Controlling temperature

[palealemale]

Hi all,

am at the stage where I'm super keen on brewing, have been reading heaps about it, but haven't actually gone out and bought anything yet.

Anyways, I was wondering how to keep your fermenter at a constant temperature whilst your beer is brewing.

I intend setting up in my garage which is underneath two storeys of units, is brick, recieves no direct sun at the back, and has no window therefore making it prob the most temp constant part of my place, however I'm still interested to know how people keep their brew at the constant recommended temp.

Thanks, hope to be writing about my ripper of a first brew soon

[rwh]

Sounds like you've got a great natural place for beer brewing there; wish I had something like it. I have a fridge with a temperature controller (fridgemate) which allows me to set the temperature to anything between ambient and whatever the fridge can cool to. In winter, I normally just ferment lagers (which ferment lower than 18°C), or I brew my ales inside at room temp. My other option would be to switch the fridgemate over to heating mode and hook it up to a light bulb or similar inside the fridge, but I haven't really tried that yet.

[waza327]

A heat mat may be the answer if you are in a cold place like me. I live in Melbourne and bought a heat mat, You can buy all sorts of kinds, mine is designed to keep seedlings warm for the pot heads. It works great average temp on fermenter is 22 to 24. Even when the temp drops.

Cheers Waza

[pacman]

My method is simple and quite effective. I position my fermenter in a plastic bin of cold water. Keeps the fermenting temperature fairly constant, although in winter a thermostatically controlled aquarium heater is sometimes required.

[rwh]

mine is designed to keep seedlings warm for the pot heads.

I'm not sure you meant what this reads like to me...

Yeah, I have a foot-warmer mat thing; it's about the only thing I've inherited from my Grandmother and is perfect for keeping the brews warm. But seriously, if I had to think about using it, I'd pitch a lager yeast instead.