Fermentor problems, temperature swing

[schaumie2222]

Good afternoon,

Long time lurker this is my first post. Appreciate the help in advance. I brewed a two hearted clone BIAB and pitched Nottingham ale yeast yesterday. I put it in my chest freezer temp controlled fermentor and set it at 64 at 3pm (ramp up towards up of fermentation). Came downstairs this morning and after the freezer was running all night the temp inside the freezer was maintainin only 55 and the carboy temp via thermowell 74 with very active fermentation. I took the carboy out and set it in the cellar where ambient temps stay around 50, cycled the freezer and turned the temp control up (or down) to max and left for work around 10am. My wife checked the temp at 1pm and said the freezer temp was below freezing and working. I can’t get the carboy back into the freezer and start cooling down till 10pm- my question being will it be worth it and what temp should I set it at as to not shock the active fermentation? Thanks again for your help

 

[ncbrewer]

If I understand this correctly, you found the chest freezer holding at 55*, but the fermenter was 74*. My first inclination is that the thermowell thermometer is out of calibration because I wouldn't expect that much difference. Fermentation is generally thought to raise the temperature around 4 - 10 degrees (from memory), but 19 degrees doesn't sound realistic. Do you have another way to check the beer temperature (without contaminating the beer)?

 

[stieg000]

Infrared temp gun is the best. I find my ryobi to be within a few degrees of accuracy which is good for a quick sanity check.

 

[PADave]

What are you using to control the freezer temp? Something is not right. No way the freezer could run all night and the beer be at 74.

 

[schaumie2222]

I am using the Inkbird controller. It could have been that the freezer finally hit 55 when I checked it but I do not have another way to check the temp. I left it in the cellar but for future instances, is it best to let it ride out at the higher temps instead of trying to bring it back?

 

[PADave]

I am using the Inkbird controller. It could have been that the freezer finally hit 55 when I checked it but I do not have another way to check the temp. I left it in the cellar but for future instances, is it best to let it ride out at the higher temps instead of trying to bring it back?

No, you want to control the temp, especially during the stages of peak fermentation.

What were your settings on the inkbird, mainly the cold differential? Shouldn't have risen a degree or two more than 64 if you have it set up right. Sounds like you have the Cd set closer to 10.

 

[schaumie2222]

I had both differentials set at 2 degrees and a 10 minute compressor delay

 

[parrothead64]

Cooling it down usually puts an end to fermentation. Your not that far along so an active fermentation might keep going. I would move to a warmer area, (50F is going to shut down ale yeast)wait a few days and take a hydrometer reading, then take another a couple of days later, if the readings are the same and over 1.2 fermentation has stalled, make a starter and add more yeast at high krauson. If ambient temp is 50, I don’t think you need the freezer running unless your doing a lager. You should be able to control temps with just heat.

 

[schaumie2222]

Parrot thanks for the reply, I removed it from 50 and back to basement house temp around 60 and will take readings like you said... surprisingly, Krausen has fallen already on a 1.074 og so I’m worried I might have stalled the fermentation but will readjust as necessary, thanks everyone for all the help