[bfogt]

I always feel better if I wear wool hiking socks.  I've got some expedition socks from SmartWool that seem to make me invincible.  Usually I can be out in <0F temps without any kind of jacket.  I think wind is more of a problem than the temperature when comparing 10F to 0F.  And freezing rain getting into your boil sucks, too.  So my plan for my next brew is to put up the folding canopy and enclose two sides with a tarp. 

[oscarvan]

Actually I do have a 2 car, attached garage, but it is under my family room and I just don't feel comfortable burning propane in there even though I know several people do it.  I have a 10 gallon, SS kettle - not insulated.  What do you insulate with that won't burn up?

What is the risk of burning propane in there? As long as you have ventilation (not so much for air but for the moisture to get out) I can't see any risk. If you want go get a big ass fire extinguisher at HD/Lowe's and don't leave the flame unattended.....

[Mark G]

Well, just started the timer on my boil on the back patio. Thermometer outside is reading -6 degrees F. At least the sun is out  

[tom]

I have a 10 gallon, SS kettle - not insulated.  What do you insulate with that won't burn up?

Use some fiberfrax blanket wrapped with aluminum foil tape. Wrap the kettle with the blanket and then make tape rings down the kettle. Makes an excellent insulator.

http://www.infraredheaters.com/insulati.htm

Do you use it?
Is it durable? If it isn't covered completely will it be ok if it gets wet and gunky?
TIA

[oscarvan]

Well, just started the timer on my boil on the back patio. Thermometer outside is reading -6 degrees F. At least the sun is out  

Aaaah manly man! The Mythbuster's research that says a toddy will not help you stay warm is IMHO bull crap.....

[Rhoobarb]

The biggest problem you will have is water freezing up on you.  Last year I was so busy with other things that I had to put off brewing a beer to go into a barrel with some other brewer's beers until this time of the year.  The day I brewed, the high temp for the day was 11oF. I ran water from my utility room out to the garage where I brew.  My hose kept freezing and I had to keep switching back & forth b/w hot and cold water.  I was slipping & sliding where water had gotten on the sidewalk b/w the garage and the house.  It was sunny out, yet miserable.  I was exhausted by the end of the session.  I swore to never brew in temps that cold again.

[rbclay]

I love to brew in the winter. If I didn't I would probably have to move or brew less  Neither is an option
I bring my propane tank inside in the winter. Definitely helps. There have been discussions on here about the importance of chilling times. I find the huge snow banks in my yard make great natural chillers. Not as fast as other chillers, but free is good too. I have run my immersion chiller in the utility sink, but I also fill up the sink with snow so I am chilling the inside and outside. Works great.

[kylekohlmorgen]

I know I'm going to get a lot of "Suck it up" and "Be a man" responses to this so go right ahead if you feel so inclined.

I haven't been able to brew since October and would really like to brew this weekend.  Saturday is out so I'm left with Sunday ( since there is no real football to watch this weekend anyways  ).  Unfortunately, the low Sat night into Sunday is 0 F, and the high is only supposed to be 13 with very light wind ( 9mph ).  I'm an all grain brewer so I'm outdoors for the boil at least.

What kind of issues am I going to run into with weather this cold?  Am I going to use a whole tank of propane just to get a boil going and hold it?  At least the chilling part would seem to go faster.  I'd probably turn on my outside spigot for my wort chiller...I just have to make sure I turn it off when I'm done.

I'm curious what you cold weather folks do.

Thanks.

I always thought this is why all the REALLY good seasonals/hard to find stuff comes out in the winter...

Personally... I hang up my paddle until it gets above freezing and head to my local craft beer purveyor for INSPIRATION

[uthristy]

Well, just started the timer on my boil on the back patio. Thermometer outside is reading -6 degrees F. At least the sun is out 

We just finished brewing in 55F and we were b****ing about the cold

[Slowbrew]

I do almost all my brewing in this kind of weather.  I have a great setup since we put on an addition a few years back.  I have a workshop in the new basement with a walkout to a patio.  I mash and sparge in the shop and only cook outside.  For Christmas 2010 my wife gave me a Green Egg Remote Thermometer so I don't even go outside to check water temps.   

I bring the kettle into the basement and hook my IC to the old laundry cold water spigot.

The biggest problem I've had was last Monday (MLK Jr. Day) when it started raining.  Luckily I have a portable awning that my son and I setup over the kettle.

I made wind shields out of 8" flashing and pop rivets that sit on the ground around the cooker stand to stop my flame from going out.

Paul

[yeastmaster]

I'm brewing in Fairbanks, AK.  I heat my water outside but bring the mash inside.  Haven't had any problems with boiling.  I'm sure if I timed it I would see that it takes a little bit longer to come to temp but doesn't seem like a noticeable difference to me.  I set up the burner near a window where I can keep an eye on it and periodically go out and check on it.  I do haul the hot kettle inside to run my immersion chiller which is a pain but I don't have a way to run water outside where I live.  For me living here winter is a good time to brew despite the cold.  The summers are so short and there is so much stuff to do it is hard to find brew time.

[tom]

Anyone try FyreWrap?   http://www.fyrewrap.com/files/Fyrewrap-Grease-Duct-Insulation-EZ-15.pdf
It looks like the ceramic insulation covered with aluminum.

[tschmidlin]

I brew in Seattle on the back patio. The weather forces me to brew in the winter on those rare sunny days. And when it's sunny that means, cold (for Seattle) around 20F

With the number of rainy days we get per year, not brewing in the rain eliminates a lot of weekends!  I brew when I can, weather be damned.  Snow, rain, sunny, windy, even when the power was out.

[Wheat_Brewer]

It's only what -21 F in minnesota!?  I'm with everybody man up!  But that's coming from me in Colorado where it's 40+ 


I would just insulate the kettle and maybe even the cooler, brew in the garage with a carbon monoxide monitor and the door cracked. 

On the up side you don't have to worry too much about a wort chiller!  Mother nature is taking care of that for you. 

[a10t2]

But that's coming from me in Colorado where it's 40+ 

You must be in the part of Colorado that's basically Kansas.