Temperature Range for Fermentation

[Eucrid]

Ok so as a beginner I don't have much real fermentation temperature control yet. I've done 2 brews so far, first one fermented pretty well in my office so I tried that again but with the spring weather it was jumping from 62 to 70 between day and night. This gave me some really estery flavours (the yeast was from a kit so I've no idea what it was. Kit was Festival Razorback IPA).

Now I'm trying to measure the ambient temps around my house and I think the most consistent spot is under my stairs. It moves from around 62 to 65 depending on how sunny it is outside. I have some sachets of US-05 and S-04 ready for my next brews. Will these temperatures work will with those yeasts? I'll most likely be making American Pale Ales for now.

 

[KeninMN]

http://byo.com/resources/yeast

 

[freisste]

Under the stairs sounds good. Increase the thermal mass of the system by using a swamp cooler. Put some water in a big tub and put your bucket/carboy in it. It will hold temps pretty well. Monitor the temp via stick-on thermometer and swap out frozen bottles of water the first few days to help maintain cool temps.

 

[kh54s10]

Agreed, use a swamp cooler, look up the recommended temperature range and aim for the lower half. I used one for almost 2 years until I built my fermentation chamber.

 

[j1n]

Fermentation temp will be higher than ambient air temp. My first two brews i did without a fermentation chamber and ambient temp was 62-68 and my fermentation temps were in the 70s which was not good. you might be OK with those ambient temps though.

Invest in a fermentation chamber. you can look on craigslist for a cheap mini fridge of chest freezer. IMO its one of the most important parts of the brewing process. i would stop brewing if i didn't have one.

 

[Eucrid]

I intend on getting a chamber soon but I've just invested in a lot of other stuff to go AG so I wont be able to get it for another few months.

 

[Puddlethumper]

Those yeast strains will perform ok at the mid-60's temps. That is the temp I set my fermentation freezer at when I'm working with them. +1 to increasing the thermal mass with the tub of water. Don't try anything using Nottingham or other yeasts that prefer cooler temperatures. Try BRY-97 for your American Ales as it consistently does well at the temps you can provide.

Cheers and best of luck!

 

[Malty_Dog]

Pic copied from another thread. Costs next to nothing and will get you far down the road as far as fermentation temp control.

 

[Eucrid]

I'll definitely try the swamp cooler.

Thanks for the advice on Notty, was going to buy some soon. Wont until I get my chamber sorted.

 

[Beer-lord]

I have 2 of these that I use year around to keep my temps cooler in the summer and stable in the winter.
There's a thread on this forum where you can read all the props by owners of these.
But, I agree, there are cheaper ways if money is a problem. However, this has saved me from pitching beers out. I know it works as I've used them for over a year and brewed many, many times last summer. I'm in the south, keep my A/C on 78 while the outside temps are in the 90's until the end of September. I can keep my temps as low as 62 switching out 2 frozen bottles twice a day.