chasing fermentation temp

[Hoont]

I always end up chasing fementation temperature and wanted to know if this was the right thing to do. Yesterday I brewed a standard bitter and pitched at about 64. I have a fermwrap on the fermentor and have the controller set at 64 - 66ish. As the fermentation starts kicking in, it starts heating up on its own. Now the temp is up to 70... so I set my controller at 68 - 70. As it gets going even more I know tomorrow it will raise to 72.. .so I plan on setting the controller at 70 to 72.

Is this the right thing to do or should I just set it at 68 and ignore the automatic temperature rise of the fermentation?

Thanks in advance... and Happy Easter!

[BDawg]

A fermwrap is used to warm the beer up. What are you using to cool it down?
You also didn't mention what style of beer you are using this on. Most ales benefit from cooler (mid-high 60's F) temps. Belgians (esp. Saison) benefit from gradual step up to higher temps even into the 80's.
We'll be able to provide better answers if you can give a little more detail on your setup and what you are going for.

HTH-

[Hoont]

I do not have anything to cool the beer. It sits upstairs in a room that stays in the 60's this time of year. As for the style, this is a standard english bitter ( I used S04 dry yeast with a starter). The OG was 1.040.

I run into this dimlema on just about every ale I brew those.. .I end up chasing the temperature upwards.

[BeerPal]

I do not have anything to cool the beer. It sits upstairs in a room that stays in the 60's this time of year.

Sounds like you don't need a heater, this time of year.

[Hoont]

the temp does flux from 61 to 68 depending on the day. So I went with the fermwrap in an attempt to maintain the temp.

[atomicpunk]

As mentioned the fermwrap heats so if you want to keep the temp high and stop it from coming back down then what you are doing is right. It is unusual, but right.

[scotchpine]

The thermal mass of a water bath can also stabalize temp swings a good bit, especially in a cooler, even with the lid off. I keep my fermenting vessel in a 40 qt cube cooler filled with water. This way you can use ice packs or a cheap aquarium heater to keep your temp within a couple degrees in any saison..er I mean season