Beer fermenting in fridge

[brewtopbeer]

Hey guys just a question where if it's hot (humid) weather can I put my fermenter in my beer fridge and turn down the temp control and set it to the right fermenting temp?? All I have is my fermenters wrapped in cold towels in a dark room and sometimes when I don't need the fan i put it directly Infront of them. In the room my temp went up to 24 degrees and needs to be at 22 degrees! Your help would much appreciated. Cheers!!

 

[manticle]

If your fridge can be at the temp you want your beer to be, of course you can put your fermenter in it.

 

[brewtopbeer]

Cheers mate I was just worried it might be colder then usual and stuff up the fermenting process. Thanks again!!

 

[Pugwash]

You need to be able to control the temperature of you fridge. Most fridges, even if you turn them to "least cool" it will be still too cold for the yeast you are using. Most people that have fridges to ferment in use a STC1000 or similar to control the fridge temp.

 

[BrosysBrews]

Would really recommend something like this as it both heats and cool http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Temperature-Controller-16-Amp-FREE-BONUS-Floating-Thermometer-Home-Brew-/271292797438?pt=AU_Barware&hash=item3f2a4f91fe no affiliation with seller but i bought one from them 15 odd batches ago hasn't missed a beat

 

[manticle]

Cheers mate I was just worried it might be colder then usual and stuff up the fermenting process. Thanks again!!

It probably will if it works anything like a normal fridge. Measure the temp at the hottest setting and see.

More than possible you could start a lager in it though. The right yeast can ferment between 4-7 deg. It will take a while though.

 

[brewtopbeer]

I just checked my fridge, it only has minimum and maximum on it so I can't control the temperature, I thought it was digital at the back of my fridge but it's all good I will have to try and keep the wet towels and the fan on both of my fermenters.

 

[brewtopbeer]

Cheers manticle!! I made a mistake thinking my fridge had a digital reading. I'm brewing 2 IPAs using nottingham yeast!!

 

[brewtopbeer]

Cheers brosysbrews I will have a look at one of them.

 

[BrosysBrews]

There are ways detailed on here using a system of frozen water bottles and a bath if you wanna go ghetto style till you get a fridge going

 

[brewtopbeer]

No worries I was actually thinking about that or putting my fermenters back in the bath filled with water..

 

[brewtopbeer]

hey guys this is both fermenters underneath this sheet wrapped in wet towels to keep the cool in.

 

[yum beer]

using a timer will work if you have one, set to come on for 1/2 hour every couple of hours...fiddle to get the temp right. it works and costs nothing if you have one lying about.

You can't go past a STC1000, for under $40 you can bung one up and get complete control over temps....single best beer investment you will ever make.
There are even cheap ready made options on that internet selling and bidding site.

 

[brewtopbeer]

Hey yum beer I havnt got one but I will be having a look for sure. I went on YouTube to have a look how they work so it is definitely on the cards. Cheers for the advice and the best one to get. Cheers

 

[Scooby Tha Newbie]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171357425246?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
I Use 3 of these , stc are better i feel but there is no wiring needed.

 

[brewtopbeer]

Cheers Scooby. Are they just as reliable??

 

[schtev]

Cheers Scooby. Are they just as reliable??

I use one of those very same thermostats on my fridge and it's pretty decent. From checking the temps with a good thermometer I'd say it's accurate to +/-1 degree. I'm a little wary of it safety-wise though, seeing as it is a cheapo Chinese gadget. I think there are better quality thermostats about, but I don't have anything to recommend...

 

[Scooby Tha Newbie]

I've.had one scence I started.
18 months it hasn't missed a beat.
I've a freezer my keg fridge and a second fridge running on these.
Everything is made in China now so don't be scared about that.
I run my fermenting fridge on a keg king temp controler, If I had my time again I wouldn't have bought it.
This was my first piece of kit.
Everyone said the first thing you need is temp control.
They are spot on.

 

[stm]

I've had one of these for 10 years or so, and it hasn't missed a beat. One degree resolution is fine.
http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=718

 

[MPP]

This isn't entirely on topic but rather than start a new thread I'll just ask in here first:

When controlling fermentation temperature (as I currently am in a fridge set to 18c), is it particularly important to maintain such a temp for the duration of time in fermenter (ie 2-3 weeks)? I've seen some people do, but also others mention that after the first few days, when the bulk of fermentation is complete, it doesn't make much of a difference to take it out and let it hit ambient temperature for the rest of conditioning.

Reason I ask is I only have room for one in the fridge and would like to have multiple batches going at once.

 

[Mattrox]

This isn't entirely on topic but rather than start a new thread I'll just ask in here first:

When controlling fermentation temperature (as I currently am in a fridge set to 18c), is it particularly important to maintain such a temp for the duration of time in fermenter (ie 2-3 weeks)? I've seen some people do, but also others mention that after the first few days, when the bulk of fermentation is complete, it doesn't make much of a difference to take it out and let it hit ambient temperature for the rest of conditioning.

Reason I ask is I only have room for one in the fridge and would like to have multiple batches going at once.

Raising the temperature at the end of a ferment it so that the yeast eat up diacetyl which causes a buttery type off flavour in the beer. The lower temperatures are important in the 1st 4 or so days of the ferment.

I do a manual temp. control as I don't have an STC 1000 yet. .... My next purchase...... I plug the fridge in sporadically and can keep the temps pretty stable depending on ambient. I put a heap of brews down in my holiday periods and tend to be around to check.

I also found that if I pitch warm and have the FV in the fridge already cooling, I can get the temp down to under 20 quite quickly (and this morning my yeast US05 which was pitched at 28 last night was charging along and my stick on thermometer was at 14 deg with the ferment going full steam). I try to keep the thermometer strip indicating 16 degrees as I figure the middle of the ferment is warmer than the thermometer on the plastic on the outside of the FV. I found out about the pitch warm by accident, poor timing on yeast re-hydration etc etc.... but getting the temp down quickly has resulted in fast starting ferments without off flavours. And I am not embarrassed to share my beer with friends. ..... I do kits and bits and extract brews.....

 

[indica86]

Cool, love all this not certified electrical stuff that is being sold. Be sure to un plug and destry after your house has burnt down.

 

[MPP]

I get that the first 4 days are so are the most important with regards to maintaining a low temp, but theoretically how soon after that could one take it out and let it rise to ambient temperature with little to no difference in taste?

 

[Mattrox]

I get that the first 4 days are so are the most important with regards to maintaining a low temp, but theoretically how soon after that could one take it out and let it rise to ambient temperature with little to no difference in taste?

You could do it as soon as the yeast starts to drop out as fermentation is slowing..... I noticed around 5 days that the cloudiness due to the yeast would start to drop out, I notice a layer effect as the ferment approaches the end. I guess you could take it out then. But it would depend on ambient temps too.... wouldn't be to keen to let a brew drift into the 30 to 40 degree range.

 

[simmo1972]

I used a 2 litre bottle of ice in my fridge for quite a while until I went with a STC-1000. Had one in the fridge during the day and at night freezing in the freezer and would change it as I went and came back from work.

 

[brewtopbeer]

As I have said in the last messages I don't have a stc 1000 but I had to put my fermenters back in cold water overnight and I checked this morning and it was back down to 22 degrees, will I get a off taste in my beer having it sitting at 24 degrees??? It has been 5 days now and my airlocks have stopped bubbling on both fermenters so my gravity check says it's ready to bottle so if it's the same tomorrow I will bottle on Friday. I just want to know if I will have a off tasting beer! Cheers