Tempeture Question

[neovox]

I'm brewing my first batch of English Ale using English Ale Yeast from White Labs. WL says the optimum fermentation temperature is 65-68°F. I was within this range when I pitched the yeast but 24hrs later I'm closer to 60-62°F. Is this ok, or should I make accommodations to warm it up a bit. Seems my basement was a little cooler than I expected. Thanks.

 

[bja]

Warm it up to 65.

 

[moonbrew]

Warm it up to 65.

+1 for warm it up...

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

If it's touching the basement floor, put something insulating underneath, and throw a jacket around it. That should do it.

 

[neovox]

Yeah, when I first noticed the temp had dropped that far I moved it from the floor up on to a palette, but that hasn't made much of a difference. I'll try putting a blanket or towel around it tonight. Thanks for the replies.

 

[moonbrew]

Has fermentation started yet?

If fermentation has started put a blanket around it, it will keep itself warm.

If it hasn't kicked off yet you might need some heat.

I've used my wife's heating pad to warm mine up before, and also a small ceramic heater at times, but you've got to watch them so they don't warm it too much. If your ambient temp is in the 60-62 range you'll be right where you want it when the yeast kick in and produce a few degrees of heat of their own, then you can put it back on the floor until the yeast start to peter out and the temp starts to drop again, then you'll need to apply a little more heat so they don't prematurely start to floc out... You want them to clean up after themselves for a day or two before you let the temp drop back down. That WL002 drops out pretty quick.

 

[neovox]

Yes, fermentation has started. So it sounds like I just need to kick the temp up a bit to be at the low end of what's recommended, 65.