My Solution To The Lagering "issue"

[Impy]

So my brewcraft asahi clone has finished fermenting (4 weeks) and I realized I needed to lager it for best results.

During it's fermentation stage I intermittently kept the fermenter wrapped in a damp towel whenever the weather got warmer (thank goodness for the unseasonably cool september) But of course that solution isn't going to cut it for the temperatures required for lagering.

Introducing... the handmade cooler box!!



Over the years I've accumulated a fair amount of varying thickness and density styrofoam sheets (other hobby related). At the moment the ridiculous glue I used is curing and should give a perfect seal on all joins. Most of the top is open (removable lid) which will allow me to lift the fermenter in and out. I've made it the size I have so it fits snugly under a desk behind my computer which also holds the lid on tightly once it's in place.

The front has a removable door with a relatively deep recess to improve the seal. I'm also debating whether to line the inside with some acrylic plastic sheeting to aid in cleaning.

I'll swap out 1.25l frozen drink bottles whenever I need (and whichever qty) to get the temperature down to whatever I require. I'm quietly happy with my handywork so far.

Isn't it amazing the lengths we go to to keep our homebrew happy?

 

[mkstalen]

Isn't it amazing the lengths we go to to keep our homebrew happy?

It certainly is, here's my version of what you've done.
http://www.stalenberg.com/node/122


It's a variation of two other popular contraptions
http://home.roadrunner.com/~brewbeer/chiller/chiller.PDF
http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/38DD-Mo...ntation-Chiller

 

[Impy]

It certainly is, here's my version of what you've done.
http://www.stalenberg.com/node/122


It's a variation of two other popular contraptions
http://home.roadrunner.com/~brewbeer/chiller/chiller.PDF
http://www.wortomatic.com/articles/38DD-Mo...ntation-Chiller

Damn.. now I have to upgrade it after seeing those links!! Thanks for the info!

 

[Bribie G]

Impy, the ice bottle method is great, I use it constantly myself even though I have a small temperature controlled fridge as well. When the fridge is occupied by a lager brewing at say 13 degrees and I need to do a couple of ales, I do a double batch , put the two fermenters on the garage floor on a towel with a 5L frozen mini-jerrycan of ice between them. Then I wrap them in a big beach towel and then wrap the whole lot in a feather doonah. Keeps them running at around 17 degrees even in the summer, and I swap the frozen 'brick' daily.

Other tried and tested method is a dead fridge and swap the bottles. I did that for 18 months.
Your method is probably #1 as there is less mucking about with wrapping and unwrapping, also more effective as less superfluous space like you'd get in a dead fridge.

Edit: Steinberg, love the fake drawer fronts on your device, would make a great bedside table and I could check on the brew at 2 in the morning :lol:

 

[nzefactor]

Hi Impy
Nice work on your chiller. What glue did you use for the foam? I've tried sticking foam pieces together in the past but the glues I've tried have never really stuck well or just kind of absorbed into the foam.

 

[Impy]

Hi Impy
Nice work on your chiller. What glue did you use for the foam? I've tried sticking foam pieces together in the past but the glues I've tried have never really stuck well or just kind of absorbed into the foam.

I used a caulk gun type glue. I think it was something along the lines of a super wood glue.

The issue you're having is some particularly strong glues use a solvent which eats styrofoam. You need to find one that is a solvent free epoxy adhesive.

I think I lucked out that I had some of this stuff lying around in the garrage.. although now that I read more stuff online i'm freaking out a little that it's eating the styrofoam but I haven't noticed yet. *eek*

Edit: Steinberg, love the fake drawer fronts on your device, would make a great bedside table and I could check on the brew at 2 in the morning :lol:

"Check on the brew".. yeah right.. you want to whisper sweet nothings to in the middle of the night don't you?

 

[MarkBastard]

You'd need a lot of ice to keep that at lagering temps wouldn't you?

 

[Impy]

You'd need a lot of ice to keep that at lagering temps wouldn't you?

Depends on the quality of the insulation I would imagine (i'm thinking of adding layers of foam to address that) To get the temp of the whole fermenter down will take an initial large amount of ice, but once it's there maintaining the temp shouldn't require too much energy.

 

[MarkBastard]

We're talking actual lagering temps though right? Like 1-2 degrees. You won't be able to do that with ice bottles I wouldn't think.

 

[Impy]

We're talking actual lagering temps though right? Like 1-2 degrees. You won't be able to do that with ice bottles I wouldn't think.

Oh.. I thought lagering could be done at anywhere from 5-0deg? All the information I've found on lagering seems to back this up, is my info leading me down the wrong path?

I'm aiming for 4deg if possible.

 

[mkstalen]

I havn't actually tried lagering in my contraption. It keeps fermentation down at 12deg (with ambient 35 odd) for the fermentation of a lager, but the only time I've done a lager I chucked the fermenter into the fridge for the actual lagering process. And now I've got a keg fridge there's enough room in there to keep a jerry/cube (as well as the 2 kegs) for any lagers I might do in the future.

Edit: I picked the handles up at Bunnings on special, couldn't resist

 

[MarkBastard]

Oh.. I thought lagering could be done at anywhere from 5-0deg? All the information I've found on lagering seems to back this up, is my info leading me down the wrong path?

I'm aiming for 4deg if possible.

I'm no expert. 5 degrees may be fine, not sure.

But I still think it'd be hard to keep it even at 5 degrees. I guess a bit of trial and error.

 

[Impy]

I'm no expert. 5 degrees may be fine, not sure.

But I still think it'd be hard to keep it even at 5 degrees. I guess a bit of trial and error.

Hmmmm... I'm getting visions of dry ice, or a butt load more frozen bottles.

[edit] I guess i'll start saving for an old fridge i can convert ;-)

 

[guerd87]

Im thinking of making one of these for my fermenters over summer - Should be ok in the house out of direct sunlight. I am trying to get a second fridge to use for this purpose, but over Christmas with family down it will be needed as a real fridge.

Maybe layering the foam in a torsion box style and fill the gaps with expand-a-foam. Not sure on the price of this though, I can get lots form my work so I might go that path.

stienberg: How are your results? How hard is it to keep constant low temps?

 

[Impy]

I put an additional layer on the outside of the box last night with some quite dense foam. Looks great now. Since the glue on the inner layer was completely dry & popped the fermenter in and added a couple of frozen drink bottles (I say the drink bottles in a 4L ice cream container to catch the condensation) Overnight it looks to have gotten down to just above 10deg.

Since the crappy strip thermometer stuck to the fermenter only goes down to 10deg I went for a walk today and found a $6 digital thermometer from Jaycar that has an inside and outside sensor (outside sensor is on a 60cm long wire) So now I won't need to open the door to see if it's cold enough. The thermometer also has a max/min memory function (can't believe it was only $6) so i'll be able to see if it holds it's temp without much variation.

I'll keep you up to date with how it goes.

[edit] oh and once the outer layer glue is dry i'm going to fill the gaps with appropriate putty, then i'm considering rounding the corners and fibre glassing the outside (with non-polystyrene eating resin of course)