FL - Too hot to brew cider??

[myleviathan]

Hi! I'm a noob here, and I have been reading in several posts that the temperature shouldn't rise beyond the 60's or so during primary/secondary fermentation. I live in a condo in southern Florida, and with air conditioning my home stays about 70 - 78 degrees all the time. Is this going to be a problem with cider brewing? If so, is there any type of brew (beer, wine, etc.) that might do better with the warmer weather?

Thanks very much for your advice.

 

[Schlenkerla]

For cider you can go as high as 86F. See this link.

http://www.cfhb.org/mead/yeast_strains.htm#mont

As for beer, wheats and Belgians. See the kits in this link.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/beer-kits.html

There might even be some safe ale yeast that might work

http://www.northernbrewer.com/dried-yeast.html

Call a local home brew shop too. There is no reason why you can't brew. Search this site for a swamp cooler set-up. Gotta go... nappy time, SWMBO is calling...

Its basically soaking the fermentor in water, drapped w/ towels and a fan blowing on it. Also a strategically placed fermentor under an AC duct would help.

 

[niquejim]

I brew all kinds of beers here in south Florida, it just takes some extra equipment or imagination!

BTW what part of Florida are you in.

 

[jbreiding]

i have done meads, wine and ales here in orlando. it all can be done!!!

no cider yet, but i wouldnt see why not since its fermented with a top fermenting yeast which should be ok with your temp inside.

depending on the type of yeast you use you should get different flavor profiles at different temperatures.

if you look around the site there are different examples of cheap fermentation chillers you build.

 

[myleviathan]

I brew all kinds of beers here in south Florida, it just takes some extra equipment or imagination!

BTW what part of Florida are you in.

I'm in Fort Myers, which is about three hours south of Orlando. It's nice that we have some cold air moving in. I would like to evenually move to central florida between Ocala and Gainesville.

 

[myleviathan]

For cider you can go as high as 86F. See this link.

http://www.cfhb.org/mead/yeast_strains.htm#mont

As for beer, wheats and Belgians. See the kits in this link.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/beer-kits.html

There might even be some safe ale yeast that might work

http://www.northernbrewer.com/dried-yeast.html

Call a local home brew shop too. There is no reason why you can't brew. Search this site for a swamp cooler set-up. Gotta go... nappy time, SWMBO is calling...

Its basically soaking the fermentor in water, drapped w/ towels and a fan blowing on it. Also a strategically placed fermentor under an AC duct would help.

These are really helpful links. Thanks very much.

 

[Kayos]

Fermented apfelwein at 75-80 and it was the best batch yet. Go for it!!!

 

[niquejim]

I'm in Fort Myers, which is about three hours south of Orlando. It's nice that we have some cold air moving in. I would like to evenually move to central florida between Ocala and Gainesville.

I work in Ft Myers I know where it is. I live across the river in the Cape