Fermentation Options

[Slavin' Away]

OK, so I'm about to upgrade my brewing equipment (read: get something better than a Mr. Beer system) and need some thoughts on fermenting options. Here is my scenario. I live in NY in a fairly poorly insulated house. So during the winter it gets cold and the summer quite hot. The cold is about 50 degrees and the hot over 90. So both extremes would royally f up a fermentation. My cellar is probably the most stable environment. In the winter it fluctuates between 50 and 55. In the summer, it will get up to around 65.

So what I would like is people's thoughts on what to do for fermentation. I would like to know how you would suggest stabilizing a fermentation temperature, either warming or cooling.

Appreciate the help...

Slavin' Away

[Lufah]

I guess the question I have is what your budget is. Are you trying to keep it as cheap as possible? Or are you on the Dr. Scott/Trump budget? Somewhere in between?

You can go anywhere from a tub of water with either ice or an aquarium heater to a chest freeze or fridge with temp control to the temp controled conicals. Give us an idea of your budget and we can target the kind of stuff you can do.

Travis

[Slavin' Away]

I guess the question I have is what your budget is. Are you trying to keep it as cheap as possible? Or are you on the Dr. Scott/Trump budget? Somewhere in between?

You can go anywhere from a tub of water with either ice or an aquarium heater to a chest freeze or fridge with temp control to the temp controled conicals. Give us an idea of your budget and we can target the kind of stuff you can do.

Travis

Yeah, it probably would be good to know that huh? I am probably in the middle, leaning a little more towards Dr. Scott. So I'd probably spend a little more if it makes life easier and more predictable...

[Lufah]

Alright. I would go with a chest freezer with a temp controler. You can use the freezer part to cool and put a heat lamp in there when you need it for heat. The chest freezers are fairly cheap. Makes life easy anyway. Set the controler and walk away.

Travis

[Dr Scott]

I guess the question I have is what your budget is. Are you trying to keep it as cheap as possible? Or are you on the Dr. Scott/Trump budget? Somewhere in between?

You can go anywhere from a tub of water with either ice or an aquarium heater to a chest freeze or fridge with temp control to the temp controled conicals. Give us an idea of your budget and we can target the kind of stuff you can do.

Travis

Yeah, it probably would be good to know that huh? I am probably in the middle, leaning a little more towards Dr. Scott. So I'd probably spend a little more if it makes life easier and more predictable...

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.

[Big Chooch]

Dude, I just got a chest freezer, two-stage ranco controller, and a heat wrap. For the middle of the road, I agree with Lufah. This is the best option. You can cheapen it up by getting a used freezer too. If I can keep myself from constantly checking on my fermenters, it'll nail a specific temp pretty well. By the way, good idea to get a thermo well for your fermenter. Your fermenter will heat up during peak ferm compared to ambient temp.

[Slavin' Away]

Dude, I just got a chest freezer, two-stage ranco controller, and a heat wrap. For the middle of the road, I agree with Lufah. This is the best option. You can cheapen it up by getting a used freezer too. If I can keep myself from constantly checking on my fermenters, it'll nail a specific temp pretty well. By the way, good idea to get a thermo well for your fermenter. Your fermenter will heat up during peak ferm compared to ambient temp.

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?

[Slavin' Away]

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?