My fermentation cooler

HigherThisHeat · Oct 27, 2012

Whats up guys!

So I finally started my first batch of home brew. I have been putting it off for about a year as I didn't know how I was going to control fermentation temperatures. I started making plans to buy a fridge, or a chest freezer, but that stuff can be expensive, and a big ol chore. I saw one of these on the home brewing forums https://www.cool-brewing.com/

HOLY FRICKIN AWESOME. I didn't like the idea of messin around with a swamp cooler and switchin out bottles, water, fan, towel... screw that. I gladly paid the price for a big oversized cooler. Brilliant!

One frozen plastic gallon jug will last about 24-36 hours with out having to switch out jugs. The temps have been sittin sweet at 66 degrees with an ambient room temp of about 76-79 degrees.

Look at the top number (cooler) vs lower number (room temp)

13 degree difference! I love this thing.

Roguejim · Oct 27, 2012

For years, I've been using 2 styro-foam boxes that I built Each one holds a single 6.5gal carboy, and up to 2 frozen 1gal jugs. Works great for ales, but won't work for lagers.

sicman · Oct 27, 2012

so youre using the freezer you bought? i better get to try some of this first batch brew! ill tell you how bad it sucks as i drink 9 or 10 mugs,hehe.

HigherThisHeat · Oct 28, 2012

My beer will be the worlds best beer!! Actually, I'll be happy as long as its half way drinkable.

And no I am just sitting on the freezer for now. I bought a temp controller I'm gonna some how magically rig up so i can use the freezer for bottles as I can not remove the shelves to fit anything bigger.

HigherThisHeat · Nov 8, 2012

My APA has been sitting in the primary for 2 weeks now. I took a gravity reading yesterday and it was at 1.015. (right were the brewers best kit said it should be at) Only problem is I didn't take an OG, and I no I shorted the water by about 1/2 a gallon but whatever it was my first attempt. So I'm assuming it'll just make for a slightly stronger beer which is cool in my book.

I tasted some of the sample I pulled and it was delicious. Tasted much like that of a flat pale ale. I am very excited as I will be bottling next week and conditioning for 3 weeks and then it is drink on.

I started my second batch last night. Brewed up a Porter. True story.

grantmichaels · Mar 26, 2015

HigherThisHeat said:
Whats up guys!

So I finally started my first batch of home brew. I have been putting it off for about a year as I didn't know how I was going to control fermentation temperatures. I started making plans to buy a fridge, or a chest freezer, but that stuff can be expensive, and a big ol chore. I saw one of these on the home brewing forums https://www.cool-brewing.com/

HOLY FRICKIN AWESOME. I didn't like the idea of messin around with a swamp cooler and switchin out bottles, water, fan, towel... screw that. I gladly paid the price for a big oversized cooler. Brilliant!

One frozen plastic gallon jug will last about 24-36 hours with out having to switch out jugs. The temps have been sittin sweet at 66 degrees with an ambient room temp of about 76-79 degrees.

Look at the top number (cooler) vs lower number (room temp)

temperature cooler.JPG

13 degree difference! I love this thing.

cooler.JPG

Well, you just made my night, man ...

HigherThisHeat · Mar 26, 2015

Ha nice! This is a very cheap and super effective way to keep temps down. Plus if you are doing small batches, one could hold probably half a dozen 1 gallon jugs

grantmichaels · Mar 26, 2015

HigherThisHeat said:
Ha nice! This is a very cheap and super effective way to keep temps down. Plus if you are doing small batches, one could hold probably half a dozen 1 gallon jugs

I looked at it and figured 5, and thought it was a good deal as such ...

I don't have a problem setting up a chest freezer or buying a fridge or something, but I'd rather do some brewing for a couple of months and see where I'm at and what the pain points are ...

Made my night, though - totally.

grantmichaels · Apr 10, 2015

iPad on the couch time ... time to read the 2nd half of your homewbrew thread and watch your 2nd and 3rd YT videos, lol ...

HigherThisHeat · Apr 10, 2015

lol hell yeah man. QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT right there.

I need to update my homebrew thread more. For awhile it was a ghost town in these parts. Nice to have some activity again in here

grantmichaels · Apr 10, 2015

lol hell yeah man. QUALITY ENTERTAINMENT right there.

I need to update my homebrew thread more. For awhile it was a ghost town in these parts. Nice to have some activity again in here

guaranteed not ghost town this summer ... not now!

heh ...