Fourth of July Brew Questions

[ere109]

I made my first attempt at peanut butter over the weekend, and got a wort with an og around 1.055. It smells and tastes great so far. My first issue is that, in the dead of summer, my basement is sitting around 74 degrees. I'm thinking about putting the carboys into a plastic bin and adding some ice every day.
My second concern is whether or not the peanut butter powder is going to inhibit or change fermentation. I'm sure there are fermentable sugars in there, I just hope my yeast choose to come out and try some sort, too - especially given the high temp. Thoughts?

 

[jpoder]

That's what I do. I have a laundry tub that i put my carboy in and fill the tub with water. I usually use frozen water bottles (adding ice, you will need to keep pulling water out of the tub to keep it from overflowing). during the most active part of fermentation 4-6 water bottles will keep the temp between 62 and 65 over ~12 hours). a few days in 3 water bottles will do the same. my ambient temp in my basement is 73 this time of year. Not the greatest temperature control, but it works for me. I also try to brew saisons and belgian ales in the summer...after ~2 days keeping fermentation around 65 I just let it rip.

 

[beeber]

jpoder, what size are the water bottles? Gallon jugs???

 

[jpoder]

I just use smallish(16 Oz, I think) bottles filled 3/4 full (allow for expansion of frozen water). I'll put ~8 bottles in the freezer so I can cycle frozen ones for ones that have thawed. My tub is not a lot bigger than the carboy so the bottles float, but just barely. Gallon jugs would be too big for my setup.

 

[beeber]

Excellent, thanks. As I have no cool area in the summer to brew, I may go this route as well. I will most likely use those plastic 1 liter soda bottles and adjust as necessary.

 

[ere109]

Great tip! I put my car boy into a tub of ice water. I'll wait til visible fermentation starts on the second one then add it in, too. What water level do you go with?