Cold conditioning 'tank'

[full malty]

Some people convert chest freezers to temperature-controlled condioning vessels... but I prefer the simple solution.

I place a five gallon fermenter into a larger container, fill the larger container with cold water and place this in the coldest part of the shed...



... it works very well and is friendly to both the environment and your bank balance :rolleyes:

[Jim]

I like it, FM. Like you, I prefer the simple solution every time.

I would like a beer fridge for the garage though - my barrels definitely get too warm in the summer!

[tribs]

Cold beer is overrated

My garage is usually 15-18C (Save for the recent hot snap where it was nearly 21) and I reckon the beer stays a little cooler in the cornies which is about right for serving ales IMO.

[Frothy]

depends, old fridges aren't worth a lot. As long as the beer is good then whatever works I say. (whats the dark liquid in your airlock? & is that a feed bucket?)

Matt

[Jim]

I find that a higher bitterness level suits beers served at a higher temperature in the summer. The heat seems to bring out the sweet malty flavour better.

[Andy]

QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jun 21 2006, 07:49 AM) Pubs dont chill their ales,
The bad ones do.....and some potential cracking boozers (food, location etc etc) are let down because they flash-cool their ales...

[Andy]

QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jun 21 2006, 07:22 AM) Looks like iodophor.
In strong solution!

[PieOPah]

While I find that racking to a keg is so much simpler and completely hassle free, I do find that having bottles means that if you want a nice cold beer you can easily put it in the fridge. Not so easy to do with a keg...

Fortunately for me I use both methods and normally have about 40 bottles and a keg on the go at a time. This will soon be increased to 2 kegs and I have about 80 bottles (some in the attic due to little storage - although I may actually start storing FULL bottles in the attic rather than empty!!!)

[full malty]

QUOTE (Frothy @ Jun 20 2006, 11:28 PM) depends, old fridges aren't worth a lot. As long as the beer is good then whatever works I say. (whats the dark liquid in your airlock? & is that a feed bucket?)

Matt
The dark liquid is a drop of Betadine in the airlock. When moving the 5 gallon fermenter, liquid is often drawn back into the fermenter, and this should be sterile.

Yes, the bucket is a feed bucket. Made by H K Plastics... the same company that makes many of the plastic containers sold - at a massive markup! - in Homebrew Shops.

[PieOPah]

QUOTE (full malty @ Jun 21 2006, 09:07 AM)
The dark liquid is a drop of Betadine in the airlock.  When moving the 5 gallon fermenter, liquid is often drawn back into the fermenter, and this should be sterile.
Completely agree about the whole sterile solution in your airlock. Personally I never bothered. I was lucky never to have contaminated my beer (I used tap water). Nowadays I am fortunate enough to have a dry airlock which uses a tiny ball which as the CO2 escapes the ball floats. This then drops causing a lock. Very clever idea

Anyway, instead of using Betadine, why not try a little vodka instead. This way you get to drink the contents of your airlock afterwards :beer

[Andy]

QUOTE (full malty @ Jun 21 2006, 09:07 AM) Yes, the bucket is a feed bucket. Made by H K Plastics... the same company that makes many of the plastic containers sold - at a massive markup! - in Homebrew Shops.
Malty - where do you source the buckets from ?

[PieOPah]

That used to happen with me and Jack Daniels (although I still don't do hangovers). Half a bottle would just evaporate.

I stopped drink JD & Coke and tuck into single malt whiskey (straight). This seems a lot more resistent and find it can last an entire month rather than an entire weekend.

Maybe it's because I drink more beer as that is readily available with the HB. No more nippy to the offie (offy?) for a 4 pack!!

[Reg]

I use whatever sterilising agent I have to hand in airlocks when I use them for the reason FM states. However, I do sometimes wonder whether I go overboard, but then again I've never had any form of infection in any of my brews over all the years I have brewed so... who knows, I may be getting it right.

Cue serious yeast infection in my next brew... :rolleyes:

[full malty]

QUOTE (andy @ Jun 21 2006, 08:17 AM)QUOTE (full malty @ Jun 21 2006, 09:07 AM) Yes, the bucket is a feed bucket.  Made by H K Plastics... the same company that makes  many of the plastic containers sold - at a massive markup! - in Homebrew Shops.
Malty - where do you source the buckets from ?
Buckets from a friendly farmer.

[tribs]

I use vodka. I wouldn't want sanitiser getting sucked into my beer