Transport the Wort

[Ryebread]

I'm (over-)preparing for my first homebrew. I've been doing a TON of research, and I've bought way more than I need for my first brew, but that's OK, something tells me this won't be a short-lived hobby.

My question - I currently live in an apartment, and I hear that the smell of boiling wort can stink up an apartment (and your neighbor's apartment), and I really don't want to piss anyone off. My lease strictly states that there is to be no propane in the apartment or on the balcony, and even goes as far as to say I can't grill in the parking lot, so something tells me I won't be able to brew in the lot as well.

With all of that said, I'm either going to break my lease and stealth brew at night on the balcony, or I'm going to try this:

My parents live about 2 miles from me, and they have a backyard with no propane restrictions . I'm thinking about boiling the wort there, cooling it down as cold as I can with my wort chiller, throwing a sanitized stopper on it, and driving it back to my apartment to complete the fermentation setup (pitching the yeast, setting up the blowoff tube, etc). Since it may heat up a bit during the transport (Baltimore summer), I may wait until it reaches 68 degrees in my fermentation chamber before pitching.

As far as I know, this is OK as long as the wort never reaches above 80 degrees during this process (as risk of contamination sky rockets), and of course keeping everything sanitized. Given that I keep those 2 variables in mind, this should be feasible, right? Would it be better to pitch the yeast as soon as it hits 68 degrees and then transport home, or should I stick with my original plan to pitch once it hits the temperature I need in my fermentation chamber?

Your thoughts/advice/concerns are appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Kaz]

I would do the boil, get it as cool as you can at the parent's house, transfer, cap with the sanitized stopper and then take it home and pitch yeast once you hit your pitching temp. You could pitch anytime you are near 70F, but I sometimes like to pitch cooler and let it warm up to fermentation temps. Sanitation will be your friend here, once your below like 150F, the sooner you can pitch the yeast and get it working the better.

 

[Wakadaka]

what are you going to be using as a fermenter? I wouldn't transport it with an airlock on, so if using a carboy or better bottle, get a bung that fits it, if a bucket, get a top without a hole.

I think you would be fine either way to be honest. 2 miles isn't far (you are driving it back and forth right?). Some people pitch at warmer temperatures, but a lot of people don't. Its not really going to matter as long as you can get your temperature down to the appropriate range, which is going to be easy with a fermentation chamber.
What i would do if I were you is make the starter at your house, go to your folks house and brew, cool it til its below 80, go home and aerate and pitch the yeast. You could pitch at your parents house too.

Basically, you are overthinking it IMO.

 

[Golddiggie]

If you're worried about it warming up during transit (keep in mind, you have 5+ gallons of higher density liquid there, it won't increase fast) then chill it a few degrees cooler than your intended pitch temp. I usually aim for about 65-70F for my brews. Mostly because my yeast is happy with those temps.

I would suggest hunting for some kegs to ferment in. Either get some 25L (6.6 gallon), 1/4 bbl, or pony kegs to ferment in. The pony and 25L could be better choices, depending on what you drive. Hunt on Craigslist and ebay for people selling them. I picked up a 1/4 bbl (slim) keg on Friday (expect it first half of this week) for short money.

Depending on your parents living situation, maybe you could leave the brew in their basement (if they have one) to ferment. I've been doing that at my brew-buddy's place of late. Since it's 65F pretty much year round, it's perfect for what I brew. Plus, the concrete slab doesn't care if something spills on it. I really can't thank him, and his wife, enough for letting me brew, and ferment at their place.

BTW, I would suggest using the long primary method (no secondary)... I typically run 4-6 weeks, or longer, in primary before going to bottle/keg. Makes for really excellent brews...

 

[Ryebread]

Thanks for all of the quick replies!

I understand I'm probably over-thinking it, but I'm a firm believer in doing things the best way I possibly can, so I'm asking these trivial questions.

So at the very least, I know that brewing/transporting/fermenting is definitely a doable solution. That makes me a happy brewer.

I hear conflicting things - some say pitch once I'm back at my apartment and my wort temp hits 68, others say pitch it as soon as I can to let the yeast work with me and reduce the amount of lag time, prevent bacteria growth, etc. I'm sure either way is fine for the short distance I'm traveling, but I'd just like some logic behind my method. As long as there is no severe danger in hurting the yeast if the wort goes up a few degrees during transport, I'll just pitch before I transport and be that much safer during transport. All that sloshing around in the car/carrying it into my apartment should help aerate as well

I'll be fermenting using glass carboys. I purchased a carboy hauler, it works pretty well and should hopefully get the job done. Fermenting in kegs would be ideal for transporting, but I'd like to see my fermentation as it progresses, so I'll be sticking with carboys. However, using a keg to transport and then transfer to the carboy when I get home, that sounds like a fine idea...

 

[beerandloathinginaustin]

Sounds like you'll be fine. Sometimes I remind myself that thousands of years ago people made alcohol with far less equipment and far less sanitary conditions. That usually reassures me that I can't screw up too badly.

 

[Scruffy1207]

I know a member on here transports his wort everytime he brews. You won't have a problem, just make sure that you don't spill it in your car.

Edit: Pitch once you get home. I find it simpler that way. Also buckle that carboy up for safety.

 

[beerandloathinginaustin]

Also buckle that carboy up for safety.

Indeed. Maryland has very strict carboy buckling rules.