Winter Brewing Tips

After a bit of a slow start, winter is truly upon us and making itself known with sharp breezes and frosty mornings. As far as your brewing is concerned, the lower temperatures bring a new environment which can affect both your methods and the final outcome. As always with brewing your own at home, you’ve got to be on your toes!

Maintaining the Right Temperature

As a general rule, your Pinters will happily brew away between 16 and 25C (61-77F). There may be times during the cooler days and weeks where your brewing room will remain within that, but once it drops below 16 (61F) it can slow fermentation down and your Brewing stage may not have the desired effects - there are a few things you can consider to manage that.

1. Do your best to move your Pinter to a warmer spot at home. Next to a window or in a garage could be too cold. Extra consideration is needed if your home will be empty all day without people about or the heating switched on. Leave a thermometer by your Pinter so that you know whether or not it’s warm enough.

2. If you’re concerned that your brewing temperature may be slightly too low, leave your Pinter brewing for a day or two longer as the rate of fermentation is lower.

3. If you feel it’s necessary, get a heating appliance such as a heat belt or heat mat - consider fire safety if you intend to use one and always check their instructions as many are designed for vessels of a particular size. These will help to maintain brewing temperatures in the colder months at a temperature which suits you. Bear in mind that fermentation is an exothermic reaction (it gives off heat), so if you’re hoping for around 20C (60F)  inside your Pinter, setting your appliance to slightly less than the target should suffice. 

Colder Water can mean Harder Mixing

Lower temperatures mean the Fresh Press can be a bit thicker, making its mixing a bit more of a challenge in the colder months. During the winter, cold tap water is often around 7-10C (44-50 F), where ideally your mixing temperature would be double this, so you may need to find a way to warm up your brewing water. 

We don’t recommend using the hot water tap unless you’re sure it’s safe to consume and boiling water could damage your Pinter, so giving it time to warm up inside your Pinter before adding your Fresh Press, or warming it in another purified vessel would help you here. Remember to keep your Fresh Presses at room temperature as well, or even consider warming it gently in warm water or near a radiator. 

To guarantee all goes well in the mixing stage, there’s no harm giving your Pinter a vigorous shake for a bit longer than normal! Of course, if you’re ever struggling to mix via shaking, you can always purify a metal or plastic spoon and use this to help out. 

Use the Cold to your Advantage

Don’t forget that colder weather can also be a perk! When temperatures are below 10C (50 F) outside, you have the option of having nature do your Conditioning or Cold Crashing! You can save on some fridge space and give your Pinter a bit of fresh air to relax on your patio or balcony. Be mindful of temperature variance at this time, once the thermometer drops below zero (0C or 32F) you could end up freezing your latest batch and damaging your Pinter - checking the weather for your localised area would be best. For some of you, an “almost outdoor” garage might do the job as well.  

Consider Seasonal Pinter Packs

Some people are happy to enjoy the same drink all year round - Space Hopper in January? Yes please! However, others will want to mix things up seasonally. Dark beers are traditionally looked at for the colder periods in the year, in which case the roasted and chocolatey notes of Dark Matter are your best bet if that’s what you’re after. Besides this, Weiss Nights and Stars & Stripes could be suitable alternatives. Weiss Nights is a bright and lively alternative to heavier winter styles, with banana and clove flavours offering a comforting and cosy feel. Stars & Stripes and other APAs are often associated with a crisp and refreshing character, which can offer a nice break in between the heavier winter options, yet the balanced flavour profile of Stars & Stripes pairs well with a variety of winter dishes, from roasted meats to spicy stews, providing a pleasant contrast or to complement to hearty winter meals.

And there you have it. Not only can your winter brewing season be as successful as the rest of the year, you also have a few nice ways to mix things up and save on some fridge space! Now, get back to it 🍻