High Fermentation Temperatures

[deridde6]

I like to brew IPA's, but I am worried that the temperature of my apartment is too warm for the yeast to create a really good batch. Or I'm worried about using the right kinds of yeast.

The temperature of my apartment sits around 72 - 76. Is that too warm for the style of beer I'm trying to produce?

-Chris

 

[HopJuicer]

That's a bit warm. My first year I got a big plastic storage bin and placed the carboys in there with water and 2 frozen 2L soda bottles. Make sure to have 4-6 bottles so you can swap frozen bottles at least twice a day. Might be a pita but its worth it. Good luck keeping it cool!

 

[Pie_Man]

If you just placed your carboy in a room, than yes, that temperature is too high. Your beer is going to be about 5 degrees warmer than the ambient air during parts of fermentation and that temp is already too high. The swamp cooler method mentioned above will do the trick. A temperature controlled fridge or freezer is a more automated approach if you want to go that route.

As for ipa yeast, American ipas typically use cal ale yeast, it's a clean tasting yeast. White labs 001, or if you're using dry yeast, us-05.

 

[Smithman]

MY fat tire ale clone fermented at 73-75 in my pantry. It came out fine. Better than the store-bought in all sincerity.

 

[Theis]

Last summer I made a couple batches of (unintentionally) heavily clove flavored pale ale when fermenting in the 70's despite using US-05 and notty - do yourself and your beer a favor and use the swamp cooler mentioned above, I haven't had any batches reminiscent of ham dinner since.

 

[duboman]

MY fat tire ale clone fermented at 73-75 in my pantry. It came out fine. Better than the store-bought in all sincerity.

Thats because the beer you brewed is meant to be fermented a little higher than normal, for what the OP wants in an American style IPA the beer should be in the mid 60's so the swamp cooler suggestion is spot on