Too cold for a pale ale?

[Nullnvoid]

Hi,

I have a pale ale kit I was going to put down, but don't have any heating devices in my fridge currently. It's currently holding around 14 degrees, is this too cold for a pale ale, or would I be better finding something to heat the space up a bit?

Thanks for any advice

 

[warra48]

The temperature of fermentation generally does not relate to the type of beer you are brewing, but to the yeast.

Are you using the kit yeast or some other yeast? If so which yeast?
Assuming you will be using an ale type yeast, then 14ºC is on the low side.

I've never had heating as such in my fermentation fridge, but have found that one or two hot water bottles placed in the fridge and changed a couple of times a day have done the job for me. You probably only need to get the temperature up to about 18ºC or so to get a clean fermentation.

 

[skb]

I agree found 18 to be far more effective than 14c. However I have a wine room and ferment in there quite often and it is at 14c and I have had no problems with Nottingham, S-04 or US-05 I have been very slightly off my FG ( for example 1.013 instead of 1.012) but I have always fermented a minimum of 14 days and then bring it out to room temp for 2 days to clean up although not really needed as no change in FG measures.

The other thing I have found is that despite the cellar being 14c the fermenter is hovering around 15/16 first 2 days due to heat generated from the yeast action which probably means it is close to 18 in the middle. So if you wrap your fermenter it will benefit from this internal warmth..

FYI compared to most on here I am new at this, the above is just learning from 6 AG brews.

 

[manticle]

Fermentation will generate its own heat. Your 14 will become 16-17. US05 happily works there. Get it going and chuck a blanket around as insulation. Water bath is good insulation too - you can use hot water bottles and rotate.

 

[Nullnvoid]

Thanks for the quick response guys.

I'm using Nottingham yeast as that's what came with the kit I bought.

Looks like I can put it down after all.

Cheers