Optimal temperature for fermentation

10 months ago | Jim (Member)

Morning chaps,

Will be putting the finishing touches to my brew fridge this morning having just received the ATC 800+ :D, photo of the implementation will be available soon...

Now that I have the ability to control the temperature, I have read a lot of different views. I have a book on brewing that talks about 12.5 - 15.5 degrees Celsius as the optimum temperature, from all the great discussions here I have formed an opinion that between 18 and 22 is about right, but not higher than 22 otherwise this will effect the flavour, the kit that I am going to do next (BREWFERM Tarwebier, a wheatie) states 25 in the instructions?

So what do you reckon, I am thinking of going for 22 for this brew, does it differ massively for different types of brew, does a wheatie have to be fermented at a higher temperature?

Right, back off to the shed to mount the ATC...

Cheers,

Jim.

“If at first, the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it” (Albert Einstein)

Drinkin' - Midas Touch Golden Ale
Drinkin' - Coopers Real Ale (dry hopped)
Conditionin' - Tarwebier
Fermenting' - Admirals Reserve
Plannin' - A Wherry (with Saracen's enhancement)

Read responses...

Responses

Nath:

Posted 10 months ago by Moderator

Its really best to look at the yeast you are using and seeing what range it likes to be fermented at. On the pack or on the website of the yeast manufactures there is normally a guide.

Most ale yeasts like 18-22c and if you want your fermentation to produce clean flavours its best to ferment at the lowest point, but to enuse a fast take off (reducing lag time) I would start the fermentation at about 21-22 then after 3 or so hours drop the temp to 18c. This is just an example so always check.

If its lager yeast then that will be conciderably lower and if you were making an ale it may want some certain characteristics, like a bit of esters so you may want to ferment a little higher. Wheat beer yeast can be fermented at different temps to try and get different flavours like cloves, bananas or cadndy!

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

Mark:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Jim could you re-phrase your last sentence lol

Planning-Connoiseur Johannisberg Riesling
Fermenting-Nowt
Conditioning-Proper Job Comp Beer,Kenridge White Merlot
Drinking-Raspberry/Lime cider,Grenache Blush Rose,Coopers modified lager
SG Chardonnay Wine

Jim:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Thanks Nath

Mark, LOL!

saracen:

Posted 10 months ago by Moderator

Hi Jim.
I'd be interested to know if the instructions with the ATC 800+ make it clear the terminals for the heater and cooler are not internally powered. On mine, it took me a good while to work it out for myself, and others have been there, too! Just wondered if the instructions have improved.

If you're not living on the edge..... you're taking up too much space!!

Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!

E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com

Jim:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Hi Saracen,

No, there is not mention of the terminals for the heater and cooler being internally powered in the instructions, although I brought the package 3 (where it was all wired up) as I have burnt my fingers (literally) wiring electrics before :-)

To be honest the instructions are not great, they are a bad photocopy that you can only just read in some places and the wiring diagram in the instructions relates to the ATC 800 not the ATC 800+ that has changed. On the website there is a massive notice in red telling you this, but nothing in the literature.

Cheers,

Jim.

saracen:

Posted 10 months ago by Moderator

Thought not, Jim. You do need to know what you're doing with the Package 1 option, or you'll set something alaight. It just proves people really don't care so long as they've got your money.

Mark:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Jim where did you buy package 3 from? How much including post and package?

Jim:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Saracen, your right, I was really surprised!!

Mark, I got it from Forttex at http://www.forttex.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_17&products_id=46&zenid=002e5fc90abe32b76cd3962716584d21

It was about £76 including postage and packaging. You can get them on eBay for around £25 plus (I am guessing) about a tenner for the wiring, so you are paying quite a premium, but as I said to Saracen, electrics are not my forte :-) and it seems you can't trust the manual.

Mark:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Thanks Jim, i did actually put a link up for this at Fortex a week ago or so when Saracen was putting me onto this 800+ unit but at the time they were out of stock. Good they got them back but i want it mostly to regulate heat but will be looking into this unit around September time once temperatures start dropping off.

Jim:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Guys,

Check out the final installation, being such a small shed I could not get everything in the shot, but there is a 60 watt 1 ft tube heater fitted at the bottom of the fridge

Jim:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Ah, partial success, image did not upload, next question, anybody know how to upload an image?

saracen:

Posted 10 months ago by Moderator

Hi Jim.
You need to go to a photo sharing site like Photobucket, sign up and then upload your photo to them. Then, if you go to the photo in your album, there should be a box at the bottom with a load of computer lingo on 4 lines. Copy the bottom line and paste it into your post. Bingo! Photo!
For me, they always come up the wrong size and I have to re-size them in Photoshop to 8 inches wide. There is a re-size option at Photobucket, but I can never get it right with that.

Nath:

Posted 10 months ago by Moderator

Yep, what you done was just put a link to where the image is stored on your hard drive. Saracens got it covered for you above :wink:

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

neil dm:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Just been looking at this on Fortex site. Going by the photo of the back of it there are two volt free switching contacts. To internally power them link one side of each to supply live. Good looking bit of kit for around £30.

Mark:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Neil Jim has bought the stage 3 kit that does not need connecting, you just plug your heater in one of the sockets and fridge in another.

Reply

You must log in to post.