Joys / challenges of winter beer brewing in the Midwest

[Dave Y]

The refrigerator is cheaper

Even insulated, my garage routinely breaks 100. The east to west doors keep air moving through, but it's 95-98 degree air, so yeah it's cooler but not by much.
I won't know for sure until we get back into some hot temperatures. But for any chance for my glycol chiller to succeed, I have to have no more than 80-82F. I don't have trouble with my 2 keg fridges, but I definitely notice my bill went up from them. I'm sure the mini-split won't help that but I don't plan on using it around the clock unless I'm cold crashing, or maybe doing a lager. We'll see.

 

[Brew Cat]

That sounds awful where do live Brazil

 

[Sandy Feet]

Dave is in Texas. I am in Florida. In the summer, I will be dripping sweat in pools after 5 minutes in the garage. Our air temps run 92 to 100ish if it is really hot in July and August, but the humidity here is absolutely insane in the summer. The garage holds the heat and is often hotter than actually being outside.
In the summer months, it is often 80 right around sunrise with 90+% humidity. It gets insanely hot about the middle of the afternoon, and the two sea breezes from the Atlantic and Gulf collide often making some crazy thunderstorms. It cools things off until the sun comes back out, and then it gets muggy as hell again.
My outdoor faucet where the wort chilller is connected will not get below 80 in the summer.
On the other hand, it is very, very rare that I see white shit falling from the sky, and I bitched and wore a jacket all day today because it only got to 70. The grass is always greener on the other side. I can deal with the steam bath in the summer so I don't have to see white shit. I hate being cold.

 

[Donoroto]

I can deal with the steam bath in the summer so I don't have to see white shit.

Thus the term “snowbirds”. Maine for the summer and Florida for the winter. Or so.

 

[Brew Cat]

You make it sound so nice
But seriously if I lived there I'd build a 12x12 air conditioned shed and brew in there

 

[Zambi]

I just use kveik Voss in summertime

 

[Dave Y]

In the summer months, it is often 80 right around sunrise with 90+% humidity.

Yeah, but it's a WET heat

I just use kveik Voss in summertime

Kveik FOR. THE. WIN.

 

[Sandy Feet]

You make it sound so nice
But seriously if I lived there I'd build a 12x12 air conditioned shed and brew in thereI

I like making life easy. I just get up really early and brew outside. Much cheaper too.
Two reasons to get up at 5am:
1. To go fishing on the beach and see the sunrise.
2. To brew.

 

[Brew Cat]

5AM? Not for me in a long time I'm more of a sunset person

 

[Brew Cat]

@Sandy Feet hey I snapped this pic for you at 7:30

 

[west1m]

My back yard looks the same and the thermometer says -10f this morning.

 

[Brew Cat]

My back yard looks the same and the thermometer says -10f this morning.

Maybe you could take sandy for some hard water fishing

 

[Craigerrr]

My back yard looks the same and the thermometer says -10f this morning.

Whoa!
You're in a deep freeze up there in, Minnesota, yes?
I'm sure it was colder earlier this morning, no where near that cold though, sitting 15F currently, crisp enough!

 

[west1m]

Yup, we have the "Polar Vortex" thing roaming through. Hi today 5 Tuesday, 40.

 

[Sandy Feet]

@Sandy Feet hey I snapped this pic for you at 7:30

@Sandy Feet hey I snapped this pic for you at 7:30
View attachment 33751

For Brew Cat. I'll take 77 over snow.

 

[Dave Y]

Gnarly feet in the picture !!!!

 

[AnokaBrewer]

I used to put the kettle in the snow bank and that did not work very well so I built an immersible chiller out of a copper coil and that works much better and gets the temperature down quickly. I used to put the boil kettle in one side of my kitchen sink and then let the water run through the chiller using an adapter on the faucet. I now use my slop sink to run the immersion chiller, but do know that not everyone has access to one of those. The faucet adapter and immersion chiller may be your best bed for now.