81 degrees ambient

Fusels are wayyyyyy worse.

 

Assuming it's only a 5 gal batch -- I say screw the beer. You could try a water bath, t-shirt swamp-cooler, etc. That said, SF Lager is pretty forgiving. I ferment ambient too, and have had some surprise 100F days in the past.

 

Speaking from recent experience, get that a/c pumpin! Or make a swamp cooler.

 

What, are you guys fermenting outside?

 

I'd say fusel's are worse. Extra A/C running time will only be for like the first week right? I'd think after the majority of the primary is done it'd be alright to let it come up in temp.

 

I'm not sure why you would spend the money on ingredients and the time brewing if you aren't going to control your fermentation temperature.

 

You can build a fermentation chamber. That will resolve your problem for future brews. It's a fun project and you won't have a huge A/C bill.

 

Ferment some saisons or some brett strains that will take the heat..

I don't know how the hell you can live in a 81* house though!

 

Cool the fermenter, not the whole house

 

81℉; no, cool the whole house, or simply cool the fermenter in a bathtub full of ice that you happen to be sitting in.

 

U guys must be having a heat wave up there...it was only 105 here today

 

90s up here the past few days. Great for my Lacto starters. Sucks to drive home from work in an old truck with no A/C and only one window that works.

 

Why? No room inside to do your fermentation?

 

brew a saison instead

 

Water bath with ice bottles...change them out every few hours if/when necessary. Much cheaper than trying to cool the whole room.

 

https://www.cool-brewing.com/ Might be worth it.

 

An ice water bath is the best/easiest effective solution... I'd want room for myself in there too as 80F is a pretty warm day at my place.