Warming up the fermenter

[frozennorth]

I woke up at 5:15 this morning and checked the fermenter. The windows are all open and it got down to 50 last night. My fermenter temp has dropped to 60 degrees. Should I attempt to warm it up using warm water bottle or some other method?

 

[Rockn_M]

What kind of yeast are you using?

 

[thrashandburn]

For an ale fermentation 60 should be ok, from my experience, however, the specific yeast strain your using is important to note to determine what it's tolerance is for temperature. Should you decide to heat the fermenter, I've had success wrapping the fermenter in a heating pad if you have one.

 

[flars]

Let the fermentor warm on its own. Temperature swings that are to fast will cause more stress to the yeast.

 

[frozennorth]

Wyeast 1332

 

[Rockn_M]

Wyeast 1332

I wouldn't add any heat to raise the temperature. The tempature range is 65-75, I would put a towel or blanket over your swamp cooler and it will increase on it's own. It won't cause any off flavors or harm your beer. I tend to ferment on the cooler side.

 

[kombat]

If fermentation had already started, then you're probably fine. I've had batches where the wort started out at 60, and was in a water bath at 60, and it wouldn't take off. So I took it out of the water bath and let it warm up a little, then the yeast started doing their thing. I then put it back in the water bath to keep it from getting TOO hot, and they kept on going gangbusters.

 

[frozennorth]

It is nearing the end of fermentation and I am most likely going to rack to a secondary this weekend. I have just never had a temp drop like that and am concerned.

 

[flars]

Why do you plan on racking to a secondary vessel? Is it just because the recipe said you should do it or this is your standard practice?

 

[frozennorth]

Two primary reasons really. It needs to settle out more and I need my primary by next Sat for my next brew. I suppose that it is also habit with strong beers, this is a IIPA.