Low temps during bottle conditioning

[ComusLives]

I'm currently in the process of my first brew, a wheat beer, and I think I've figured out everything so far bar one concern. The only place in my house where I can reasonable store my bottles during carbonation seems to be a little too cold this time of year. It usually stays around 17C (59F), and the instructions that came with the kit say it needs to be stored for carbonation around 25-28C (77-82F), which seems a little high since every guide I've read recommends the fermentation temperature be maintained around 22C.

What I'm concerned about is how much it'll affect the carbonation/bottle conditioning if I store the bottles in the room at 17C? Would that be high enough to allow the carbonation to even happen? Since I know it'll slow the process down.

 

[ColoHox]

Which yeast did you use? Either it will be too cold, and the yeast will go dormant. Or, just warm enough, and the yeast will take a really long time (months probably). You need to shoot for 70F, maybe even mid 60F.

 

[unionrdr]

Bottle carbing temps aren't quite the same as initial fermentation temps. The high end temp doesn't really matter, only the lower end temp does. Too low, & the yeast go dormant or take a really long time to properly carbonate. You need it warmer, 70F being the norm, or 20-22C or so (68-69.8F).

 

[ComusLives]

I'm not too sure what exactly the yeast is, since it came as part of a kit. On the box it says true Bavarian wheat yeast, if that's any help.

It looks like I may have to push this brew back until the weather gets warmer in that case. Any suggestions on how I might be able to maintain that kind of temperature? I've a feeling it won't be that easy since my brew will be 23 litres, which means 45-46 500 ml bottles. Not exactly something I can just put in a container filled with water and an aquarium heater.

Would there by anyway I could carbonate it after racking it into another fermentation vessel (which I could easily keep at the right temperature) and then once that's done bottle it?

 

[ncbrewer]

Here's a video showing one possibility for keeping the bottles warm:
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUcWADuFhTg[/ame]
I haven't tried it - can't comment.

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Would there by anyway I could carbonate it after racking it into another fermentation vessel (which I could easily keep at the right temperature) and then once that's done bottle it?

You can only carbonate in a vessel that can handle the pressure so unless your fermentor can handle 8-12 psi (.75 bar give or take) do not try this.

The creative solutions to mundane problems is part of the joy of this hobby so think outside the box...or inside one. How about a styrofoam box (rigid insulation glued together), a 2-4 Liter pot and an aquarium heater in the pot of water...just surround the pot with bottles.

 

[TheHappyHopper]

I like the Christmas light idea posted above.

You could always proceed as you have planned, letting the bottles sit in the 17C (59F) space that you described and after 2-3 weeks give one a try. Worst case scenario is that it is not carbonated and you will have to wait until the temperature warms up a bit, then give the bottles a little shake to stir up the yeast again and let them sit a few weeks longer.

 

[sky4meplease]

The room I store my bottles in is generally too cold for bottle carbonating all year long but I use it anyway.
I would say on average it is 60 degrees right now it is 50.
My beers typically take a month to carb but I condition there as well so I don't mind waiting and the end result has always been good.
I say give it a try the way it is and see what happens.
You may have to exercise a little patience.

 

[eadavis80]

Is your entire house under 60 degrees? That seems pretty cold to live in those conditions. Isn't there any place in your residence you can stash 50 beer bottles? If not, and you're really forced to have them in that around 60, I would think they would carbonate - eventually. It might just take an extra few weeks. Get going on that next batch while you wait!

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Is your entire house under 60 degrees? That seems pretty cold to live in those conditions.

What part of CA/AZ/FL are you from? A lot of folks up north keep their houses warm enough to not freeze pipes or see their breath...then they intermittently heat their bathroom. Some do it save money, some to acclimate to the cold temps, some because stoking the wood furnace is hard work.

 

[unionrdr]

Living around the great lakes in snow belt areas makes it easy to have chilly rooms, even with additional heaters. Colder than a well digger's bumm again today at some 5F. Cold brewing/conditioning temps not a problem here atm. Just find the coolest spot you have for storage, warmest one for carb & conditioning.

 

[eadavis80]

I live outside Metro Detroit, where we just got 16.7" of snow - the third most in the history of the region. Last year during the "Polar Vortex" it was horrendously cold from early January through Mid-February. That being said, my house still was kept at least at 63 degrees. Hey - to each his own...