Fermentation Temperature Control Strategies!

As a follow up to my prior experiment on temperature control, I do a deeper dive into the importance of fermentation temperature control.
Some links:
• Swamp Cooler Homebrew Experiment: homebrewacademy.com/swamp-coo...
• Keeping your Fermentor Cool with a Ghetto Bucket: www.beersyndicate.com/app/Tut...
• Reddit - Swamp Coolers: / diy_wednesdays_swamp_c...
• BrewJacket Immersion Pro: brewjacket.com/
Chapters:
0:00 - Introduction
2:19 - My Fermentation History
4:09 - Ambient Fermentation Issues
7:05 - Restricted Temperatures
8:13 - Controlled Ale Schedule
10:22 - Simple Equipment
11:04 - Inexpensive or Compact Solutions
12:27 - My Chest Freezer Equipment
16:25 - Some Perks!
17:03 - High End - Glycol
17:41 - Recap

[@jon6039]

Thanks for the video im actually researching the topic for building a chamber for fermenting tobacco but there isnt many in depth videos on the subject from that perspective.

[@valentinbochatay9533]

Thanks a lot for all these practical details! It's my next move toward the perfect beer so your video is right on schedule 👍

[@ElementaryBrewingCo]

Great info! Controlling temp is key to getting your beer to the next level.

[@rfox2014]

This helps me a lot. Looking at an inkbird and a chest freezer

[@Styv93]

Great explanation!! Finally someone on KZbin explaining temperature control with graphs!

[@robertsampson8278]

Great video, thanks for putting all of this information together. I have adapted the freezer, heat pad, and ink bird system. I love it, I use it to ferment, cold crash, bottle condition, and keep my beers cold. It was amazing how easy it was to find a cheap freezer, I got mine for free and spent $10 in parts to fix it. Your video gave me the idea that even if I couldn't fix it cheaply I could use it as a heated chamber so I didn't think it was a waste of time to get it. As it turns out it is fairly common for the issue to be a cheap starter relay which is pretty easy to fix. Keep up the great videos, thanks!

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Thanks for the kind words and good luck with your brewing. Once I moved to having temp control, I cannot see how I got by without it. Maybe I need to do some more troubleshooting on my old freezer. As I recall, it makes a little noise making me think the compressor is running, but it just never gets cold.

[@robertsampson8278]

@@CascadesHomebrew if you hear a click every now and then but it doesnt get cold it is a very good chance it is the starter relay. There are a bunch of videos on how to fix it.

[@jaggersbrewingco]

Very good video! Here are a few other options for cooling and heating in the kind of in between areas. Cool Breeze - its an insolated bag that I have used with frozen water jugs for cool side fermenting. I now use it as warm side fermenting with and Anvil temp controller and two heating pads. Fermzilla All Rounder with thermowell and Temp Twister - I use an Anvil temp controller for this as well. Cool side ferment. I got down to cold crash / lagering temp but it was a pain to get Ice in the cooler that I had tied together with that fermenter and pond pump combo that I made. It is possible. As long as you just need like 50 degrees or so it should be easy.

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Thanks for the additional info. I could see where a controller + pond pump would make for an inexpensive solution.

[@jaggersbrewingco]

@@CascadesHomebrew It worked really well for Marzen.

[@arontamminga1459]

Tnx!

[@AllianceOfCalgon]

I use a large fridge spilt into 2 levels. The bottom one is hooked up to the fridge and a 14w reptile heat mat and the top one is connected to a different stc1000 and another heat mat.

[@CascadesHomebrew]

That sounds like a pretty solid solution with capacity to control two fermenters.

[@georgeanglin4038]

Hear hear. Constant fermentation has been an issue i fight. The fermentation accelerates and dies inconsistent results. Finally going to build one.

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Good luck!

[@stripeyjoe]

Larder fridge is the way to go, then there's no need to be lifting things in and out!

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Yeah, living a full fermenter in and out is awkward. I also have to lift out the fermenter if I want to take a gravity reading from the spigot.

[@Rick-yf1lt]

Hi great video I haven't found anything like your on the temperature profile can you suggest a profile for doing a larger

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Honestly, I don't have enough experience with lagers to give much advice. I mad a few following a schedule that was promoted my Mike "Tasty" McDole years ago. Basically starting around 50F, then once fermentation slows, raising the temp 2-3F steps over several days to around 62F. I see lots of people having success using a year like 34/70 at near ale temps or also fermenting under pressure.

[@Rick-yf1lt]

Thank you that gives me a starting point I can play around with it from there

[@RichardCockerill]

i bought the inkbird but can't get it to work right,in other words for whatever reason i can't get the temps right for cooling...so i am not using it as i tried many times and have had no luck

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Hmmm...I have been happy with the performance of my Inkbird controller.

[@user-hd8fo4cu9l]

Hello If it is, the radiator is digital. I can control the temperature. Is it possible to do without this temperature monitor?

[@CascadesHomebrew]

I am not quite sure about the question. A digital radiator would likely help to keep a cool area warm for fermentation. Ideally you would be measuring the temperature of the beer to account for heat generated during fermentation, where I would assume the radiator would be measuring the ambient air. I think you would have better luck using a seedling mat and a temp controller, but give the radiator a try. Just make sure you are using it in a safe way (that it does not get too hot, that the area is not too damp, etc.).

[@TheMississauga333]

hi, great vid, i am new to this, but can that freezer be set so it doesnt freeze the beer?

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Yes, this is done with an external controller like the ones that Inkbird makes (such as ITC-308). You plug your freezer (or fridge) into the controller and the controller will turn the power on and off based on the temperature reading and setting.

[@TheMississauga333]

@@CascadesHomebrew ok cool thanks for the info

[@thecamperguy1234]

Not sure if this has been answered yet, but does a five gallon fermentation bucket fit in the chest freezer?

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Yes it will, at least with this 5 cu .ft. Insignia model (and I think it would with most modern 5 cu .ft. chest freezers). The older model that I got for $25 had very thick walls, and was a bit taller and skinnier. I could not fit my 7 gallon Fermonster down into the well of that one and I recall a bucket being awkward to fit inside (though I don't ferment in buckets). I guess my overall advice is: most 5 cu. ft. freezers should work well for a full sized fermenter (5 to 7 gal capacity) but double check the specific model vs your specific fermenter if you can.

[@JTA1997_]

Anyone try the BN Link Controller? Can I plug a surge protector into it to plug a fridge and a heat source into?

[@CascadesHomebrew]

Is there a specific model of BN Link Controller? I see several different types of controllers under that brand. There does seem to be several other brands making controllers similar to what Inkbird makes. As long as it is rated for around 10A, it should work fine. I picked up one branded GOQOTOMO because it was on sale for $12.50 (oddly I see the same controller listed for $50 now).

[@JTA1997_]

@@CascadesHomebrew Thank you for the reply. I actually returned the BN Link and decided to buy the Inkbird just to be safe. It was only $15 more or so. Can't wait to get started. I'm brand new to this hobby

[@grahamhawes7089]

I tape a beer koozie over the probe as insulation!

[@CascadesHomebrew]

That is a good suggestion.