I’m now on my final post about the combination between using an oxygen injection system, making a yeast starter, and fermenting in a temperature controlled environment using a refrigerator. To use a refrigerator for the warmer temps of an ale you need an external thermostat controller. All you do is plug the unit into the outlet, plug the refrigerator into the thermostat, and set your temp. There is a thin wire that will run through the refrigerator door gasket, and a probe that will measure the temp.

I let my probe hang toward the top of the fridge, but some people like to have the probe sitting in a glass of water. Others tape it to the side of the fermenter. While others use a stopper thermowell to get the most accurate of readings. I’ve found that just hanging it has worked pretty good for me, but I can see where taping it to the fermenter would be a good option as well.

The advantage to using a fridge is consistency in fermentation temperature. I know there are other reasons as well, but being consistent is vital in making beers consistently. By using the refrigerator you know that every time the temp will be the same. It doesn’t matter if it is summer, winter, or whatever. Your basement, or closet, can fluctuate temp throughout the year, and this can change the flavor profile of your beer. Also, you are at the mercy of the ambient temp all year. Most people aren’t going to change their home’s thermostat to accommodate for the proper temp their beer should be fermenting. Although I am nuts enough to try it.

You do want to make sure that in the colder months your fridge is getting warm enough for the temp you set. Here in Minnesota we can get pretty cold, and I have to use a light to warm up my fridge enough. I just use one of those cheap painters lights with an energy efficient bulb to hit the right temps. I am able to go as high as 74 degrees even on the coldest days.

Some of you may be wondering if all of this is worth it. All I can say is it depends on how accurate you want to be with your beers. A very high percentage of home brewers use ambient temp to ferment their beers, and their beers turn out very good. If you want to take your brewing to the next level then the use of an oxygen system, a yeast starter, and a fridge will get you there.

You know how you read yeast descriptions from you local brew shop and then make the beer, but the beer only tastes kind of like the description? By doing just about everything you can to make the yeast healthy and strong you will find that your beers taste much more like the description. You’ll also find by doing this three step process that your beers are much more consistent. If you make the same batch over and over you’ll find the discrepancies to be much smaller.

For those of you who are thinking of going pro it is vital that you stay as consistent as possible. People want the beer to taste like it did the last time they tried it. Details is what makes the difference between amateur and pro. A good recipe doesn’t hurt either. Now get out there and make some beer.