First beer with controlled fermentation!

[rhythm]

Brewed up an extract kit today, the NB German Blonde. I'm excited about it because I now have a mini-fridge/stc-1000 setup going so I can keep my fermentation temp in a proper range. Yay! I've got the sensor taped to the side of the carboy with a couple of strips of bubble wrap heavily taped over it. There's been no real activity yet, but I expected that based on what I've read about Safale US-05 yeast being a bit of a slow starter sometimes. I have the controller set at 17.5 C (63.5 F) with a 0.5 C differential. I guess I'm not really posting any questions or any useful information here....just felt like posting since brew days are fun and I'm enjoying having a new setup!

Cheers,
Greg

 

[El_Condor]

Congrats! That's something I'm preparing to do - I've used a combo swamp cooler/space heater kind of set up til now. That's allowed me to stay within about a 2 degree band around my target temps, but I look forward to the day of not constantly having to run into "the beer room" (as my wife calls it) to check the fermometer. A special moment for you - enjoy!

 

[RM-MN]

As you continue using the controlled fermentation you will get used to seeing almost no activity as the yeast work much more slowly at that temperature. I typically see evidence of about an inch of krausen and the airlock on my bucket fermenter will only put out about 1 bubble per second at the peak of the fermentation (provided the bucket seals or that I even have an airlock).

 

[shanecb]

Fermentation temperature control is a HUGE step to making better beer. You'll definitely start seeing some improvements!

 

[jbb3]

Congrats! You just stepped up the quality and consistency of your beer!!

 

[beergolf]

Best thing you can do for making your brews better.

 

[jwalk4]

Hilarious! !! I was contemplating making a similar post asking asking which beer to brew next because I just pulled the trigger on ssbrew tech's FTSS temp control lid with the brew bucket!!

I'm super pumped for my next brew. Might do a blonde ale first, show off the clean flavor of a stable mid 60's Nottingham.