where should I put my fermenter?

[louderthanu]

Hi all,
Was just wondering where you put your fermenters in my living room is not making my wife too happy,

I have 2 alternative sites:
1. the garage it has a fairly constant temp in the low 60's
2. the basement it is cool down there but the possibility of rodents scares me.

please advise Thanks,

 

[freisste]

Hi all,
Was just wondering where you put your fermenters in my living room is not making my wife too happy,

I have 2 alternative sites:
1. the garage it has a fairly constant temp in the low 60's
2. the basement it is cool down there but the possibility of rodents scares me.

please advise Thanks,

What's the temp in the basement? I doubt rodents would be particularly interested in beer, but if they were they would like it less than the cheese in a mousetrap.

The garage sounds like a good temp depending on what you are brewing (ale, not lager). Think about a swamp cooler to hold temps steady.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

What's the temp in the basement? I doubt rodents would be particularly interested in beer, but if they were they would like it less than the cheese in a mousetrap.

The garage sounds like a good temp depending on what you are brewing (ale, not lager). Think about a swamp cooler to hold temps steady.

True story, put Peanut Butter on a mouse trap. Not sure whhy but mice dig peanut butter. The few times my house growing up had a mouse, my dad put some peanut butter on a mouse trap and they were dead.

Back on topic, either place should be fine, I would probably say the basement since it should be warm in the winter and cool in the summer but really if the temperature is in the 60s and you can block out the light, you should be good.

 

[DonLiguori]

I'd go garage, just let it ferment a good solid 6-10 days and secondary it to clean up. But I have to ask... why the rodents? I mean, sounds like you'd want to fix that issue regardless of where you ferment.

 

[louderthanu]

Well the basement is just used for storage and although I have not seen any mice it is the perfect place for them to hang no humans no light quiet. We enter our house through the garage on a regular basis so the likelihood of mice there is minimal.

Even though the garage doors open the temp remains constant due to radiant heat.

 

[unionrdr]

I'd pick the basement. The garage is exposed to outside air that can influence temps till it re-stabilizes.

 

[m1k3]

Consistent temperature, is more important than the exact temperature. Sure, you want to be in the range specified for the yeast but big swings should be avoided.

I have heard that some yeasts will drop out if the temp goes down 7F toward the end of fermentation. This is probably someone yeast strain dependent.

Before getting a temp controller my favorite spot was in the bathroom in the guest room. It was cooler than the rest of the house because the heater vents are closed and it's on the north side.

Then I liked to move the fermenter into the master bedroom closet for the 2nd half of fermentation. This is upstairs and a few degrees warmer. Also, the wife wouldn't complain since the 2nd half of fermentation doesn't smell as bad. I also bottle condition in that closet.

Now that I have temp control (FermWrap - so heat only), I look for a space colder than my target fermentation. I have done a Barleywine and Doppelbock in the garage. The Johnson A419 controller only turns on the FermWrap heater as needed and the temp can be kept to +/- 1F.