homebrewandbeer.com

winter is coming on and while i am brewing in my garage things are getting a bit cold are heat pads or belts better ? i only want to buy one so can any body help me

Have you considered making lagers instead? Lager yeasts like it cold.

I have an immersion heater that my Dad gave me. Works well but I think they are a bit old fashioned these days.

If you're making ales just get a heat belt. Turn it on as necassary to bring the temp up to about 16-18C. Don't leave on all day and night though. Or maybe, like already mentioned, just make some lagers.

I have a heat pad, but it doesn't keep it quite at ale temps during the really cold weather. In those times I just wrap the fermenter in a blanket and combined with the heat pad, it does the trick.

i have a couple of belts and i think they do the job nicely, i also remember there being an issue with the pads heating the trub, just something to think of

Funny you should say that, I was wondering about that issue just the other day. What sort of issues in particular?

Dunno if its relevant, but I am using a couple of hot water bottles to get my brew going and its been fermenting for 4 days now we've had a few cold days. one of the blokes at work was talking about using an electric blanket for his brew.

Lager Time !!

I have used a heater belt on a timer which works quite good, but last summer I built a heater / cooler box. in winter I use a 25 watt light globe attached to a termostat to keep the temp up for ales. In summer I just use frozen juice bottles to keep the termp down. I can attach photos, if someone could tell me how to do it.

Phil

Put the fermenter in a plastic tub with water in it and add an aquarium heater. The trouble with belts and pads is that they don't have a thermostat whereas the aquarium heater has an adjustable one. Total cost is $20-25 depending on where you get your stuff. In summer just chuck in some softdrink bottles with frozen water in them.

It works a treat, gives you greater control and you don't have to monitor it.

I like the hotbox. That or "Lagertime!"

Chris wrote:I like the hotbox. That or "Lagertime!"

The trouble for me is that I like to drink lagers in summer and big malty ales in winter and because I don't bottle, there's no way I can store anything away for that long.

It's almost like the beer gods are combining with the weather gods to frustrate me.

lethaldog wrote:i have a couple of belts and i think they do the job nicely, i also remember there being an issue with the pads heating the trub, just something to think of

I have a temp controller with mine and put the probe as close to the bottom as possible. I'd be suuprised if the trub got much over 19c

The problem with a pad or a belt without a temp controller is that you have to keep an eye on it all the time.

Thanks rwh forthe infoe on insering photos here goes

My fermenter Box outside




The inside of it



Aslo my frig



The box is made of recycled plywood off pallets and lined with 25mm Koolite foam. At the back in the middle behind the aluminium is a 25watt light globe which is attached to a heater controller the probe is on the left hand side at the bottom. On the right hand side bottom is a thermometer probe. The temp probe tests the air and after experimentation, with it set for 15 degrees the wert in the fermenters is approx 20 degrees, with 1 or 2 degrees variation.

thanx to every one for the imput i got a few good ideas from you

I brew in a garden shed out the back with no insulation or heating...so for me it's ales/stouts in summer and lagers/pilsners in winter.

by the time it comes around to drinking a batch...I'm drinking the lagers/pilsners in summer and the ales/stouts in winter...too easy!

I use heat belts and a fridgemate to keep them at ale temps...works a treat.

wambesi wrote:I use heat belts and a fridgemate to keep them at ale temps...works a treat.

Yeah was goign to suggest that. Do you have a probe in the brew?

Heat pad + sleeping bag - 16-18C in shed with average temp of 4-8.

Tis lager season tho, no more trying to cool the bugger down!