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Too hot to ferment?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
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.

Re: Too hot to ferment?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
Mon Feb 24, 2014 12:44 am
by RumJohn
Bit below 30C
Re: Too hot to ferment?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
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?

Posted:
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.