Temp

[Redeyeribeye]

I am just about to start brewing my own beer,how important is brewing temp?I have not got one room in house that is above 18c all day and night.

 

[Grippe]

I'm a relative n00b myself, but if I can help -

What kind of brew do you want to make? How high are your expectations for your brew to have a very specific taste?

If you're making an ale your temperatures will be fine. If you want to brew a beer that tastes 'exactly' like a specific brand then you will find that temperature control will probably be very important.

If, however, you simply want to make great tasting beer and enjoy a new hobby it sounds like starting with ales and RDWHAHB are all you need to do.

 

[badbrew]

Just a thought but if you are having trouble starting fermentation, then maybe a heater in a room for a couple of days to get the temp up a few degrees.

 

[helibrewer]

You can buy FermWrap material by the foot from Bean Farm (Flexwatt Heat Tape - 11 in. - Heating - The Bean Farm). I fancied mine up a bit with a rheostat and voltmeter so that I can control the heating more precisely.

 

[Yooper]

That's perfect! You don't usually want to ferment above 20C, and since fermentation itself produces heat, you'll probably be able to stay under 20C.

Right now, I have a 14C degree room, with an ale actively fermenting. The ale (as evidenced by the stick-on thermometer) is currently at 17.8C.

 

[birvine]

And don't make my mistake of fermenting too cool - swamp cooler with too-cold water.

B

 

[Aschecte]

Temps are important to the the extent of flavor profile warmer temps tend to produce esters and phenols when above the yeasts recommended range and the opposite is true for cold temps but then lower attenuation and stuck ferments become an issue. Either which way 17c is good so RDWHAHB.

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[Piratwolf]

First, you've gotten great responses so far as to your particular temperature.

how important is brewing temp?.

As to this aspect of your question... after sanitation, I think this--combined with pitching the right amount of healthy yeast--is the single most important part of making good beer.

 

[daksin]

[fermentation temperature] is the single most important part of making good beer.

Seconded. It is impossible to make good beer when fermenting too hot or too cold.