Temperature control ? - options ?

[durham70]

Hi

In the past 12 months I've moved to using fresh wort kits and have recently moved to kegging and bought a kegerator from CB.

I'm now starting to think about temperature control..

I currently have two brews in the kegerator and I want to put a third on to ferment.
(Using wyeast 1056)

To try to manage temperatures I've got a few options (in the short term) and would welcome some thoughts from those far more experienced than me........


1. Take the two gassed up kegs out of the kegerator for a couple of weeks and use that to ferment in.
Cons: no cold beer for 2 weeks, mold in fridge ?, impact on kegged beer if it gets hot ??

2. I have 1 room with reverse cycle air con. Set that low, put the brew on and close the door for 2 weeks
Cons: cost ?

3. Ferment in the cupboard under the stairs where it is dark and a bit cooler
Cons: temperature might still get a bit warm

4. Wait for a few months until it cools down

5. Buy another fridge to ferment in (not a short term option as it would need approval from the other half...)



I'm in Sydney so not dealing with Perth temperatures but still high 20's this week if you believe the forecast.

Also travelling a bit so can't check it / do ice and cold towels everyday unfortunately so that option is out.


All views appreciated

Cheers

 

[NewtownClown]

brew a saison or get the ferment fridge.

An ale is generally done in 4-5 days. The rest of the time it is in the "cleaning" (conditioning) phase and control isn't as crucial as it is during the Adaptation (lag time) or Attenuative (fermenting) phases.

 

[Kingbrownbrewing]

There is only 1 option.

Get another fridge.

 

[Dan Pratt]

Get on ebay or gumtree and buy another fridge and an stc 1000, well worth it for the peace of mind with temp control. I set mine up for less than 100 bucks.

 

[professional_drunk]

I stuffed around with different options, but in the end there is only 1 option. 2nd fridge with stc. My advice is just to go ahead and buy it. Your better off asking SWMBO for forgiveness than permission.

BTW last weekend I brought home another keg and SWMBO was starting to have a go at me for buying more stuff. A few minutes of sweet talk and a few jokes and the tiger got tamed.

 

[Tex083]

Saison all the way!
Pitch it leave it at room temp and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

 

[user 31093]

Get on ebay or gumtree and buy another fridge and an stc 1000, well worth it for the peace of mind with temp control. I set mine up for less than 100 bucks.

If outer dimensions of the fridge don't matter, you should be able to get a freebie off gumtree. I saw stacks of them when I was looking but
If you can't get your STC locally, get one from ebay, you can get one from an Australian seller (quicker shipping) for about $28.

You'll end up spending more money, stuffing about and stressing if you do anything but refrigerate.

 

[Truman42]

Get a second fridge,

but in the meantime I would put your fermenter into a tub filled with water (And some bleach in the water to kill nasties). Then drape a towel over the top so it sits in the water and draws the water up onto the towel.

Then put all of this under your stairs. Providing your not getting the 40s that were going to get here in Melbourne this week and you should be right. I doubt it would get much over 22C

 

[Black Devil Dog]

I have a similar situation to you and this is what I do.

Keg and bottle about 50 -50 of my beer. (I take a lot of beer out, so I don't mind bottling)
Use my kegerator for fermenting and cold conditioning. While the kegerator is fermenting I drink bottled beer and when the it's cc'ing, I drink kegged beer. (I can fit a 19l keg in with my fermenter)
I also brew saisons and while they're brewing I can use my kegerator solely for kegs.
In winter, I find that temperature control isn't as critical where I live, so I can dedicate the kegerator to kegs.

It's not perfect, but I have a bit of a system going now and it works for me.

 

[user 31093]

6th option - drink the kegs and go back to bottles

When I eventually get room for kegging I plan on getting a dedicated chest freezer so I can put 4 kegs in it.

 

[New_guy]

Get a fridge
I just bought one on gumtree - $90
If your like me and space is a premium go for somthing thats single door and about 240lt - fits my fermenter perfectly
You can get a STC on ebay and wire it up but if your like me n not to keen on burning the house down buy one good to go for $70 @ Keg King

 

[Spiesy]

5. Buy another fridge to ferment in (not a short term option as it would need approval from the other half...)

Do it right, do it once.

A temperature controlled fermentation vessel is a thing of beauty - you will show it off to all who visit.

 

[Bridges]

Temp controlled ferm fridge, seems like a big step, but once you have it set up you won't look back. It is so easy and so much less stress than faffing about with ice and towels and stuff. Yep ice and towels and stuff works I used to do it, but love the set and forget ferm fridge.
I run a bar fridge fits one fermenter in and run one brew at a time. Doesn't take up that much space.

 

[durham70]

So, reading between the lines.........., I should get a 2nd fridge.!!!!

I'll start the education process at home about the need whilst I track down a suitable candidate and read up on STC's


thanks for all the advice

Cheers
David

 

[Spiesy]

You can normally pick up a second hand fridge for $50-100.
STC you can build for maybe $30.
Infared heat lamp, maybe $50.

The fridge alone will get you up and running this time of year, you won't need a heat source until winter - but they're still handy to have all year round.

 

[user 31093]

Infared heat lamp, maybe $50.

Or ceramic heat lamp, or brew belt

 

[Engibeer]

As others have said, keep an eye out on gumtree.

I was lucky enough to pick up a new fridge last week for free.

It will hold 4x kegs (my current fridge only holds one keg) so my current keg fridge will become a fermenting fridge.

Tried hooking it up to a PID I had purchased for temperature controlling an AG rig, turns out they only like resistive loads. Looks as though the compressor blew the relay, so I will be purchasing an STC1000 this week plus a new relay.

 

[Spiesy]

Or ceramic heat lamp, or brew belt

Yeah, although brew belt around the fermenter isn't advisable.

I have a ceramic one… it's awesome… puts heat out, heats the fridge and not the fermenter directly, and doesn't product any light that could damage the beer.

 

[NickB]

Checkout freecycle in your area. I just picked up another bar fridge for free as a third ph34r fermenting fridge....

 

[user 31093]

Yeah, although brew belt around the fermenter isn't advisable.

I don't have mine around the fermenter but attached side of the fridge. I place has is brick with great insulation and never gets super cool so it doesn't need hardcore heating. So effectively does the same thing just not as efficiently.

 

[Dread82]

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/guide-set-internal-chest-freezer-thermostat-32f-eliminate-external-control-249612/
I did this on my ferment fridge and it works fine just an option if you don't want to buy a controller

 

[contrarian]

I picked up a chest freezer from gumtree for $20 and an STC-1000 for about $20. Had a spare extension cord lying around so temp control for under $50. Fits 2 fermenters comfortably.

Depends what your personal barriers are though in terms of space or dollars but will make a big difference to your brewing.

 

[durham70]

Temperature controller ordered (went for an assembled one to be safe )

Fridge / freezer to find.....

I'm thinking a chest freezer - I want to make sure it will take a couple of fermenting buckets or a couple of 19l cornys (would be nice but doesn't need to be buckets and cornys at the same time - but means I need height and width which leads me to a chest freezer).

Approval also obtained from the other half - 'as long as it looks ok/nice' !! She'd rather I spent a bit more if needed...... New cheap chest freezer ??.........

 

[contrarian]

Check gumtree for chest freezers. You can normally pick up one that looks good and is only a few years old for under $200. Most chest freezers around the 215L plus mark will fit 2 fermenters and at least 2 cornies without any modifications. You can also paint a freezer quite easily to make it look pretty if it's a bit banged up.

We now have 3 chest freezers. A keezer, a fermenting fridge and another one that we got recently because my wife wanted one to put food in! Go figure!

 

[burrster]

Like everyone has said, Get a fridge and an stc 1000. You won't regret it. Set and forgot almost. Takes alot of the worry out of the fermentation process, no matter what time of year. Fridge + stc 100 + heat source means more time for planning next brews!

 

[New_guy]

Yeah, although brew belt around the fermenter isn't advisable.

I have a ceramic one… it's awesome… puts heat out, heats the fridge and not the fermenter directly, and doesn't product any light that could damage the beer.

Why is the brew belt not a good option?

 

[New_guy]

Temperature controller ordered (went for an assembled one to be safe )Fridge / freezer to find.....I'm thinking a chest freezer - I want to make sure it will take a couple of fermenting buckets or a couple of 19l cornys (would be nice but doesn't need to be buckets and cornys at the same time - but means I need height and width which leads me to a chest freezer).Approval also obtained from the other half - 'as long as it looks ok/nice' !! She'd rather I spent a bit more if needed...... New cheap chest freezer ??.........

Don't forget - with a chest freezer you will have to lift out a heavy fermenter full of wort at an awkward angle
Otherwise have to arrange a siphoning system

 

[unclebarrel]

FWIW I use a reptile heater pad in the door of my fridge. It heats gently and doesn't put out a light source.
Cheap too, I think $14 on ebay.
Other than that it is in a $75 fridge with STC

New_guy has a point up there, lifting the fermenter out of a chest freezer would be a hassle.

Like the others said, set and forget and opening the fridge to check the brew or show others is great….what a smell !


UB

 

[indica86]

I bought an old chesty for $50, that was a win.
Being retarded as I am instead of wiring an STC myself, I bought a Keg King controller. Also ensures compliance in case of fires.

No issue with lifting the FV out of the chesty.

 

[durham70]

Ok - developments.......

SWMBO has decided it has to "match" the kegmate kegerator I bought from CB..... (I'm brewing in the spare room)

(Abridged version:
Why don't you just use the fridge you've got
Because that's for serving
Well can't you get another one the same so it looks tidy..........)

So currently looking for cheapest "matching" fridge - $380 from Pinaccle would seem to get me a -4 to 28c fridge that I could ferment in and could always add taps etc to if I "need" a second serving fridge down the track.....
Also would fit 3 kegs at a time if I ferment in kegs......

Is anyone fermenting in one of these ? (wouldn't surprise me if not given it is a stupid expensive option, but what price peace at home...........)



Cheers
David