Fermentation temp range too broad?

[tgeary76]

I brewed my first kit (English brown ale) late night 10/18 and pitched the yeast around 70deg. Put in 6gal carboy and place in closet. The temp of the house ranged from 60degrees one night then up to 72-74 one afternoon since I don't have the A/C on anymore. The airlock was bubbling after about 24 hours and kept going for 2.5 days then stopped. Had about 2-3 inches of krausen during the bubbling. After the 2.5 days the krausen has fallen. Did the big temp range cause the fermentation to stall and should I repitch?

 

[tgeary76]

Forgot some info: SG was 1.049 and haven't checked the gravity once its been 4 days. I

 

[jrgtr42]

More than likely the heavy, primary fermentation is over. It can sometimes be done that quickly, if the temps are a bit higher.
THat high end temp is a bit higher than optimal, but it's still well within the ranges of most yeast strains (Which strain did you use?)
The first thing I would recommend is that if you are that worried, CHECK THE GRAVITY!!!
Second is to take into account Charlie Papazain's mantra, "relax, don't worry, have a (home)brew."
You will have beer. I would let it sit for a couple more weeks for things to settle and the yeast to clean up after themselves.
Next, for your next brew, I would recommend something to keep the temps more stable. Since the yeast themselves create heat in there, if the temp on the outside (I presume it was one of those LCD stck-on thermometers?) was reading 72 - 74, the temp inside was probably 5degrees north of that. You may have gotten some extra esters in there, but it's not going to kill the yeast. Best bet is to keep it around the mid - 60s.

 

[tgeary76]

Thanks jr... Just don't want to screw up my first batch.

 

[tgeary76]

I believe Nottingham was the yeast

 

[Setesh]

First of all, welcome to the forum!

Sticking the fermentor in the closet was a great idea. The closet, being an enclosed space, won't change temps as fast as the rest of the house. Next time put that dude in a water bath to help even more with the temperature swings. The temp swings can cause the yeast to drop out early. When they get cold at the end of fermentation they are more motivated to sleep than to continue eating and they can drop out and leave your beer unfinished. If you have a big heat sink like a water bath to mitigate the temp swings it helps a lot.

Let us know how it turns out and enjoy your first brew!