Fermenter Temperatures

[michaelbb64]

Hi I am newbie to home brewing. I have just put down my third batch.
Using Wals’ Lager kit from Brews choice, my concern is the Fermenters temperature.
Being South East Queensland in summer is going to prove a challenge
My first 2 batches got up to 28 degree spent most of the time at 24 degrees.
I am using a fridge for this batch but as I do not have the exclusive use of the fridge, the fermenter is showing 12 degrees
What temperate range should I keep the fermenter with is this brew, the yeast is the pack included in the kit

Thanks and any advice you be appreciated

 

[slcmorro]

If it's a lager, 12c sounds right. But that's if the yeast they supplied you with is an actual lager yeast.

If you're using a fridge, can I ask, is it just the fridge by itself, or do you have a temp controller with a heat source in there to allow the fridge to stay at a particular preset temp?

 

[michaelbb64]

If it's a lager, 12c sounds right. But that's if the yeast they supplied you with is an actual lager yeast.

If you're using a fridge, can I ask, is it just the fridge by itself, or do you have a temp controller with a heat source in there to allow the fridge to stay at a particular preset temp?

No Fridge/Freezer
Freezer is full

Sorry no Temperature Controller and still used for food

 

[slcmorro]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Fridge/Freezer or a standalone of either, it doesn't matter. What I'm asking is, are you just putting the fermenter in there and leaving it as is? Or do you have a temperature controller that'd allow you to keep the internal temperature of the fridge at a constant level?

If you're using it still as a fridge for food, I'd be confident in saying no. If you put your fermenter in a regular old fridge/freezer, it'll cool to whatever temperature that fridge/freezer is set at which will be well under 12c, and therefore not appropriate for your brew.

 

[superstock]

Here is my reply to another temp control thread for a brewer in Beaudesert. Not quite good enough for a true lager yeast, but not bad for kit yeasts.
Some thought on temp control may also help. I'm the other side of Jimboomba and can successfully control FV temps to around 20' with a simple evaporative setup, which consists of a wheelbarrow with the wheel jacked up to get the tray level, 3 bricks for the FV to sit on, water to just below top of the bricks and a wet towel wrapped around the FV and draped in the water, positioned in the breezeway of the house. On 3rd Nov ambient in the breezeway was 32.3' and the FV temp was 21'

 

[MetalDan]

I'm also in the process of trying to sort out fermenter temps. I've been using Superstock's method (known as a Swamp cooler). I do it in the bathtub or the spare sink, and add frozen ice bottles if required.

I picked up a foam box at the markets over the w/end, and have just stuck my fermenter in that with some ice blocks and will see how it goes getting it to 18 degrees. The foam box would be my preferred over the swamp cooler as then I don't have to bother about the water,and having to add bleach etc to stop it going off.

 

[superstock]

MetalDan. Problem with doing it in the bathtub or sink is that you miss out on the benefit of the breeze helping evaporation, which is the principal of the Coolgardie Safe. Rarely have I had to top up water in the course of a brew and it doesn't seem to go off.

 

[DJ_L3ThAL]

Hi I am newbie to home brewing. I have just put down my third batch.
Using Wals’ Lager kit from Brews choice, my concern is the Fermenters temperature.
Being South East Queensland in summer is going to prove a challenge
My first 2 batches got up to 28 degree spent most of the time at 24 degrees.
I am using a fridge for this batch but as I do not have the exclusive use of the fridge, the fermenter is showing 12 degrees
What temperate range should I keep the fermenter with is this brew, the yeast is the pack included in the kit

Thanks and any advice you be appreciated

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Fridge/Freezer or a standalone of either, it doesn't matter. What I'm asking is, are you just putting the fermenter in there and leaving it as is? Or do you have a temperature controller that'd allow you to keep the internal temperature of the fridge at a constant level?
If you're using it still as a fridge for food, I'd be confident in saying no. If you put your fermenter in a regular old fridge/freezer, it'll cool to whatever temperature that fridge/freezer is set at which will be well under 12c, and therefore not appropriate for your brew.

Agree not appropriate for your brew, also have to add not appropriate for your food if the fridge is only getting things down to 12C. It may be that the thermal mass of the brew is still working its way down to hopefully lower than 4C (for your foods sake!). If the fridge is struggling on the plus side that's a good argument to get a replacement and retire your one to be a dedicated brew fridge ;-)