how do you achieve & maintain your fermentation temperature

[Oh Crap]

I know I had problems at the start espically with kit instructions, "leave it in a warm spot and hope for the best".
I thought it might help some people if various techniques for controlling temp etc were listed... SO
How do you set and control your temp?

I have a fermentation chamber that I set the ambient temperature a couple of degrees lower then required, this allows for the yeast to generate internal heat without raising the temp too high. After about 4/5 days when it has stabilised I increase to the optimum temp for the remainder of fermentation.

Hope this helps any new brewers
Glenn

[LordEoin]

fridge + brew belt, controlled by STC1000

[Garry]

I use a brew belt controlled by an STC1000. I wrap a duvet around the FV to keep the temperature from fluctuating too much.

For typical ales: I pitch the yeast @ 21-23°C ish. I set the STC1000 to 22°C until I see a krausen on top of the beer (usually 24 hours), then set the STC1000 to 19.5°C for the remainder of fermentation.

[Qs]

I use a swamp cooler and ice packs. I haven't done any styles that require hotter fermentation temps yet so I'm always looking to keep the temp down at 16-18C and the swamp cooler does a good job of that for me.

[cochised]

Garry and LordEoin, care to show me how to setup something like that?

Moved house and it is a good bit colder
Have a fridge and brew belt. Am gonna buy an STC-1000 soon 

[Garry]

Have a look here.

[cochised]

Have a look here.

A gent 

[Kevin O'Roundwood]

Time for a stupid question -

If you need to warm your brew but it's in the fridge, isn't the fridge working against you the whole time? Or is the fridge not plugged in but just being used for it's insulation? It's just I noticed the light was on in LordEoin's post in STCs. Am I missing something basic?

[montofk]

The fridge would also contain a heat source, typically a light bulb (in a can to block light), or a heat belt.... When heat is required, the STC switches the fridge off and turns the heat source on. When cool is required vice versa happens. 

[Kevin O'Roundwood]

The fridge would also contain a heat source, typically a light bulb (in a can to block light), or a heat belt.... When heat is required, the STC switches the fridge off and turns the heat source on. When cool is required vice versa happens. 

ahhhh.... of course.

thanks!

My heat belt is in the courier's van at the moment. Underestimated how sensitive beer is to temperature fluctuations. My wine usually pushes through almost anything, never really had any issues with fermentation sticking in the depths of winter or the heights of summer (even when I lived in a stickily hot flat in London). But beer seems to be a more sensitive soul.... poor fella...

[DCLavs]

I use an aquarium heater in the FV.Thinking on putting the FV in a larger bucket and filling with water then heating that way rather than putting the heater into the beer.