with 2 taps!

I am pretty lazy and the ice feed ferment box idea seems lame to me but wifey wont be to understanding about buying another fridge. Im thinking I should have married someone that had more desire for tasty ales but then I would have to share! Tough Life! Any Suggestions?

Thanks

There are several digital controllers that work great. Ranco is one brand.

Do you havea craigslist in your area?? Good resource for free and cheap stuff.

:mug:
 
Yes I was checking Craigs list last night and I will be going to look at a free fridge in the morning. Thanks
 
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