High Fermentation temp with WL023

[EricT]

So I pitched my yeast starter last night in my Wort which was 75F. I have done this in the past with WL002 and the temperature dropped to just above room temp within 24 hours. I am now at about 18 hours since pitching the yeast starter and the temp is around 80F (room temp is 70), my Wort is going nuts. I just submerged my Carboy in an Ice bath to get the temp down. Question for all the experienced home brewers here is this: Am I going to get alot of off flavors in the amount of time its been fermenting already? will my ice bath save it? My OG was 1.060 so I figure its got a ways to go before its done fermenting. Will yeast "clean up" their off flavors? Thanks in advance all.

 

[ChshreCat]

You'll possibly have some fusel alcohols in it that'll give it a hot alcohol flavor and possibly some esters. If you've been fermenting in a 70 degree room, you've probably been getting some of those anyway.

 

[jmo88]

You'll have alot of esters and fusels. You are stuck with it, sorry. The beginning temperature for the first several hours or so will dictate how pronounced the esters and fusels are. Bringing it down in temperature now won't save those from your beer at this point. Pitch in the mid 60's next time and let it rise naturally to finish out.

 

[Reelale]

It's worth a try. WL023 has a 73 degree upper range, so it's reasonably more tolerant of hot ferments than some yeasts. Maybe leave it on the yeast longer than you normally do.

 

[EricT]

It's worth a try. WL023 has a 73 degree upper range, so it's reasonably more tolerant of hot ferments than some yeasts. Maybe leave it on the yeast longer than you normally do.

I am hoping it wont be too bad, time will tell. I do plan to leave it on the yeast cake longer than 3 weeks. I guess the damage is done though. Wish this wasn't my Stone clone I was really looking forward to this one.

 

[EricT]

You'll possibly have some fusel alcohols in it that'll give it a hot alcohol flavor and possibly some esters. If you've been fermenting in a 70 degree room, you've probably been getting some of those anyway.

Yah My scottish ale I did is very alcohol tasting, it actually mellowing out a bit but still there, that one called for WLP002 which has even less tolerance.

 

[ajf]

I think I'll find out about the same time you do. In the last 2 weeks, I've brewed 2 ESB's, one with WLP002 and the other with WLP023. It's too cold to put them in the basement, too hot to keep them upstairs (which is where they are), and the fermentation freezer has a lager in it for the next several weeks.

-a.

 

[ChshreCat]

Time for you to work on your temperature control, my friend. I think you'll notice a big difference in your beer if you do.

 

[EricT]

Well, as far as temperature control goes. I have a couple options: 1. set the AC to about 67F and freeze my wife out (she is a California girl and 69 is considered cold) or 2. build a Fermenter. As it stands she thinks I'm spending way too much on beer making stuff so the Fermenter build is gonna have to wait. Most times of the year here in Socal I could probably put it in the garage and between the temperature shifts at night (upper 50's at night this time of year) and low 70's during the day I would probably be ok. I just don't want my beer to fluctuate too much. Maybe I need some input from my fellow Socal brewers to see what they do. But yes, I do need to work on temperature control.

 

[EricT]

Looking at the Fermenting build options looks like a simple system with some styrofoam, PC fan and a couple 2 liter bottles of ice will run me all of 15 dollars. pretty sure I can swing that LOL

 

[EricCSU]

The damage is done, unfortunately. Fusel alcohols don't really go away either.

I hope your beer turns out better then I think it will, but I'm not optimistic.

As far as temp control, I have worked out a system where I can keep the carboy 15 degrees cooler than ambient by adding frozen water bottles to a carboy in a water bath. By having a large amount of water (up to the 5 gallon mark), the beer doesn't have huge temp swings. I talked about it in this thread. It starts on post #10 and there are pictures on post #28.

I will probably ditch the system soon, but only because the wife wants her tub back and I want to start making lagers.

Eric

 

[ChshreCat]

Plenty of options for temp control. I don't have ac here and last summer we had a hot spell just short of 100 degrees. I was able to keep my beer under 70 degrees with a plastic tub some water and water bottles full of ice.

 

[EricCSU]

Plenty of options for temp control. I don't have ac here and last summer we had a hot spell just short of 100 degrees. I was able to keep my beer under 70 degrees with a plastic tub some water and water bottles full of ice.

We had over 100 days of 100 degrees last year in Austin. I am really hoping this summer is better. It can't get any worse!

Eric

 

[EricT]

Teh tub full of water and Ice i what I am doing now, for what its worth. I have been checking craigs list and there are lots of mini refrigerators for sale. We are getting ready to go camping for a few days in our travel trailer. I wonder how warm I can make the refrigerator in there go? Hmm, may have to check that out. I have limited space available but I am thinking I will make one of these

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/smaller-son-fermentation-chiller-79556/