How to maintain heat during fermentation - Applying Heat to Fermenting Beer

How to maintain heat during fermentation - Applying Heat to Fermenting Beer

All links at the bottom to the products mentioned in the video.
The Muffin Top Nucleated Pint Glasses from Brewing America

When things get cold like they do every Winter sometimes you need to apply a little heat just to keep your fermentation temps where they need to be to maintain a steady fermentation.

Remember being able to maintain and manage your actual wort temperature is the goal well beyond just your ambient temperatures. Also keep in mind that during initial fermentation your wort can spike easily to 10 F or 5 C in additional heat generated.

First if you don't have an Inkbird temperature controller, seriously consider one!
Inkbirds:

Second seriously consider a Tilt Hydrometer as they are amazing.

Ways to apply and/or maintain heat during fermentation to either keep your temps or increase them:
1. Fermentation Heat Pad
2. Actual Heating Blanket
3. Heating Brew Belt
4. Fermentation Heater Wrap
5. Space Heater for area heating in such things as a small space, fridge, freezer, or even wooden box.
6. Sous Vide
7. Aquarium Heater
8. Brewjacket Immersion Pro
9. Cool Brew Insulated Jacket
10. Cool Zone Cooling Jacket
11. Glycol Cooling / Heating System

Remember if you are monitoring a carboy with a temp probe that you can't put into the wort and must place on the outside, tape it 100% to insure you get the best temp reading possible.

[mmgunner]

I have no experience with anything else, but a heat belt in a mini fridge with an STC1000 has greatly improved my brewing experience. I only ever have had one fermentation at a time, but it has improved my brewing immensely.

[idsullymichaels]

I'm in Texas brewing in a garage - easily 90-110. BUT I have a full size fridge. I am looking to add a CO2 line in there for kegs. BUT I'll need to ferment in there as well...

I am thinking of a small power line along with the CO2 line (female in the fridge/male on outside). I can set up the Inkbird (temp control) outside the fridge. When I have beer in kegs I can plug in a heat blanket inside the fridge - that plugged into the temp controller. on fermentation. If I don't have any kegged beer, I'll plug the fridge into the thermostat control. How concerning is a power source/plug in the fridge?

How do you put you temp probe into the fridge - through the door? Worth it to drill a hole - create some type of 'port'?

Then I get to decide if I continue doing a glass carboy (saves $), or is it worth buying something like a Fermzilla and allowing me to ferment under pressure, eliminate O2 on the beer, punch beer into kegs, etc.

[ggutzzz]

Great videos. Being new to brewing, I think not controlling temp ruined my first brew. My fermentation stalled, I repitched more yeast, but I never reached FG. Lesson learned

[TheAmateursOriginalMusic]

Im thinking of going with the heat pad, very cheap on ebay, will these keep the heat constant or will it just get hotter and hotter if you leave it on too long? Just out of interest, can you brew cold? Will it just take longer as the wife wont let any of my beer stuff in the house and its nearly winter here in the uk😮

[codebowl]

Quick question regarding the Fermzilla canonical and heating pads. I found the circumference of the fermenter to be 43.6 inches. would a single heating pad wrapping half of the fermenter be fine or should I find one long enough to wrap more than 50% of the fermenter? I am creating my lists of what is required now :)

[brandonfisher]

I live in Michigan band my basement is not heated and in the middle of winter it's 60f. If your basement get to 32f you have bigger problems