Fermentation Options

[JP]

http://morebeer.com/browse.html?keyword ... mit=Search

Great little tool - just like Dr. Scott.

[bub]

go to Morebeer.com
find the conicals
find the expensive one... it should have heat and cool
BUB

[Lufah]

Mahalo Chooch...I've heard of this heat wrap thing, but am not familiar with what it is or where one would find it...any links?

I was thinking conical, but are a little spendy (but am still looking). Do they adjust both ways (warm and cool)? I've heard some cool only (although I admit I'm by no means an authority).

Also, if using a heat lamp, how does one control the temp?

You could use either of these....


http://www.northernbrewer.com/temp-control.html

If you want to use a lamp you just unplug the freezer from the temp controler and plug the lamp into it.

Someone else will have to help with the conical questions. Way out of my price range.

[JP]

I would do the chest with the fermwrap as well, honestly. Save yourself some cash.

[Dr Scott]

If you're serious about staying in the hobby and want things more predictable/easier, Go w/ a temp controlled conical. It is "set it and forget it" A stabile temp is key to great beer. It is an investment, but if you're heading in that direction anyway, just go for it. I know many people that ferment in conicals and all of them are happy thay went that way. But as Lufah pointed out, There are many other options.

So my concern is the need for multiple conicals...although I'm thinking you probably don't need a secondary. So if you are only making one batch at a time, you probably only need one conical, no?

I was looking at the conicals on morebeer, it wasn't obvious they were all temperature controlled, is there one model that has this feature?

You start w/ a basic conical and add options. You're right you don't need a secondary. You could go w/ the chest freezer now and then upgrade to a conical later. The chest freezer at that point becomes your storage/lagering chest. (not a bad idea)

You will be lifting carboys in and out of the chest freezer though. Something to think about...

[Dr Scott]

You could use either of these....


http://www.northernbrewer.com/temp-control.html

Lufah, are you doing illegal abortions too?

[Lufah]

You could use either of these....


http://www.northernbrewer.com/temp-control.html

Lufah, are you doing illegal abortions too?

Gotta pay the bills somehow.

[Slavin' Away]

So I think I'm leaning towards the chest freezer option. Just a couple configuration questions. This is what I think the ingredients would be.

1 standard chest freezer
1 temperature control gauge (such as http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/fullsize/ranco.jpg )
1 fermwrap (for warming up)

Recipe:

Connect temp control to power supply (i.e. wall socket). Connect freezer to temp control if you need to cool. Connect fermwrap to temp control if you need to warm up. If using a temp control regulator on a chest freezer, don't connect the fermwrap to the carboy, but let it warm the entire chest.

So if I'm right thus far, what do I do if I got hot days and cool nights? Unplug the freezer at night and plug the fermwrap in? Or does the temp control have two outputs, one for when it needs to cool and one for when it needs to warm up?

Also, should one use a heat lamp if using a temp control on a chest freezer (rather than fermwrap)? It doesn't appear a fermwrap is the right tool to heat a chest freezer.

This is great stuff, I don't care what pope jamil says about you guys, you're all right!