Just about to start my very first brew of wine and beer ;D. The only place I can do it is outside in my workshop but I am a bit worried about temperature control. Ive read some very bad things about brewing belts, but I got one anyway just in case. My workshop has a tin roof and cavity blocks for the walls. Its very spacious, warm in summer but cold in the winter. At night time during the summer the temperature in there does drop down a bit. Is it ok for me to brew when the temperature can be 20+ degrees in this weather, to dropping down to 10 or 11 degrees at night? Would I be better off putting the brewing belt on so at least there will be a constant temperature day and night?
Thanks for any replies :D
I'd say you need a fridge. Did I mention that an old fridge would be handy. What about getting your hands on an old second fridge. :)
Quote from: DEMPSEY on July 10, 2013, 07:55:33 PM
I'd say you need a fridge. Did I mention that an old fridge would be handy. What about getting your hands on an old second fridge. :)
Hmmm I dont know where I could get one, especially a working one.
Donedeal adverts try get it for free even better. Make sure the free one works though.
i got mine off donedeal for 20 quid :)
Example : http://www.donedeal.ie/kitchenappliances-for-sale/fridge/5329165
Is there any way I can get around needing a fridge :-\ ?? Is it needed for the fermentation process ? I was thinking that if the temperature change in the shed was going to harm the brew , then if I use a brewing belt it would keep it at the same temperature day & night. Would this work? Sorry for the silly questions , I have an awful lot to learn :-[
Firstly no question is silly only answers can. You do need good all round temp control. Beer when fermenting generates heat so if the room temp is high the beer will ferment hotter. Temp controls the rate at which you ferment which in turn controls the flavors in your beer.
I definitely think a fridge is out of the question :( Theres no power supply in the workshop so a fridge couldnt work unfortunately. How would the fridge work with fermenting anyway? Isnt the brew supposed to be warm ?
If you look up stc 1000. We buy these cheap controllers because they can switch on and off a fridge or a brew belt. You just set the temp at e.g. 18C and if it rises 1 degree the fridge switches on,if it drops 1 degree the belt switches on.
look its will be sound whack it on, there no need for the fridge just yet, ive been brew in my utillity room and have an ale on there which is going along at 24C. It will be fine, have a go i bet you'll love your first brew (can i recommend Coppers Australian pale ale). I have a fridge but its for keeping my beer cool.
+1
Thanks for all the replies :) Ive just finished off mixing everything and I managed to slot it under the table in the small sitting room. Its pretty warm with the recent weather but hopefully itll be ok. Its Coopers Canadian Blonde ;D
That was my and most peoples first brew, have'nt brewed it since- not my fav brew. Next do the Aussie Pale ale and do a hop tea with cascade (Type of hop) and dry hop with cascade too PM Lordeoin for more info. Its class
No power in a shed? Pah!
Have you a tumble dryer vent? A Cooker hood?
I have a heavy extension cable poking in the tumble dryer vent running to the shed.
I have a light in there too.
No sense fumbling your beer in the dark. :D
Quote from: Covey on July 10, 2013, 11:50:16 PM
That was my and most peoples first brew, have'nt brewed it since- not my fav brew. Next do the Aussie Pale ale and do a hop tea with cascade (Type of hop) and dry hop with cascade too PM Lordeoin for more info. Its class
Have read some good things about it and equally some bad things, Ill be happy if it turns out even half drinkable as its my first :) I wouldnt have any knowledge of brewing with hops, Im just about managing the simple kit :P but perhaps after a few kits I will move on !
Quote from: johnrm on July 11, 2013, 01:07:34 AM
No power in a shed? Pah!
Have you a tumble dryer vent? A Cooker hood?
I have a heavy extension cable poking in the tumble dryer vent running to the shed.
I have a light in there too.
No sense fumbling your beer in the dark. :D
No power as of yet. I will be hiring out a mini digger to dig a drain along the front of the door to re direct the floodwater that the rain brings. I am going to dig a trench from the shed to the house for a cable to bring power permanently. Id love to have the wine and beer set up out there. Itd be heaven ::) I have the FV under the table and the thermometer says its 24-26 degrees and theres a thin layer of bubbles on top. I hope its not too warm, its a comfortable temperature for humans anyway.
You're shed will be grand if you could insulate the roof some way? A tin roof is like a solar panel in this weather >:(
I use a heat belt without any problems but would recommend using it with an stc-1000 (http://nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,3033.msg36350.html#msg36350) controller as mentioned above.
You can make a very basic fermentation chamber like this (http://nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/topic,697.msg28015.html#msg28015) with some insulation and duct tape. At the moment I put a 1 litre bottle of frozen water into mine every morning and it maintains a temp of around 18-19°C even though the room temp can get up to 24-25°C.
24-26 is not ideal, but you'll be fine. The instructions recommend 21-27 and many people stick to that. Think of the poor Ausies, they still manage to brew in their heat, throwing wet towels around their brew or strapping frozen bottles to the FV.
The main thing is to keep the temperature stable, not changing a few degrees between night and day.
Once you get power, you can concentrate on keeping the temperature stable at around 18-20 for ales and down to 12-14 for lagers. The yeast will be happier and give a cleaner ferment :)
Its steady now at 24 degrees and bubbling away happily :P ! Frozen bottles or wet towels wont go down well with the missus, its under the coffee table in the little sitting room and she hasnt copped it yet ??? If I start introducing anything else she will cop and go mad ! I hope 24 degrees will be ok
When you get really into this brewing and get your first pair of jesus sandels you will read that higher temp ferments can bring a slightly fruitier flavor best for red style ales. Enjoy your creating life,hence the jesus sandels.
Quote from: Pint-a-water on July 11, 2013, 07:45:54 AM
Quote from: Covey on July 10, 2013, 11:50:16 PM
That was my and most peoples first brew, have'nt brewed it since- not my fav brew. Next do the Aussie Pale ale and do a hop tea with cascade (Type of hop) and dry hop with cascade too PM Lordeoin for more info. Its class
Have read some good things about it and equally some bad things, Ill be happy if it turns out even half drinkable as its my first :) I wouldnt have any knowledge of brewing with hops, Im just about managing the simple kit :P but perhaps after a few kits I will move on !
Hop tea: handful of Cascade hops + bot of boiling water(1litre), boil for 5 min lash into fermenter. simples
He did mean to add that you cool the hop tea down to 20C before putting it in the fermenter. ;)