heating for secondary ferment

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 5:12 pm

Hey all, how do the bottlers out there keep their batch warm while secondary fermentation (hopefully) occurs? and for how long, 2 weeks?
I thought about grabbing an old elec blanket, but mightnt be the safest.

mobydick · Post by **mobydick** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 5:56 pm

Depends. How low can your yeast manage? Is your fermenter in the house or out in the shed? As far as how long to ferment? Well until it's finished. Though I often leave mine in the fermenter for up to 3 weeks with no drama, in fact it's probably better.

adebrew · Post by **adebrew** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 8:47 pm

err, the bottles are in the lounge

banger · Post by **banger** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 8:52 pm

I keep mine in my laundry which doesn't get much heating, so would probably not get above 15c in winter. Still, haven't had a problem as yet. Better to be too cool than too warm.

wambesi · Post by **wambesi** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 9:05 pm

Mine stay in the garage with the rest of my gear, it is getting quite cold in there now with this Melb weather so I have been rotating some into the house where it gets 15 deg at the coolest for a week or so to help.

I have left a lot out there though and they seem to just take longer than the normal 2 weeks.

mobydick · Post by **mobydick** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 9:10 pm

Yeah secondary in the bottle

Um mine are in the bedroom, so they are at about 16-18 degrees. They have usually carbed up after 10 days. I have drank them at 2 weeks, but 3 is much much better, and 4 weeks a bit better again.

warra48 · Post by **warra48** » Thursday Aug 02, 2007 9:21 pm

I keep mine behind the bar in the lounge room for 2 to 3 weeks post bottling, before moving them downstairs to the beer cellar.
In my experience to date, the bottles are much better if I leave them for at least a month or longer. The flavours seem to integrate better and the taste improves.
I am still enjoying 2 batches of amber ale brewed back in Jan this year, and they are a lovely drink now, much better than 6 months ago.

Chris · Post by **Chris** » Friday Aug 03, 2007 8:00 am

I wouldn't worry too much about keeping them warm. Just leave them in a heated room of your house and you'll be fine.

Chunk · Post by **Chunk** » Tuesday Aug 07, 2007 8:34 pm

I keep them in a cupboard that sits at about 15 degress these days. I can usually wait a month before a taste test and by that time they have carbeb up fine.
Don't worry about the electric blanket.