Scottish Winter Brews

[Angus MacDonald]

Ok so I know temperatures are colder elsewhere compared to Scotland in winter, even the Highlands where I am. I'm fairly new to brewing though and I was looking for advice on how to keep yeast warm during the fermentation stages. The average temperature of Inverness in December is 1C/34F apparently, with January and February being the same. We start to see frost around the end of October. Normally this wouldn't be a problem but I live on a hill, about 100m/328 feet above sea level and my flat is freezing unless I have the central heating on, which I can't afford to do for more than a couple of hours a day.

So the yeast wont be warm even hiding in my airing cupboard. Any tips? I'd hate to have to brew only on a 3 - 4 month basis, I've nowhere to stock everything for the remaining months.

 

[Kent88]

Lager?

I've used a heating pad to keep saison warm, but that was to bump it up from 75F to 80F for a few hours a day.

I've also heard about people immersing their fermenters halfway in clean water and using an aquarium heater to heat the water around it.

 

[Angus MacDonald]

Lager?

I've used a heating pad to keep saison warm, but that was to bump it up from 75F to 80F for a few hours a day.

I've also heard about people immersing their fermenters halfway in clean water and using an aquarium heater to heat the water around it.

Mostly ale or cider for the winter. I plan on making ales, ciders, and wines though.

 

[Hopsimus]

I'd recommend picking up a carboy heater wrap, similar to this on amazon.
And also some sort of temperature controller with a probe, like this on amazon.
Ideally you'll also want a thermowell, to put the temp probe into the beer, like this one.
I would think you can find something similar on the web in your area of the world. Perhaps amazon.uk?

As kent88 mentioned, the water bath with aquarium heater is also a good option.

Cheers!

 

[Angus MacDonald]

I'd recommend picking up a carboy heater wrap, similar to this on amazon.
And also some sort of temperature controller with a probe, like this on amazon.
Ideally you'll also want a thermowell, to put the temp probe into the beer, like this one.
I would think you can find something similar on the web in your area of the world. Perhaps amazon.uk?

As kent88 mentioned, the water bath with aquarium heater is also a good option.

Cheers!

Hmm yeah. I try not to use Amazon where I can avoid it but up here there's not too many options I'm aware of. Might have to take a wee trip to the pet shop for a couple of water heaters since I've two tubs to keep warm. Thanks for the advice.

 

[DownHillonWater]

A cool environment is a great place to brew. Heating a fermenter is cheap and easy to control. I do this.
1. Water bath with $25 aquarium heater connected to $15 inkbird controller. Better with an $8 aquarium pump in the water bath to move the water around. Put the inkbird thermometer against the outside of your fermenter covered by some sort of foam is the best way to measure temperature.
2. Once the heat generating phase of fermentation is over I go to a $29 Fermwrap to eliminate the large water bath. Inkbird works great here too.

If your air temp is 60F or below this works great for ales. Temps will not deviate more than 1 deg F.

 

[Ozarks Mountain Brewery]

try a Scottish 80 Schilling

http://www.scottishbrewing.com/history/shilling.php

 

[Northern_Brewer]

Hmm yeah. I try not to use Amazon where I can avoid it but up here there's not too many options I'm aware of. Might have to take a wee trip to the pet shop for a couple of water heaters since I've two tubs to keep warm. Thanks for the advice.

Take a look at Brewstore in Edinburgh (no affiliation other than as occasional customer) - like most homebrew places they don't have as big a selection of electrical stuff as Amazon but they've got the basics, they've got an above-average choice of ingredients which they sell by the 10g - and don't charge extra for making the courier brave the A9.

In general, cold won't kill the yeast, but will just slow it down. Lager yeast will cope better with colder temperatures, but don't have to be used just for lager, although they may be too "clean" for some styles of ale where yeast character is important. Among the ale yeasts, think kolsches and Scottish ones like WLP028; Nottingham handles cold better than most English ones.

In general though, it's a lot easier to warm up than cool down. Inkbirds are your friend on the control side but if you've got a small volume to heat like a cupboard then there's all sorts of options - there's something to be said for small fan heaters as they move the air around rather than letting it stratify. But greenhouse heaters, belts, pads - they all work.

 

[Angus MacDonald]

try a Scottish 80 Schilling

http://www.scottishbrewing.com/history/shilling.php

I do actually plan to brew an 80/- at some point. I have my cider and cranberry & raspberry wine batches to do first though.

 

[Angus MacDonald]

Take a look at Brewstore in Edinburgh...

I might just have to do that. Depending on their postage costs I'll either get them to send me something or day trip to Edinburgh.

 

[divrack]

If you have a car or good friend with one try and find an old chest freezer, worth visiting the dump on a Saturday when people like to Chuck out their stuff for more sophisticated models, or a decent sized fridge. Get an stc1000 and wire it to a lamp or heater of some kind inside the fridge/freezer.
Voilla you have a fully functioning fermentation/lagering chamber for about 20quid all in.
If no space, go with the above or just stick a fan heater in the cupboard with the beer and shut the door tight works.

 

[Angus MacDonald]

The chest freezer would be great but no space in my flat for it. I'd put it in the shed but there's no way to run electricity to the shed and unfortunately I rent so I can't just install the means to run electricity to it.

 

[divrack]

Or get a gir

The chest freezer would be great but no space in my flat for it. I'd put it in the shed but there's no way to run electricity to the shed and unfortunately I rent so I can't just install the means to run electricity to it.[/QUOTE
25m extension cable? You know you want to. .

 

[Angus MacDonald]

In Scottish winter weather? It'd have to be waterproof, snow proof, sleet proof, ice proof and frost proof. That'll be just for one day as well. On top of that my flat is on the first floor and I don't fancy running the extension cable from my kitchen window.

 

[Angus MacDonald]

Woops, wrong thread. Ignore this post

 

[Radboud]

Stick a 1' 40W tube heater in your cupboard or build a small dedicated chamber. Loads of them on eBay from the UK.

And I love Scottish ales, been to your wee bit Hill an Glen many times to drink it. Went for the Tennents, stayed for the Caledonian 80-/--

 

[Angus MacDonald]

I'll be making an 80/- soon. Get that racked up for the winter months and I'll be good Gotta get all my other planned brews done first. Need so many glass bottles first.