Dr Smurto Posted November 13, 2006 Share Posted November 13, 2006 G'day All I have had no probs in the past keeping my temp up using a heating pad so fermentation doesn't stop but am a bit flummoxed as to how to keep the temp below 28 in my shed which is tin and a hotbox already (Adelaide). I am trying to brew lagers and the smell is a tad too much for me to keep it inside (according to the boss). Any ideas? I have heard and read about fridge conversions but am not technically minded at all. I have searched thru the forum and tried to find the grumpys article but no good. Help?!?!?! I know i should be brewing ales in summer and lagers in winter but just moved back to Oz after a few years abroad and want lagers for all the barbies. Cheers DrSmurto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 Hi Dr, Try wrapping the fermenter in a wet towel held on by occy straps and set up a fan blowing onto it. Cheers, Luke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Smurto Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 G'day Luke That would work well but i dont really want to leave a fan going in the shed altho one of those little battery powered ones might just work...... Has anyone tried the insulating popup esky thing? Saw a post Jan 05 saying that Kmart sells these thing sbut noone has commented on them to date???? Cheers DrSmurto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted November 14, 2006 Share Posted November 14, 2006 If you are not prepared to do the thermostat converstion on a secondhand fridge, you could use it as an insulative cabinet and run it for a short time to get the temp down then turn it off. Maybe hook it up to a timer switch to have it cycle on and off keeping the temp down. One of the fridges I have runs at 10degC if the cooling dial is adjusted to the lowest level - BONUS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Smurto Posted November 14, 2006 Author Share Posted November 14, 2006 G'day Paul That sounds like a much simpler plan to the 'Fridgemate' which would involve me showing some knowledge of electrics.. http://craftbrewer.com.au/ (search for fridgemate) Now i just need a secondhand fridge before the weekend (its gonna be 30). 8) Cheers DrSmurto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieran Posted November 19, 2006 Share Posted November 19, 2006 http://www.mashmaster.com.au/ He's the guy who Ross @ Craftbrewer buys them from.. I bought a refractometer from mashmaster, and it works a treat. A mate bought a big bi-metal thermometer, and a plate chiller as well.. all well mate, built to last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trigg Brewing Company Posted January 11, 2007 Share Posted January 11, 2007 Try 1 or 2 frozen bottles of water next to the fermenter. Then wrap the whole lot in cardboard to insulate and see how you go... a simple way to reduce the wort temp...maybe higher maintenance than other methods but simple... note.... sit bottle on a tea towel to soak up moisture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody1525228571 Posted January 15, 2007 Share Posted January 15, 2007 g'day all, living in south east Qld and brewing in a small garden shed opens me up to all sorts of weird tempareture ranges ( 3 - 32 degrees over Xmas) I've found that an old footy jersey of the heavy cotton kind placed over the fermenter and in a tray of water will drop the temp of the fermenter by about 4 degrees without a fan. At the moment this is keeping it in the upper range for fermentaion by reduces the extremes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevo Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I have a question with a Bavarian lager with a No.1 brew enhancer I did last Tuesday. When I pitched the rehydrated yeast, the wort was @ 25C, I've been using ice bricks under it to get the temp down, now about 22C. The OG was 1.042, today its down to 1.016. Should I keep getting the temp down to the 16-18 mark? When should I bottle or is this headed for the drain as its been brewing to hot? This is my first lager, usually brew Ales & stouts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Smurto Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 A true lager using a lager yeast should be brewed at 9 degC........ Not having the ability to get temps down this low i stick with ales etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PB2 Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 The yeast supplied with the Bavarian should tick along quite nicely if started in the low 20's, then drawn down to 13degC once krausen is observed. If you are planning to run ferment temperatures as low as 9degC make sure to pitch a lot more yeast (at least twice as much - I normally go for 1g per litre). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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