14 hours is not a long time. Start worrying after 72 hours. I just did an apple cider with the same yeast it it took 24 hours before I saw any activity and I pitched two packets of hydrated yeast. Also, if you pitched your 105° yeast into 65° must without tempering the yeast, there may have...
If it were me, I would just put it over the boil kettle, or go without and mount your exhaust fan right in the window. I brew indoors in my kitchen. I don't have a vent hood. I do run a fan and sometimes open the door to keep the air moving and get some ventilation. If I don't, then in the...
I am not sure a mini fridge's cooling system will have enough chilling power to cool the cabinet. The one I built is pretty big and I used a compressor unit from a vending machine (check out eBay for some used units. Search for "refrigeration deck."). But if you are just making a 3 keg unit...
Something like the below pics? If yes, check out the build thread here:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=572288
Ask anything you want, I will help as much as I can.
Right on. I have a keg of cream ale that has been in the kegerator for 8 months. I made it for the girl friend and I keep asking her if it tastes OK and she says it does. All I do is what you said above.
With a simple on/off temperature controller there isn't much you can do to combat overshoot. The overshoot will be less when you attach and insulate the temperature probe to the outside of the container of which you are trying to control. Best practice is not to control the air temperature...
When the gravity stops dropping and you get the same number on two or three day intervals.
For example: you think it is done, measure the gravity, wait two or three days, measure the gravity. If it is the same number it is probably done. If it is still decreasing wait two or three more days...
Nobody will be able to help you without more information. You didn't even mention what the off flavor is. Not to mention what your brewing process is or what your fermentation temperatures were, or....anything.
I don't think you will have a problem with just using 2-Row. I have made quite a few batches of "Cream of Three Crops" for the girl friend and I have never had an issue with conversion. That recipe is 67% 2-row and the rest is corn and rice.
I made a Barleywine a while back and I used WLP002. I think I did a 4 liter starter on it. OG was 1.100 and FG was 1.024 so about 74% attenuation. It fermented at 68° and took about a week to ferment even though I left it in primary for a couple weeks before transferring it to bulk aging.