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Main
Date: 13 Sep 2006 01:23:37
From: Brian Foster
Subject: Fermentation temp variation Ales?
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My fermentation fridge temp is set to 65'f. The thermometer sitting on top
of the plastic ferment bucket is steady @ 65'f. (Good)
The adhesive thermometer I stuck on the plastic fermentor reads 74'f. (Not
Good?)
Is this normal? How could the reading on the bucket thermometer be so
different (9'f)? Are these adhesive thermometers unreliable?
Also, I'm concerned that fermentation is probably not going well.
Brewed a Fat Tire clone Sunday. Started yeast Saturday Am (White labs
Belgian Abbey Ale #wpl 530). Even with starter it took about 24 hrs to see
bubbles in the airlock. They were going pretty good yesterday but have
slowed down today already.
This is my first liquid yeast batch and it isn't behaving like any of the
other dry yeast batches before.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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Date: 13 Sep 2006 02:08:51
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Fermentation temp variation Ales?
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On Wed, 13 Sep 2006 01:23:37 GMT, <brianfoster@houston.rr.com > wrote:
> My fermentation fridge temp is set to 65'f. The thermometer sitting on top
> of the plastic ferment bucket is steady @ 65'f. (Good)
> The adhesive thermometer I stuck on the plastic fermentor reads 74'f. (Not
> Good?)
> Is this normal? How could the reading on the bucket thermometer be so
> different (9'f)? Are these adhesive thermometers unreliable?
Fermentation creates heat. It's normal for the temp of the fermenting
beer to be higher than the surrounding air. The warmer the beer gets,
the more vigorously it ferments, and the more heat it creates. A difference
of 9F is a little higher than I would expect with the surrounding temp
of 65F, but I don't think it's anything to get too worried about. It's
possible that one or the other of the thermometers is a bit off, which
makes the difference look more than it is. I would expect 4F to 5F at
those temps. Don't worry about it though.
> Also, I'm concerned that fermentation is probably not going well.
> Brewed a Fat Tire clone Sunday. Started yeast Saturday Am (White labs
> Belgian Abbey Ale #wpl 530). Even with starter it took about 24 hrs to see
> bubbles in the airlock. They were going pretty good yesterday but have
> slowed down today already.
What size starter? 24 hours does seem a bit long. Usually liquid yeast
without a starter will take 24 - 36 hours and with a starter will take less
than 12. There are exceptions though.
> This is my first liquid yeast batch and it isn't behaving like any of the
> other dry yeast batches before.
Different strains of yeast can have very different behaviour, especially
some of the belgians.
> Any suggestions?
I think you're OK. I'd let it go until next weekend and then rack to
your secondary. Leave it there for awhile and then take a gravity reading
to see where it's at. Let the gravity tell you what the beer is really
doing, don't get too stressed about the airlock.
John.
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Date: 12 Sep 2006 18:39:57
From: alebrewer
Subject: Re: Fermentation temp variation Ales?
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Brian Foster wrote:
> My fermentation fridge temp is set to 65'f. The thermometer sitting on top
> of the plastic ferment bucket is steady @ 65'f. (Good)
> The adhesive thermometer I stuck on the plastic fermentor reads 74'f. (Not
> Good?)
> Is this normal? How could the reading on the bucket thermometer be so
> different (9'f)? Are these adhesive thermometers unreliable?
>
> Also, I'm concerned that fermentation is probably not going well.
> Brewed a Fat Tire clone Sunday. Started yeast Saturday Am (White labs
> Belgian Abbey Ale #wpl 530). Even with starter it took about 24 hrs to see
> bubbles in the airlock. They were going pretty good yesterday but have
> slowed down today already.
>
> This is my first liquid yeast batch and it isn't behaving like any of the
> other dry yeast batches before.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks
I am not familar with WPL530, so these comments are just general
comments.
The Belgian Ale yeasts can be funny. Don't expect them to behave like
what you are used to. In general, 74F isn't too hot for most Belgians
as they are supposed to make different esters and fusels. You will
probably have to take gravity readings to tell when you are done. I
say that because with more common yeasts (Chico, most of the dry ale
strains, etc...), once you get used to how they perform, you can
usually get away with an initial gravity and a final gravity. But, the
Belgians are a bit different.
ab
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Date: 13 Sep 2006 22:53:06
From: rb
Subject: Re: Fermentation temp variation Ales?
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Brian Foster wrote:
> My fermentation fridge temp is set to 65'f. The thermometer sitting on top
> of the plastic ferment bucket is steady @ 65'f. (Good)
> The adhesive thermometer I stuck on the plastic fermentor reads 74'f. (Not
> Good?)
> Is this normal? How could the reading on the bucket thermometer be so
> different (9'f)? Are these adhesive thermometers unreliable?
>
I've lost faith in my stick on thermometer strips.
They seemed OK for a couple of years, but all mine are now about four or
more years old.
I recently compared them against a traditional thermometer and all now
seem to read anywhere up to 5C higher.
rb
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