My fermenter is too cold...

[Patrick]

With the cold snap in Auckland in the last few days, I was worried about the temperature of my fermenter (currently fermenting an IPA using US05)

I checked it at about 7am this morning and the stick-on thermometer was reading 16 degrees. It may have been even colder during the night.

I think I will build a fermentation chamber this weekend, I have a few designs in mind and I have access to a can of expanding foam and a bale of Expol under-floor insulation panels.

What should I use to add heat? I know some people use a lightbulb but I am worried this may adversely affect the beer.

Thoughts?

Cheers
Patrick

[Patrick]

Just an update, I didn't get round to sorting out any heating so moved it into the house on Tuesday night. I took a sample and it was at 1014 (down from 1050 after 10 days - a bit sluggish) So after I added the dry-hops, I gave it a bit of a swirl and put it behind the door in the lounge (average temp around 20C)

It started bubbling again by Wednesday morning and is still going as of this morning, maybe a bubble every 45 second or so. I suspect it will drop down in gravity a bit, hoping for around 1010.

Cheers!