to cold?

[Paul]

I started a 3-gal. batch of rose hip wine. It is fermenting like crazy but the smell is giving my wife a headache with her allergies. I've moved it out the garage, covered with the lid and a towel. The temps are nearing 32 at night but I'm sure not that inside the walls. Bad idea? any precautions?

I did one gallon of rose hip last year, and opened one of those "oh so rare" bottles and it was just gorgeous. I tried a glass along side a glass of Vouvray and the rose hip was actually smoother, less acid.

Comments please on dropping temps? It has been fermenting since Sunday.

Paul

[Hippie]

It will likely be too cold in the garage for a good fermentation, if at all. Is she actually allergic to the odor of fermentation? I have never heard of that. Do you have an electric blanket or throw, or a heating pad? You can try that.

[jojo]

brewbelt

[Mamgiowl]

Get one of those electric seed propogaters, they're not very expensive. Lay some newspaper inside and place the dj on that. They don't get too hot but the paper's there to protect just in case. Wrap in a towel and carry on as normal. It works for me.

BTW, the one I've got will take 6 DJs but you can get smaller ones.

[lockwood1956]

yup brewbelt or heat pad, then you won't lay awake through the night worrying.

cheers
Bob

[DAVID]

Either brew belt or heat pad providing there's some leccy int garage should suffice, but like Glenvall already stated, it seems strange to have a dislike to the fermentation odour if there's been previous ferments taken place.

[DAVID]

Bugger, toooooooooooo slow once more *makes note to one-self, must learn to type quicker*

[lockwood1956]

Lol

[Paul]

compromise

I moved the barrel into the downstairs powder room, I can turn the fan on in there and we spend more time upstairs anyway. Is there a way to determine if the ferment died or stuck, or is time the only measure.

Paul

[Hippie]

Take a hydrometer reading everyday. If the SG is falling, you have fermentation. If it is the same after 2-3 days, it is stuck, or never started.

[jlsherman55]

I just Noticed This On a newsletter From EC Krause
They keep it simple, and I Know most of the info,
but This goes to show Good tips are every. where --
even the places where they keep it simple Trying not Intiminate New vintners.

*WINE MAKING QUICK TIP*

- Cooler weather is coming upon us now. Time to watch your
fermentation temperatures and make sure that the cooler air is
not playing games with your yeast's ability to ferment.

You want your fermentation temperature to be at least 70 degrees
- 72 would be better - but not more than 78. Temperatures that
are cooler than this may cause the fermentation to come to a halt
before it has finished the job; temperatures warmer than this can
produce alcohol with unwanted off-flavors.

One easy way to warm up your vessels during the cooler months is
to use an old lamp with 100 watt light bulb. If you place the
bulb 12 inches off to the side of a 5 gallon batch, it will warm
the liquid's temperature by about 8 to 10 degrees. Wrap the
vessel with a towel to protect the wine from the excessive light
the bulb causes. If 8 or 10 degrees is too much of an increase,
just back off the bulb another 4 or 5 inches away from your
fermentation vessel.

[lockwood1956]

Thanks for that jls

good tip