Project 01: Automated Refrigerator Controller
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to create a controller that keeps a small household refrigerator on a cooling schedule over the course of several months. This combination of refrigerator and controller is intended to brew lager beer by maintaining the perfect brewing temperature throughout the long primary fermentation process.
About Lager Brewing
Lager brewing is different from ale brewing in three major ways:
- Uses a strain of yeast that sinks to the bottom of the wort.
- Ferments at lower temperatures.
- Ferments for three or four times longer.
To successfully brew a lager, a steady temperature in an ideal range over a long period of time must be maintained. With seasonally changing ambient temperatures, it cannot simply be left in a closet like an ale, it must have a dedicated refrigerator to keep it between 40 to 50°F. The setup will be kept in a cool basement to maximize efficiency.
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