Temperature

[brewtopbeer]

Hey guys it's been cold hear in adelaide and I don't have heat pads for my fermenters, I have checked my thermometer that sticks on the side of my fermenters but sometimes I don't think it reads accurately, when it goes brown, green and purple which colour should be the right reading?? I will get some heat pads but does anyone have any ideas what I can use in the mean time??

 

[LiquidGold]

I've used juice bottles I had lying around from an aldi cider filled with hot tap water and placed around the fermenter, then wrapped the whole lot with a sleeping bag. You need to replace the water at least two to three times a day depending on how cold your ambient is but it can help keep the temp up a little.

 

[brewtopbeer]

Cheers liquid gold I will have to give it a shot, I'm just worried if it's not showing me the right temp on the side of my fermenter it will go under 16 degrees and kill my yeast and then my beer.

 

[rehabs_for_quitters]

it won't kill the yeast it'll just slow down and go dormant if it gets too cold, I have fermented ale yeast at ambient in winter in the South Island of NZ they just take longer, Just wrap it in a sleeping bag and let it be it should be alright

 

[brewtopbeer]

Thanks for getting back to me fellas it's always great to get professional help on this site, thanks again and I will talk to you all soon, I will let you know what has happened in the next couple of days!!

 

[LiquidGold]

Yeah cold temps won't kill the yeast. In regards to the colour on the therm strip I'm pretty sure if there is green on there then that is what it is closest to. Otherwise I just take a guess. I am in no way a professional though, just another amateur home brewer :chug:

 

[Camo6]

From memory, the green number is most indicative of actual temp. I haven't used a temp strip for a while though. Wrap it up in a sleeping bag or camping mat or the like and look into decent temp control, makes a big difference. As stated above, 16*c won't kill the yeast but for an ale yeast it could get lazy and stall the ferment.That said I try to start most of my ale yeasts around 16-18 degrees in a controlled environment. Better to insulate your fermenter and try to reduce sudden temp swings than let it rise and fall with ambient temps.

 

[brewtopbeer]

Thanks guys I have wrapped my fermenters in a nice big blanket, that's all I have and put them in the spare room in the dark because it seems to cold on the floor boards in the dining room. One of my beers is an Canadian cream ale and the other is a imperial pilsner. Cheers again fellas...

 

[yum beer]

The pilsener will benefit from the cooler temps.
Even if using an ale yeast you will get a smoother result down low.
When I first started doing kits I used to ferment Coopers Cerveza at 15c with kit yeast(an Ale yeast) and it gave a much better result than warmer.
Just takes longer

 

[brewtopbeer]

Cheers mate I just checked my beer this morning and it is back up to 21 degrees so all is good. Thanks everyone for your help..

 

[Dave70]

I've found this method pretty reliable and simple and cheap.
Grab one of those constantly on sale bucket things from a major discount hardware chain, a fish tank heater and away you go.
I like to put a little bleach or sanatizer in the water to stop any nasties breeding up, just to be on the safe side.
That pic was last winter I think and even when temps in the garage dropped into single figures it hardly moved.

Also a good method for helping sluggish bottles carb up in colder months.

 

[brewtopbeer]

That's a good idea mate cheers for that. I will definitely keep this one in mind!!