Keeping Fermentor Cool

[MarkBastard]

Just thought it was easier to get all this stuff asap instead of looking around for used ones. And i'm way too in to all this brewing stuff now so i wanted a fridge as soon as i could get one, haha.

second hand ones are everywhere mate. you'll find one easy.

 

[DU99]

http://melbourne.gumtree.com.au/c-Stuff-fo...QAdIdZ235770020
try this

 

[Jimbeer]

Cheers for the link and help. Will spot up a used fridge and after reading a thread on here about the fridgemate, i think i understand how it works and how it'll help keep the fridge at the right temp. You guys are life savers!

 

[stm]

So i went in to the good guys today to look at some fridges. Now, clearly i'm no expert in both brewing or fridges, so i'm running on what i know from you guys and from the good guys salesman. He told me the warmest you could get the fridge to was about 4 degrees. From what i've read, lager yeast wants to be in the 10-15c range, yeah? So this would be too cold. I still don't know much about these fridgemates you guys have told me about. I'm assuming these could ramp the temperature up somehow?

The Stella has been sitting at 18 degrees for a few days now and been fermenting away. I wanna get this stuff asap, and i know with the warmer temps this beer isn't going to come out very good. But i was wondering, once i do get all this stuff, would it be a good idea to throw the fermentor in anyway or is it smarter to leave it at 18 degrees for the entire process now? Or turf it on this lovely melbourne day we're having? Sorry for all the questions.

Yes, the idea of the Fridgemate is to regulate your fridge to fermenting temps. Set and forget.

As for your Stella, just leave it I think. Presumably it's pretty much done fermenting, but leave it for several more days to clean itself up a bit, check the SG, and then bottle when you have confirmed fermentation is complete. It will probably be quite drinkable. It's not as if you brewed it at mid-20s or anything like that.

 

[WEGGL]

Keeping it Cool
Jimbeer,
Try wrapping the container in a couple of layers of Hessian or maybe towelling and stand the container in a dish of water after wetting the Hessian. Use a small fan such as one from an old computer to blow on the Hessian. As the water evaporates the Hessian will soak up more water. This will work like the old canvas water bags; surprisingly they kept the water cool even when they were in direct sunlight.
Regards.Warren

View attachment Keeping_it_Cool.doc

 

[Impy]

Watch out with putting water on top of the fermenter as well. Often the seal around the air lock is not perfect so with water constantly sitting on to you'll be seeping non-sterile water in.