Reddit reviews Brew Fermentation Heating Belt, 1-Count

I think heating is easier to control than cooling. The solution really depends on your budget.

I think there are essentially 3 pieces.

1. Temperature monitoring & electric control. For example Inkbird ITC-308 which are about $35. Another option would be an STC-1000 that you wire yourself to power strip.
   
   
2. some sort of heating device. There are pads, belts ($20), tape, wraps($27)....
   
   
3. insulation to keep the heat in. E.G., a rubber exercise mat wrapped around a carboy or bucket with a strap to keep it tight.
   
   I also saw a video where instead of (1) they monitored the temperature manually (E.g., with a cheap $1 thermometer sticker) and then they used a standard cheap electrical timer ($10) that you might have anyway and configured the toggles so the heater came regularly and long enough to maintain the desired temperature.

We are commercial and make it all year. Local ingredients like grapes and apples we can only get around now. But we can always order juice year round, too.

It is harder in the winter to keep batches warm but we've been doing it for 8 years now. So yes, you can make mead all year in PA.

There are many yeasts that can go to 50 F but it will take a longer time for the fermentation to complete. 1116, 71B, 1118, and DV10 can all do 50. Fermenting at a lower temp can create additional flavors or aromas that don't get forced out as easily with a warmer ferment.


You can also buy Fermenting wrap or a
Fermenting belt

You could try a heating pad or a heating belt.

I would simplify the whole build and get a small chest freezer, a brew belt or wrap and an Inkbird temp controller

No wiring or "building" anything and it would take 10 minutes to set it up

If you can find a chest freezer on Craigslist for a decent price this should all cost right around $100

I based it on the Son of Fermentation Chiller plans but made modifications to the dimensions to allow it to fit two carboys. Originally I just had a cheap thermostat from Home Depot and only cooling, but had some issues in the winter months with the beer getting too cold at night and the yeast dropping out before it reached the targeted FG. So eventually I upgraded the temp controller to the STC 1000 which does both heating and cooling and picked up a 4" duct fan, some 4" duct, foil tape, and cut up an old brew belt I had laying around. I would highly recommend building one if you have the resources. It's probably the single biggest improvement to my brewing process I've ever made.

eBay Aquarium temp controller + reptile heat cable + sweater = winning.

Replace the heat cable with a BrewBelt and the sweater for Reflectix or similar

Add a Thermowell Stopper and you are really in business.

Instructions on HomeBrew Talk for the temp controller wiring. I used that same diagram but only a single outlet plug. I have no use for the cooling side currently so I only use it to control heat. I've built 2 of these so far with the Reflectix and reptile cable and I love them! The Thermowell is a really great addition, seems to be more accurate than just taping the probe to the fermenter.

Brew Fermentation Heating Belt, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D6IUB6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_U4hPDb1C4RD85

They're quite easy to make. I use mine all winter long. Just need a heater and a controller. I use the two below.

Brew Fermentation Heating Belt, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D6IUB6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_Q3L1BbH29S370

Inkbird ITC-308 Max.1200W Heater, Cool Device Temperature Controller, Carboy, Fermenter, Greenhouse Terrarium Temp. Control https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HXM5UAC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_04L1Bb1CAC4VY

I use plastic fermenters which are have much worse heat conduction than glass but I'll give my two cents. I use a rectangle (about 6"x4") of pink foam insulation with a little slot chiseled out to about half the length that fits the temp probe. I just tape this tightly to the side of the fermenter and slot the temp probe into it (I use the same ITC-308 temp controller). However, what I did to test the efficacy was measure the temperature each time I took a sample for gravity readings. Since I found that the temp was within a couple tenths of a degree of the reading, I found that this was fine. Whichever way you choose to measure it, I recommend testing the internal temp that way until you dial it in.

Edit: The ITC-308 works great btw, I use it on my fermentation chamber (converted chest freezer) and keezer and have never had a problem whenever I've measured the direct temp vs the reading of the probe.

Edit 2: Also forgot to say but I use this $22 heating belt taped to my fermenter (or two fermenters which I've done twice and had equal success with). I ferment in a chest freezer so it has cooling capability but as long as your ambient temp is less than your fermentation temp you're fine using a heat source to regulate. The other thing I did when I wanted to keep the temp higher (85-95 F) for Kveik yeast and kettle sours is I wrapped the fermenter and heating belt setup with this reflectix insulation with a 1" air gap and cut to the proper size which worked perfectly (did the same thing for my full volume biab mash tun and kettle).

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001D6IUB6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483065273&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=Fermenter+warming+band&dpPl=1&dpID=414cI-RupZL&ref=plSrch

Works like a charm

You can wrap this around your fermenter;
http://www.amazon.com/Brew-Belt-Fermentation-Heating-1-Count/dp/B001D6IUB6


Also use this as a thermostat to regulate temperatures/turn the brew belt on and off.

http://www.amazon.com/All-Purpose-Temperature-Controller-Thermostat-Stc-1000/dp/B008KVCPH2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421948732&sr=8-1&keywords=stc1000&pebp=1421948735262&peasin=B008KVCPH2

You'll attach the probe to the side of the fermenter, insulate it with a towel. Then put the brew belt either above or below (not touching the towel or the probe). The STC will kick on the belt whenever the beer is below whatever temperature you set on the STC.

You can definitely get cheaper heating belts than that, I have one that I paid around £7 for. All it does is supply heat, you wrap it around your container and there's no temperature control or anything so you have to monitor your brew's temp manually (easy if you have a floating thermometer or stick on thermo strip) but it does the job. Mine looks something like this

Maybe something like this?

I much prefer this one for my SS Brew Bucket:

Brew Fermentation Heating Belt, 1-Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001D6IUB6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_vaL4Cb0HTVEWC

I used to use the one listed above...but I found the electrical connections on it flimsy. They broke off after about 6 months. I've been using the heater belt for 2 years now with no issues. It keeps the beer at a consistent +/- 1°

One option: Put bucket in tub of water, place aquarium heater in tub and set to temp(I have one that bottoms out at 65, any lower any you'll need a temp controller).

Use this chart to size the heater you need. Remember to add gallons of beer + gallons of water in tub so 5 gallons of water + 5 gallons of beer would need about 75W of heater to heat about 25F above ambient. It would also be a good idea to add a small aquarium pump to circulate water around the tub for better heating.

Another option: Heat belt