Hi Matt. Thanks for the video, I'm likely to create a fermentation chamber similar to yours, given I'm in a colder climate (Tasmania, Australia). Now that you've had this chamber for a few years, have you found that it works perfectly every time, or is there anything that you'd do differently? i.e. extra heating elements? Does it stay cool enough on it's own during Summer to not require a cooling system? Thanks in advance.
I think high 70s, but that is largely dependent on ambient temperature, if you are at peak fermentation(temperature rises during active fermentation) and what temperature you put in the beer. Also I’m sure you could always add more methods for it to stay hotter like more pads or maybe add a belt to the fermenter
Dumb question...if your basement is anything like mine and it's normally low 60's, isn't that just fine for most ale yeasts, thus no real need for a fermentation chamber? If I do a Belgian, I just put my bucket upstairs where it's warmer. You're a better brewer than me, but I am curious.
Hey Ed, so my basement seems to be around mid 50s (at least right now) and its spring, though during the summer I imagine it will be alot warmer down there so less likely for the heat mat to kick on. The main reason was to find a place that kept the beer fermenting out of site as the wife can get annoyed with finding beer fermenting near heating ducts during the winter lol. I will use this for all my beers moving forward but this will really kick help during the colder fall/winter/early spring months. But yea ideally you want to shoot for around 70 for ale (but this is largely dependent on the yeast you are using) and it was a relatively low expense to add.
Hi Matt. Thanks for the video, I'm likely to create a fermentation chamber similar to yours, given I'm in a colder climate (Tasmania, Australia). Now that you've had this chamber for a few years, have you found that it works perfectly every time, or is there anything that you'd do differently? i.e. extra heating elements? Does it stay cool enough on it's own during Summer to not require a cooling system? Thanks in advance.
I have not had an issue with it! Kept it warm enough for lagers.
What max temps can you get out of this setup? I am pressure fermenting and would like to use a similar setup to get me up into the 80s...
I think high 70s, but that is largely dependent on ambient temperature, if you are at peak fermentation(temperature rises during active fermentation) and what temperature you put in the beer. Also I’m sure you could always add more methods for it to stay hotter like more pads or maybe add a belt to the fermenter
Dumb question...if your basement is anything like mine and it's normally low 60's, isn't that just fine for most ale yeasts, thus no real need for a fermentation chamber? If I do a Belgian, I just put my bucket upstairs where it's warmer. You're a better brewer than me, but I am curious.
Hey Ed, so my basement seems to be around mid 50s (at least right now) and its spring, though during the summer I imagine it will be alot warmer down there so less likely for the heat mat to kick on. The main reason was to find a place that kept the beer fermenting out of site as the wife can get annoyed with finding beer fermenting near heating ducts during the winter lol. I will use this for all my beers moving forward but this will really kick help during the colder fall/winter/early spring months. But yea ideally you want to shoot for around 70 for ale (but this is largely dependent on the yeast you are using) and it was a relatively low expense to add.