Fridge sizes for fermentation chamber

[bandarker]

Hey all,

I'm interested in getting a decent recently used/new fridge for a fermentation chamber that would hold 2 of the 5 gal glass carboys for a lager batch. Has anyone had any success with a particular size or brand?

[Keith]

You'd probably be looking at a all fridge and building a plywood shelf for it.

[Jimmy]

I would think a chest freezer would be your best bet for this, wouldn't it?

[GAM]

Freezer is tricky to get in and out of. Unless you build a hoist of some type.

S

[Jimmy]

Freezer is tricky to get in and out of. Unless you build a hoist of some type.

S

You're just old

[Keith]

Also you get the swamp pond in the bottom. The all fridge allows for easy access to the brews, and if your buckets have a spout allows for simple transfers to the keg.

[Celiacbrew]

I have an 18cf fridge and it takes two carboys no problem. I had to cut some of the plastic shelving to make it work so probably best to make some carboy Simulators out of bristle board or paper to take with you when you check out used/new fridges. Just wrap the carboy in the paper and tap it so you have a carboy sized cylinder.

I like the fridge because it deals with moisture better and I don't have to pick 50lbs straight up by the neck of a carboy. I like my freezer just fine for my kegs because they have handles.

If you get a fridge with a freezer above it, put a bunch of water bottles in the freezer to act like a cold sink to lessen how often the fridge needs to cycle. And if you are like me and leave it unplugged between batches, make sure you plug it in at the start of your brew day to give the fridge a chance to get cold and freeze the water bottles. I can chill a 25c carboy to 10c in a few hours because the fridge blows air directly on the carboy which the freezer doesn't do. That means I use my immersion chiller for about 10-15 minutes before putting the carboy in the fridge, then I can pitch my yeast before going to bed.