Cool temps for brewing

[Turtle]

Hi all,

Just wondering about the temps for brewing.
I know (not alot ) that the temps should be around 18'c+ and be steady, from what i've been told? but I don't have a spot in my house/shed that would accomodate those temps at a constant rate for days on end, not even near the hot water cylinder.
I've heard of people wrapping their brews in electric blankets, but I would like to try and steer clear of this method if possible.

I have heard that there is a brew on the market that can be made at any temp.
Is this correct and/or possible?
I assumed the warmer it was the quicker it would ferment, but I stand to be corrected.

Also just noticing alot of "Blonde" low carb beers on the market.
Is there a brew around that is similar to these "Blonde" beers?

Very much novice questions, but any help is really appreciated

Cheers all, Terry

[111222333]

A true lager yeast (and not all Lager cans come with lager yeast) can ferment down to 8*C but preferably at 10-12*C.
Is this what you mean by "a brew on the market that can be made at any temp" ??

Re the blonde, it is just a very lightly coloured, and usually lighter flavoured, ale. Not all blonde's are low calorie, like CUB's low calorie blonde. However, if you really want a low carb beer, use mostly Dex as your adjunct, or for a very low carb beer you can use a tin of Mexican Cerveza which comes with "dry enzyme" (or you can purchase this from the HBS and add to any tin). But be warned, for many peoples tastes, this is quite a dry, watery, flavourless beer. But brewing is about your appreciation, so the choice is there for the taking, then again many of CUB's commercial brews would fit under this description.

[Pale_Ale]

I reckon 8C is great for lagers and some yeasts will go lower.

Terry my advice is to start out with a basic ale which can ferment at anything from 18-28C. You will need to keep it warm, you can do this by wrapping it in a sleeping bag or blanket. Even with lower ambient temps you should be ok.

You could also consider the light bulb in a cupboard / box method.

[Chris]

I recon Saflagers are fine at 5*C, but people seem to disagree with me on that one. All I know, is that it works for me at that temp- it just takes a while.

And on the topic of blondes, the Coopers Canadian is much better with a Saflager.

[Trough Lolly]

My lagers are fermented at 10C....Why?

Well that's the all day / night temp in my Canberra garage at this time of the year!!

Canberra weather - sucks for tourists...heaven for brewers!!

[warra48]

Canberra weather - sucks for tourists...heaven for brewers!!

After 30 years enrolled as a voter, we finally get some good news from Canberra...........

[Turtle]

Thanks for all the tips, really appreciated

You will need to keep it warm, you can do this by wrapping it in a sleeping bag or blanket. Even with lower ambient temps you should be ok.

You could also consider the light bulb in a cupboard / box method.

By wrapping it in a sleeping bag, does it produce its own heat when doing its thing to keep warm

Also..."Saflager". Is this a brand of a brew kit, like the coopers range or something else

Be gentle on me, like I said.....Novice

Thanks, Terry

[rwh]

Wrapping it in a sleeping bag is primarily good because it keeps it insulated from a fluctuating ambient temperature, effectively smoothing it out to a more constant temperature (which is one of the best things you can do to make your beer taste better). The brewing process is indeed exothermic, and will often raise the temperature of the wort a few degrees during its most active phase.

Saflager is a trademark of Fermentis. It's a class of yeast that they sell (strangely enough it's their lager yests, including S-23, W34/70 and S-189; the ale yeasts are called Safale and include the US-05, S-04 and K-97). If you're just getting started, try their Saflager S-23, it's a very tolerant lager yeast that will give you good beer from a very wide range of temperatures (like 10°C-22°C). These yeast sachets generally cost about $4.50 from your homebrew shop, so not insignificant, but not expensive either (if you want the highest quality, then start looking at liquid yeasts, but these are a step up in complexity and expense).

HTH.

[Turtle]

Saflager is a trademark of Fermentis. It's a class of yeast that they sell (strangely enough it's their lager yests, including S-23, W34/70 and S-189; the ale yeasts are called Safale and include the US-05, S-04 and K-97). If you're just getting started, try their Saflager S-23, it's a very tolerant lager yeast that will give you good beer from a very wide range of temperatures (like 10°C-22°C). These yeast sachets generally cost about $4.50 from your homebrew shop, so not insignificant, but not expensive either (if you want the highest quality, then start looking at liquid yeasts, but these are a step up in complexity and expense).

HTH.

Thanks for that

So......does that make saflager just an extra to make it better
I always thought that you buy the kits (coopers etc) and everything needed to brew was inside them

Sounds like there is a WHOLE lot more to it than I first thought, but would still like to give it ago when I sort out a suitable brewing spot to sit it

[rwh]

So......does that make saflager just an extra to make it better

Yep. You substitute the yeast with a higher quality one, you get a higher quality result, just like any ingredient. It's not quite that simple actually, as each yeast will have different fermentation characteristics that have quite a large impact on flavour, and you want to select the best one for the application. Also lager yeasts brew colder than ale yeasts as mentioned previously.

I always thought that you buy the kits (coopers etc) and everything needed to brew was inside them

Well, that is true. It's just like buying a TV dinner and just popping it in the microwave. You'll get dinner, but it's hardly a five-star meal. If you're just getting started, then just ignore all this complicated crap I've been spouting. Get yourself a kit, sounds like you'd go well with the Coopers Canadian blonde, add a Coopers Brew Enhancer 1 and you're on the way to making your first beer. It'll be pretty damned decent, and you can work up from there. Watch it tho, brewing is addictive!

[Turtle]

Well, that is true. It's just like buying a TV dinner and just popping it in the microwave. You'll get dinner, but it's hardly a five-star meal. :

Never thouhgt of it like that, but good point

Thanks all for the pointers, guess i'll just get a set up and have a crack, bad beer is still beer......right

Thanks again, Terry

[rwh]

guess i'll just get a set up and have a crack, bad beer is still beer......right

Yep, but follow the instructions in here: Basic brewing instructions, and you should have good beer! When you want to improve, read this: Simple things that make HB better. And as Charlie Papazian says: Relax and have a homebrew!

[morgs]

Hi all,

I assumed the warmer it was the quicker it would ferment, but I stand to be corrected.

Cheers all, Terry

This is generally true as long as the temps are not too high. ie detrimental to the yeast. However if you brew at too high a temperature you will get off flavours with certain yeasts. Anyway brewing is not a rush. Once you get some stocks built up take your time in trying to make your beer taste better.

[Trough Lolly]

G'day Turtle - welcome to the brewing fraternity!

When you crack open that beer, settle back and have a read of this excellent online book on brewing - in addition to the experience you tap into on forums such as this, Palmer's book is a great info resource for the new and experienced brewer...

http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html

Cheers,
TL

[Tourist]

Canberra weather - sucks for tourists...heaven for brewers!!

Bloody tourists!

[gonzo7310]

Well, that is true. It's just like buying a TV dinner and just popping it in the microwave. You'll get dinner, but it's hardly a five-star meal. :

Never thouhgt of it like that, but good point

Thanks all for the pointers, guess i'll just get a set up and have a crack, bad beer is still beer......right

Thanks again, Terry

i am from tassie too but from Devonport.. second brew in primary now, cant wait to taste 1st batch next week,,,,,,

how are you enjoying making beer???

[Trough Lolly]

G'day Gonzo7310,
Well at least if the beer's shite and you get sick, you've got a federally funded hospital to go to!!

//ducks for cover//!

[warra48]

Well at least if the beer's shite and you get sick, you've got a federally funded hospital to go to!!

//ducks for cover//!

TL, as a tax payer (well, my personal super fund, not me personally, as I'm retired), you are one person I don't mind funding when they get sick. One thing. I always thought beer drinkers don't get sick.......

[Trough Lolly]

Heh, heh....actually I've lost count of the number of news articles confirming that beer consumption in moderation is actually good for you!

Cheers,
TL

[melbourne man]

is a steady 14-15 degrees cool enough for SAF-lager S-23?
how could i get this down to a steady 10-12 degrees?