Fermentation Temperature Control

[daxdefranco]

I really wanna get a beer going before I leave for vacation (Tsing-Tao brewery!!), but the fermentation temperature question has been driving me a bit mad. I listened to a good episode of BrewStrong on that very topic today and it gave me an idea...tell me what you think:

I've made a simple (very, very simple) illustration so you can figure out what I'm talking about here...



It starts with your basic "increase-thermal-mass-by-putting-the-fermenter-in-a-bucket-of-water" approach, but thermal mass or not, my apartment gets pretty hot and I'm not gonna be around to throw ice cubes in the water. So I was thinking that I put this fella in my bathroom (where the temperature is a bit more stable anyway), and try to cycle the water using a water timer. Once every 6-12 hours it allows an appropriate amount (25% of the total water volume?) of fresh, cool water to enter the bucket, pushing the old water out via the overflow tube. This isn't perfect, I know, but...do you think it would work, and much more importantly, where on earth can I find water timer in Seoul? I'm gonna check out the plumbing supply area tomorrow, but I'm not sure I'll find it...anyone know if there's a korean name for it better than 전자 워터 타이머?

Unrelated, I also listened to the BrewStrong water episodes, and it got me wondering about the water profile of Seoul. I tried to Google it without any luck...has anyone ever seen this?

[Kunkemonster]

I wouldn't worry about salts. From what I've read the water in Seoul is fine.

[daxdefranco]

The search for a water timer has ended badly...they're just not to be found in Korea. Hopefully the 'thermal bucket' will be good enough!

[Rob]

Yes. Just put the fermenter is a larger bucket of water. Wrap the fermenter in a towel so that it can wick the water up. Blow a fan on the fermenter/towel and also swap out frozen 2L bottles of water.

[Kunkemonster]

Since you want this to be going while you are gone, what about a simple cold water drip? Get some hose, attach it to a water hookup, make sure it's flowing very slowly and wedge it on the bottom between the fermenter and brewpot/bucket. It would waste some water, but I don't see any other way.