Spontaneous ferment temps

[Beerswimmer]

I'm looking at the forecast for tomorrow night and the temps will be in the low 40's. That's about as cold as it gets here. Is that too warm?

My plan would be to do a turbid-ish mash with wheat, a quick boil with about 5 IBU's and leave my kettle outside overnight, transfer to the carboy in the morning and hope for the best.


Although I could still do it, then pitch yeast like normal in the morning and see what the local flora and fauna did to the resulting beer.



Just not interested in brewing a big jug of mold.....

 

[secondbase]

That's the highest temp I'd want for a spontaneous. If that's as cold as it gets, I'd say go for it. Ideally you'd want the high temp to be under 70ºF. 30's are ideal for a low, but low 40's work too.

 

[radwizard]

Did you do the Spon? How'd it go?

 

[Beerswimmer]

No, it was so windy outside I didn't want to be out there! I didn't think my burner would even work in the spot I had to brew. I re-arranged the garage, so next time it's cold enough I have a spot that's out of the wind. I'll just have to carry the pot about 10 feet to get it to where the wind can hit it.

 

[secondbase]

I don't think I'd be worried about the wind in a spontaneous. What are you protecting it from? Isn't that sort of the point? I feel the same way about rain in the forecast. Other than maybe some extra volume (very, very slight increase), not really a problem.

 

[Beerswimmer]

The wind was/is only a problem with blowing out my ****** burner! I'll brew it in a wind protected area, then transfer the pot out into the wind to collect airborne yeast(hopefully) as it cools.