Fermentation temperature control

[bdmcdowell4]

I am going to be starting my very first brew this friday. Its going to be a belgian wit and im very excited about it. My biggest concern is keeping the fermentation temperature at a steady temp. I will be fermenting in the garage which has been at an average 55 degrees which is going to be to cold. The yeast i am using is WLP400 Belgian Wit Ale Yeast, optimum Fermentation Temperature: 67-74°F.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to keep the temp at an optimal temp?

I was thinking about putting it in a large water filled rubber made bucket and heating that with an spare aquarium heater i have laying around. Also i was thinking if i do that should i wrap the bucket in towels and stuff for insulation?

If anyone has any input or other suggestions it would be greatley appreciated.

 

[day_trippr]

Have your efforts been banished to the garage - no place inside the house to stick your fermenter?

Cheers!

 

[smashed4]

A belgian wit has a wider range and should be fine at room temp.

55 is a bit cold.. My garage is at around 60 this time of year and I dont need much temp control. Pale ales are perfectly fine, the heat of fermentation will bring the carboy a couple degrees over 60.

Belgians, I start them in the garage for the first 2-3 days, at which point I move to room temp for a week or two to ensure fermentarion finishes up dry..

 

[TomBrooz]

Unreal, I just put a wheat beer in the can yesterday and was worried about temp control, only it's 90 degrees here today and I was worried about the other side of the target! I would suggest getting your fermenter to the temp you want and insulating as well as possible from the cooler ambient temp. Get it some time in a warm room and then wrap it with some towels to maintain that heat in the fermenter. If you have hot water bottles change them in and out between layers of towels to maintain the integrity of the warm insulation.

If you use the water bath I would be worried about towel insulation chilling the fermenter by evaporation cooling above the water line, so don't mix the two. But if youmcan adequately heat the water bath I recommend it, my bath cooled to 61 overnight held temp through 90 degree heat today, the volume of water is very resistant to,temp changes once you get it where you want. Maintaining heat will follow the same rules as staving it off.