Beer Temperature

[Richard Walley]

So, briefly, complete home brew newbie - inherited some gear from my boss and decided to start brewing this weekend. I'm a little concerned about my brew, because despite the fact that it's bubbling away OK (although not quite as enthusiastically as I'd like), I think it might be a bit hot.

I used safeale S-04, which according to the packet (which I sensibly threw away) is useful at temperatures from 14-22 (or maybe 24?) degrees. The only thing I have as a thermometer at the moment is a strip stuck to the side of the keg, which is showing 26 degrees. The thing's stuck in the corner of my bedroom, about the coolest place I could think of, and to be honest I have my doubts about it actually being 26 degrees, but that aside, is there any way of cooling the thing down?

I've already stuck a wet t-shirt over it and stood it in a tray of water, which seems to have had literally zero effect, but apart from that, I'm stumped. I don't have a garage or anything - the only other option is to leave it outside in the yard, which I don't imagine is a good idea.

I've read some stuff on the web about 'temperature controllers' which seem to consist of dismembering a fridge and fitting a whole load of new electronics to it - a bit beyond both my expertise and budget, I'm afraid. So, any other ideas?

Cheers, everybody.

[Martin Bridges]

I use the Mashmaster one that Barry mentions. Works like a dream. I still need to sort out a proper plastic box to mount it inside but (as mentioned elsewhere) my DIY skills are limited.

[denimglen]

Fridgemate as well.

Just got one of them plastic boxes from tricky dickys and cut a hole in it with a drill then coping saw. Doesn't have to be perfect cause the lip of the controller will cover most imperfections as it did on mine ;-)

[Dan]

As Stu mentioned on the previous page a bigger container full of water and ice works well, a twice daily change of frozen riggers of water, ive managed to ferment a lager at a consistent temp of 10-12oC when the room temp is in the twentys.

[James P]

Just returned from Australia (nice wee trip, gotta learn how to brew Pure Blonde now!) and after talking to a couple of lager brewers on the Gold Coast, they recommended craftbrewer, so I thought I would add another website for the FridgeMate (and at a lower price than mashmaster):

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=718