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Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 10:23 pm
by fuf
I did a sugar wash yesterday using SS Classic yeast for the first time. 6kg sugar to 21 ltr of water (25ltr with sugar) with a temperature of 27c when all the sugar was dissolved. Tonight the temperature of the wash is 37.5c (no heating in the wash) :-\ Ambient room temperature is 20c. Question, is this normal ? I have not observed this temperature in previous washes, maybe it's the SS Classic yeast ???

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:34 pm
by Easydrinker
First few days of a wash,the yeasties can throw up a lot of heat,eating the sugar.
So,yes,to me considered normal.
It will cool,and,slow down.
And can happen with any yeast,and any wash.
HTH
Robert.

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:46 pm
by fuf
Thank you Robert. My concern was the high temperature, as the SS Triple & Vodka Star have never reached this level. I use a submersible aquarium thermometer to monitor the temperature, hence my concern. As the Aussies say, no worries mate & good on yer, or something like that. ;D

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Sun Feb 23, 2014 11:58 pm
by Easydrinker
I usually drop an aquarium heater in my washes,they often don't switch on for a couple of days,,as the yeast save me a little juice..........
I hope the little beggars never get so excited as to fry themselves...

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:29 am
by RumJohn
I have a big problem with heat here during the summer. I freeze 1.75L bottles of water and pop into the wash. Usually need about 3 per day per 90L tank to keep below 30C.

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:40 am
by fuf
I also have an aquarium heater (it arrived yesterday) but not in use as I need to drill a solid bung to fit it. :) I'll sort that out in the morning so it can take over as the temperature drops. What temperature do you advise ???

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:44 am
by RumJohn
Bit below 30C

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:55 am
by Easydrinker
Fuf;
These ferments are over so fast,I do not lock a lid down and use bubblers and bungs.
A loose lid is all that I find necessary.
Agree with 30°C for a bakers yeast.
Envying RJ his temperatures!
Robert.

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 8:30 am
by Icefever
The best thing I ever built for brewing was a ferment fridge, old fridge out the free papers, I already had an oil filled tube, control box of Ebay for around £15....jobs a good un..works well for holding the wash at whatever temp I want. ;) ;)

Re: Too hot to ferment?

PostPosted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 7:14 am
by Marbled
Heating isn't a worry here, night temperatures rarely go into single figures, and the cold water comes out of the tap at 26-27C.

Pitch the yeast and things start happening almost immediately.