Starting with Extract Kits vs. All-Grain?

[tx-brewer]

I ferment in my apartment. I found a method on YouTube that works great, keeps my temp around 69 F, which is fine for a basic pale ale.

Here's what I do:
-have a round, six inch high plastic storage container with enough circumference to fit your fermenting vessel)
-fill with 3 inches of water
-set the fermentor in said container
-wrap the fermentor in a towel, allow the bottom of the towel to sit in the water
-pour cold water in said towel to make it damp
-place a small fan facing this set-up and turn it in high

What happens is the towel around the fermentor wicks water up around it, and the fan helps the water evaporate, drawing heat from the fermentor. You'll have to add a little water to the base every other day or so.

Thus is the classic swamp cooler idea, it works well in dry climates, but not so well in humid ones.

I got my hands on one of those tall cylindrical coolers like they put in the gas stations for energy drinks. I put a soft ice chest on top that covers the opening. I fill with water and put frozen bottles in. Works really well, I change out one or two waterbottle size bottles daily and maintain low 60s.

 

[BigFloyd]

Thus is the classic swamp cooler idea, it works well in dry climates, but not so well in humid ones.

Good point. The whole evaporative cooling thing is so much more effective in drier climates. I tried one of those cooling vests that works on the same principle. The humidity here, while not quite as bad as Houston, made it not so useful.

I got my hands on one of those tall cylindrical coolers like they put in the gas stations for energy drinks. I put a soft ice chest on top that covers the opening. I fill with water and put frozen bottles in. Works really well, I change out one or two waterbottle size bottles daily and maintain low 60s.

Nice idea. I like it.