Temperature Questions...

[Danny013]

After dozens of HBD issues, a handful of books, and countless hours of reading and dreaming of delicious homebrew, I have decided to take the plunge and order a small homebrew kit.

However, I was reading recently - why I didn't notice this before I don't know - that the optimum temperature for fermenting ales is somewhere around 60-70 degrees. I live in a small apartment at the moment in hot and sunny Florida, and the hermostat is usually set around 78-80. It is my understanding that fermentation at these temperatures can cause undesirable esters as well as the production of excess fusel alcohols, and that fermentation activity generates enough heat the warm the fermenting beer ~10 degrees higher than ambient air temperatures (making it effectively 90 degrees?).

So, I don't want to go out and get all the equipment only to brew sub-par beer, so I guess my question is am I going to be ok fermenting ales at ~80 (90?) degrees? Are there certain styles that I can brew and focus on that will not be heavily affected? Should I hold out until I move into a larger place where I can setup a dedicated brew fridge?

Thanks!!

Danny

 

[Phan71]

There are several ways to try to keep things cool while it's fermenting. Many people suggest putting it in a tub with some cold water and maybe ice. I haven't gone this route yet, but I'm thinking of getting a small tub that the primary will fit into for this purpose.

I usually keep the primary (and secondary) in a closet in one room of our condo. Luckily, there's a separate window unit air conditioner in there, so when it gets really hot I can just run the air conditioner in that room with the door to the closet open and the door to the room shut. (With the door to the room shut the a/c doesn't have to run constantly.)

I've also used a small plastic bucket filled with ice/water in the closet with the primary with the door to the closet shut. That helps bring the ambient temp down in the closet. I just refill the ice every morning and evening.

In the long run, I would say go the tub route (which is what I plan on doing eventually), or just stick to brewing in the cooler months.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I live in a small apartment with no central air and the temp can climb to the mid-90s during the summer. This year I went out and bought a 70qt Igloo Ice Cube cooler. I then made some custom fit lids using extruded polystyrene insulation board so I could cut a hole for the top of the carboy and airlock to poke through. I use 2 frozen 16oz water bottles (I have to swap them daily when the heat is above 80) to keep the temp in the cooler in the 65deg range.

So far it has worked like a charm (so well, in fact, that I am considering lagering in the cooler this winter).

 

[Phan71]

Is this the one you're talking about: Igloo Cooler at Target?

 

[yeqmaster]

This year I went out and bought a 70qt Igloo Ice Cube cooler. I then made some custom fit lids using extruded polystyrene insulation board so I could cut a hole for the top of the carboy and airlock to poke through.

This method works amazing!!! It is your best bet. Plus its cheap and easy. No extra refrigerator running 24-7 or air conditioning running just to keep you brew cool. I strongly recommend!

 

[Danny013]

Thanks for the quick replies, guys!

Phan71 - the tub looks like the easiest way, but unfortunately I don't have any extra space .

The cooler looks like it might be the best bet for me. Does it fit 6.5 gallon carboys or just the 5 gallon ones? For the lid, you took off the old one and replaced it with an insulated top?

For bottle conditioning, is temperature a big factor? Will I be ok at conditioning at ~80 degrees or so?

 

[malkore]

Can also look at the link in my signature for another cheap, no-hassle cooling idea. Swamp cooling just isn't attractive to me, and I figured there was some way to use the central A/C vents in my floor to make a cooling chamber.

and I was right...cost about $10.

 

[TheJadedDog]

Thanks for the quick replies, guys!


The cooler looks like it might be the best bet for me. Does it fit 6.5 gallon carboys or just the 5 gallon ones? For the lid, you took off the old one and replaced it with an insulated top?

For bottle conditioning, is temperature a big factor? Will I be ok at conditioning at ~80 degrees or so?

It is the cooler linked above and it fits both 6.5 and 5 gallon carboys, just make different lids for each as the 6.5 is wider and sticks up higher. Yes, I took the old lid off; it just pops right out.

For bottle conditioning temp is a bit of a factor, 80 deg is a little high but not killer; anything much over 80 and you may have a problem with some off flavors.

 

[Beerthoven]

Thanks for the quick replies, guys!


The cooler looks like it might be the best bet for me. Does it fit 6.5 gallon carboys or just the 5 gallon ones? For the lid, you took off the old one and replaced it with an insulated top?

Check out Yooper Chicks gallery. She has some pictures there of an ice cube cooler with custom top like what you want to make.

https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/browseimages.php?c=1&userid=4189

 

[Danny013]

^ Thanks - that's very helpful. How much bigger is the 6.5 gallon carboy? Is there still enough room to place a couple of frozen water bottles?

 

[Beerthoven]

^ Thanks - that's very helpful. How much bigger is the 6.5 gallon carboy? Is there still enough room to place a couple of frozen water bottles?

I've never used this method, so I can't say for sure, but I would think that a big cooler like the one you are considering would fit both 5 and 6.5 gallon carboys, plus ice. Yooper Chick has a five gallon carboy in the cooler in her pictures, so I bet a 6.5 gallon carboy would fit fine.

Measure the diameter and height of your carboys and compare to the listed dimensions on the website.