My last couple of tomato paste washes have fermented out pretty slowly due to the cooler weather. I thought Id try a different method and post the results here as it ferments.
As can be seen by the photos I have three washes going, each one is 27 liters. The fermenter barrels are all sitting on plastic crates and are sitting as close to each other as possible, they all have a good layer of old blankets under them for insulation. The plan is to use a small electric blanket to keep them at a constant temp of around 28-30c and more old blankets as insulation. I have a digital thermometer set up to give two readings, one for ambient air temp and the other is from a probe which is tucked down in the air space between the barrels.
So far it goes like this, the electric blanket wont be used until necessary
All three washes were put on yesterday Sat 23rd at about 11.30am.
The ingredients for each is as follows
5.5 kg sugar
2 x 140g tubs leggos tomato paste
Juice of one lemon
70g Lowens bakers yeast
Pinch of Epsom salts
Enough water to bring up to 27 litres
SG 1.07 - 8
Yeast was pitched at approx 32c there was a bit of difference between barrels.
Air temp at that stage was 26c All washes were bubbling within ten mins. Left the barrels as they were until 5pm when the air temp started to drop quite a bit. Barrels were at about 32 -33c at this point. Wrapped 2 small blankets around the barrels for the night, they are not individually wrapped.
Day 2 Sun 24th
6.30am Air temp 16c Wash temp 28c
3.15 pm Air temp 24c Wash temp 29.1c Added two large heavy blankets to barrels
7.20 pm Air temp 20.5c Wash temp 30.7c
Day 3 Mon 25th
6am Air temp 18.1c Wash 30c
12.30pm Air temp 24.5c Wash temp 30c
3.00 pm Air temp 24.1c Wash temp 30.1c
Day 4 26th
10.30 am Air temp 20.1 Wash 28.7 SG today SG 1.05
1.30 pm Air temp 22.4 Wash 28.7
5.00 pm Air temp 19.7 Wash 28.6 turned electric blanket on (lowest setting)
8.50pm Air temp 18.5 Wash 28.4 turned electric blanket to second setting
Day 5 27th
4.30 am Air 17.6 Wash 28.6
12.30pm Air 22.6 Wash 28.9
10.30 pm Air 19.3 Wash 29
Day 6 28th
8.30am Air 19c Wash 28.7
12.00pm Air 24.3 Wash 28.5 Fermentation slowing noticeably today
5.29 pm Air20.1 Wash 28.3
10.pm Air 19.1 Wash 28
Day 7 Fri 29th
8.30am Air 19.1 Wash 27.4 SG today 990 still fermenting slooowly
12.00 pm Air 22.1 Wash 28.2
9.30pm Air 19.4 Wash 28
Day 8 Sat 30th
6am Air 18.2 Wash 27.5 Just the occasional "Bloop" from the three fermenters today.
8.00 pm Air 19.2 Wash 26.4 Two fermenters have stopped one gives a bloop every few minutes, Turning off the blanket as I dont think its worth using power to get 1 bloop every two mins from one fermenter.
SBB