Success - Swamp Cooler

[DzRBenson]

Well,

My first 2 brews seem to have worked well, however at a bit higher temps than I would have liked, So last week I picked up a 90ltr esky to create a Swamp Cooler.

And last night the brew began a Mexican Cervesa with lime, anyway got it all set and the temp was 26-27c, placed it in the swamp cooler over night and woke up this morning to 20c brew, great so changed the ice, half way thru a 32c day in Sydney the brew is sitting between 14-16c. So I had to remove some ice. I would say this is a success, I want to get it sitting between 16-18 and I will be happy.

Will post some photo's tonight, but pretty much its a huge esky, with my fermenter placed in one side of it around that I have 2 2ltr coke bottles of ice, and 1 1.25ltr bottle of ice. and then the esky has 3 dividers in it that are made up of the blue ice that can be taken out and frozen, and I freeze 2 and use 1 and alternate

All of this is covered with an old sleeping bag apart from the air lock, So for $40 for the esky off gumtree and empty bottles, I am very happy and now am excited knowing I can brew a good amount off different type of beers.

 

[raven19]

Rock on! This shall improve your beer with good temp control.

 

[mwd]

+1 after good ingredients temperature control is the most important factor for making good consistent beers. Now you can start thinking about which yeasts to use.

 

[DzRBenson]

Yeah, this new brew has gone down with US-05, very excited

+1 after good ingredients temperature control is the most important factor for making good consistent beers. Now you can start thinking about which yeasts to use.

 

[Lucas2411]

I'm using the swamp cooler as well. Using a plastic tub with a few ice bottles and a some sodium met just for a bit of peace of mind about nasties.

Switching bottles every two-three hours keeps the temp between 10-14 degrees with ease. Lager time boi.

 

[DzRBenson]

Took a few photo's this morning, well here it is.

My $40 Swamp Cooler with one of the kids old sleeping bags, I was using 3 Ice Bottles and 1 Ice Divider, but had to remove some as on the 31c day that just past, the brew was at 12-14c.

So now its nicely around 16c, The Cooler can hold 2 fermenters with enough Ice to keep them both below 16.

 

[Tanga]

Using this for my next brew. Just setting it up in the trough though, with ice. I was going to cover with a towel, but we have some old sleeping bags that need a purpose, so thanks =).

 

[Guysmiley54]

$40 for the cooler? I bought a second hand bar fridge for $50 and a controller for around $30 (I think)

If you already had the cooler, ignore me and congrats on the ingenuity

 

[dcx3]

Bunnings have bins for $10 im sure you could use them for the same purpose but the bonus is you get a lid.

 

[DzRBenson]

Yes you could use bunnings bins, however a faster rotation of ice would be needed due to the non insualtion, plus on non brewing days, I can use the esky for its true purpose.

Cooling the drinks

Bunnings have bins for $10 im sure you could use them for the same purpose but the bonus is you get a lid.