Hot mess fermentation

[daniel.rizzolo]

I just got a new kegerator but have no beer so used it as a fermentation chamber. This batch is a vanilla bourbon porter with safale s04 yeast.
I taped and insulated a temp probe to the side of my corny keg fermenter. Wrapped a heat wrap and plugged it in to the heat on the ink bird and the kegerator in to the cooling side. Thought I was good to go and got this from my tilt, see image below.
I also forgot to plug in blow off tube. Thankfully it did not explode. I repitched the yeast and connected the blow off tube.

Any thoughts on if this was the best way to set this up or should I have just set the ink bird to 66 for the kegerator temperature. Also will there be any off flavors? I have not been able to try it yet because I live in a condo and ferment at my in laws house. Sorry for the long post, any input would be great.

 

[Dr_Jeff]

I don't use a heat wrap and rely on the yeast to generate the heat.

I have used a heat wrap to keep things warm during the souring process when making a Gose, but that's different.

 

[daniel.rizzolo]

I don't use a heat wrap and rely on the yeast to generate the heat.

I have used a heat wrap to keep things warm during the souring process when making a Gose, but that's different.

Good to know, will definitely do that next time. I have always used the heat wrap but not sure what happened this time never had temp swings when I had it in the basement with it wrapped in foam and a heat wrap.

 

[day_trippr]

That is one hella crazy temperature plot.
It's like there was a drunk at the wheel controlling the chamber!

 

[faithie999]

so are you saying that you have the ink bird controller heating the keg via the heat wrap, and the kegerator controller cooling the keg via the refrigeration? so the heat and the cooling are fighting each other hence the temp plot you posted. I agree with Dr Jeff. if you need to ferment in the kegerator because your basement (whatever location) is too hot, then set the kegerator temp to whatever temp the yeast packet recommends and leave the heat wrap off.