Temperature control: when do you not really need it?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by ronobvious2, Aug 12, 2015.

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  1. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    So my choco-milk stout is coming along, I guess. I've gotten over the 'thing' where new brewers need to micro-manage things. 1.5 weeks total time in the fermenter, and I feel FG was reached after 1 week so I'm soaking the nibs in secondary now. I'm still changing frozen gel blocks twice a day but wonder if I really need to now. I'll be away this weekend and could ask my roommate to change them out, but he's not super reliable.
     
    #1 ronobvious2, Aug 12, 2015
  2. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    Each day becomes less "important" in terms of temp than the previous, with the first ~4 being critical in terms of flavor impact. The risk of not keeping it steady after that is that temperature swings could empty out your airlock and increase the oxygen exposure. Long term, warm temps will also cause your beer to stale more quickly. One weekend after two weeks in primary will be fine.
     
    #2 CurtFromHershey, Aug 12, 2015
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  3. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    Keeping temperatures maintained low is only important until the specific gravity is half of the original gravity. For example, if you started with OG=1.060, then you can safely warm it up when SG<1.030.

    Now get those ice blocks out of there.
     
    #3 dmtaylor, Aug 12, 2015
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  4. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Agree with the above with the caveat that you don't want the ambient temp to be in the upper 80s/lower 90s, probably not an issue, but just wanted to be sure.
     
    #4 wspscott, Aug 12, 2015
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  5. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    Sure thing. Conical is in the house.
     
    #5 ronobvious2, Aug 12, 2015
  6. Mag00n

    Mag00n Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2008 New York

    You have a conical but no ferm chamber?
     
    #6 Mag00n, Aug 13, 2015
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  7. suavo

    suavo Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2014

    That's like driving a Cadillac...and still living at Moms...
     
    #7 suavo, Aug 13, 2015
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  8. machalel

    machalel Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2012 Australia

    Probably the most important question - What yeast are you using?


    The more data points that i'm gathering, the more I'm thinking that the specific fermentation temperature is not as important as people make out when using the majority of "neutral" yeasts (without going to extremes, obviously). What is looking more important, however, is the ability to maintain a constant steady-state temperature, and to reduce temperature swings both high and low.


    Examples:
    http://brulosophy.com/2015/01/19/fermentation-temperature-pt-1-exbeeriment-results/
    http://brulosophy.com/2015/05/11/fermentation-temperature-pt-2-english-ale-exbeeriment-results/
    http://brulosophy.com/2015/06/22/fermentation-temperature-pt-3-lager-yeast-exbeeriment-results/
     
    #8 machalel, Aug 13, 2015
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  9. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm usually changing ice blocks for 3 to 4 days, then I let the temp rise up.
     
    #9 inchrisin, Aug 13, 2015
  10. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    I suppose it would be important to note that I don't do this for lagers. They get the fridge.
     
    #10 inchrisin, Aug 13, 2015
  11. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    What? My conical is a fermentation chamber.
     
    #11 ronobvious2, Aug 13, 2015
  12. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    He was talking about a temperature controlled chamber, like a fridge or freezer with a temperature regulator
     
    #12 CurtFromHershey, Aug 13, 2015
  13. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    OK, then my conical is both. Beer hasn't moved since I put it in there.

    [​IMG]
     
    #13 ronobvious2, Aug 13, 2015
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  14. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    Ah, so the conical can regulate temp as long as you keep the gel packs frozen?
     
    #14 CurtFromHershey, Aug 13, 2015
  15. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    Right the temp control system is an add-on feature to the conical. You can see the pieces here. You just need a chilling source so I use a small cooler and frozen gel packs. It's been a great thing to have, I just need another one to have another beer stewing while the first one finishes up. :grinning:
     
    #15 ronobvious2, Aug 13, 2015
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  16. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    I'm pretty jelly of that setup, but then again it looks like a PITA to clean. 90% of my equipment decisions are based on what would be the easiest to clean without sacrificing the end result.
     
    #16 CurtFromHershey, Aug 13, 2015
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  17. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    It's not too bad. The conical part is the easiest of course. The coils of the temp controller part is the only part, but a good bottle brush and a few minutes soak in EZ-Clean gets it done.
     
    #17 ronobvious2, Aug 13, 2015
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  18. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    BTW, has anyone seen this? Yeah, I'll probably get one. :grinning:
     
    #18 ronobvious2, Aug 13, 2015
  19. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Temp Control: important
    automatic temp control: only if you are busy : )
     
    #19 GreenKrusty101, Aug 13, 2015
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