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Having got a pile of demijohns bubbling away I am now trying to figure out how to keep things cool while maturing. I have no cold places in my house and no money to buy brick outhouses! My Dad has offered me a large joiner made wooden coal bunker that has drop down hinges at the front. Is there a way I could line this to keep the inside cool? Thought about polystyrene but I'm not sure if this keeps the heat in or out! Any suggestions/ideas using free materials welcome.

The effect of insulation would depend upon the relative temperatures of the inside and the outside - If it's warmer outside, the insulation will tend to keep the heat out; if it's colder outside it will tend to keep the heat in. If the coal bunker is kept outside I think insulation would be a mistake. I think the best you can have is shade and ventilation.

Alternatively, what about keeping the demijohns outside and surrounding them with stacked bricks, and keeping the bricks wet? As the water evaporates it will have a cooling effect.

What Stew said!

Nev

Our fridge broke a couple of weeks ago (don't defrost with a knife ) so we ended up using a bucket of cold water. Worked ok, might be too cold for brewing though. - so go with what stew said

I remember my gran keeping her milk cool in a bucket of cold water under the sink. I have found a pile of dumped bricks/rubbly stuff quite near so should be able to rig something up, thanks for the tip!