I brewed today!

[Josh Hughes]

I think the coldest ambient temp I mashed in was 42. I did everything outside, but I adjusted the strike water temperature a couple of degrees. I thought I might want to ask a question for the extreme in case it happens again to me. It is always nice to have a couple of ideas to play with when needed.

I was in front of a garage so one side was blocked. I didn’t sit with it to monitor but probably should have.
@BarbarianBrewer used metal sheets around his propane I think. I had used some stone floor tiles in the past to block wind.

 

[Brew Cat]

So if you have a garage why don't you mash in there? The car will be fine in the driveway then you use your car to block the wind for your boil

 

[Josh Hughes]

I use propane and one kettle. Dont want to have to move it when I boil.

 

[Brew Cat]

Yeah I get that
I used to move a bucket at a time before I got my wagon

 

[BarbarianBrewer]

I was in front of a garage so one side was blocked. I didn’t sit with it to monitor but probably should have.
@BarbarianBrewer used metal sheets around his propane I think. I had used some stone floor tiles in the past to block wind.

I almost always mash indoors. The wind screen that Josh mentions is for the boil, which is always outdoors. With my picnic-cooler mash tun I don't think I'd try to mash outdoors if the temps were anywhere near 42°F (6°C). But if you have an all-in-one that will keep mash temps where you want them, I would think that would be ok. Just stir often.

 

[Sandy Feet]

I just use the kettle. It is 16 gallons, and at that point, 8 gallons of liquid. With a couple of towels and the top on, it holds heat well. The one time I did brew when it was that cold, I guessed at adding a little more heat to the strike water. I guess that is all you can do, but when I saw Josh brewing in temps that cold, I started to wonder if there were some more options outside in the winter. If there were, I was curious about them in case I ran into that situation again.
January down here is Forrest Gump's box of chocolates, and we can get all four seasons in a week. I probably will be brewing in January, too.

 

[Donoroto]

I use propane and one kettle. Dont want to have to move it when I boil.

I boil in the garage, using a fan to push most of the steam out through the open garage door. Mash is with doors closed.

 

[Sunfire96]

Sitting here twiddling my thumbs brewing indoors on a stove top... gets pretty warm in the summer to be fair

 

[Dave Y]

So if you have a garage why don't you mash in there? The car will be fine in the driveway then you use your car to block the wind for your boil

I use propane and one kettle. Dont want to have to move it when I boil.

I'll bet you don't want to burn your garage down either. This almost happened to my neighbor across the street. He was propane grilling a shrimp boil. One thing led to another and the whole assembly got knocked over, catching some collateral material on fire. He jumped right on it with a garden hose and got it put out just in time for his wife to show up to ask about the shrimp. He had some 'splain'n to do.

That said... Although I've not yet had a problem losing power during a brew, I picked up a burner and bit ol' pot over black Friday just in case. For outside use !!!