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Author Topic: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)  (Read 3320 times)

Offline flbrewer

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Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« on: January 20, 2015, 12:30:11 pm »
Does anyone use a chest freezer to first ferment and then use to carb/store a keg setup?


Offline sambates

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #1 on: January 20, 2015, 01:03:31 pm »
I use a chest freezer mainly to keep my kegs for dispensing. I just use cobra taps and open it whenever I want a beer (no fancy frame or keezer here). I also use it to ferments lagers when necessary. I keep it at 38 degrees, but bump it up to 48 for lager ferments and back down to 38 for lagering. I've never had problems with off-flavors or mishaps during lager ferments and my kegged beers are not affected by the temporary bump in temp.
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Offline duboman

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #2 on: January 20, 2015, 01:10:29 pm »
Depending on how often you brew, the temps you need to ferment and how often you go through kegs, trying to use one freezer to do everything could prove to be a logistical pain.
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Offline flbrewer

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #3 on: January 20, 2015, 01:20:15 pm »
Depending on how often you brew, the temps you need to ferment and how often you go through kegs, trying to use one freezer to do everything could prove to be a logistical pain.

Good point, I was thinking about a chest freezer for fermentation (likely getting shortly), but I don't foresee another spot in the garage opening up for keg storage. My thought was a chest freezer w. temp control that I could use to ferment in followed by keg storage once the beer is ready for that stage and then dropping down the temps.

Offline theDarkSide

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #4 on: January 20, 2015, 01:33:14 pm »
The biggest issue is tying up the chest freezer with a keg when you want to brew more beer.  A while ago I saw a setup where the guy have a 14 cu ft chestfreezer and he made separate chambers in it and had both.  It was on the Oregon Brew site but I can't seem to connect right now.  Maybe someone here knows him or has a similar setup.
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Offline Wort-H.O.G.

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #5 on: January 20, 2015, 02:44:02 pm »
yep as stated logistically throws a wrench in your plan.  i figured this out early, and added another refridge for keg storage/lager. chest freezer is exclusively for temp control fermentation now.
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Offline coolman26

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #6 on: January 21, 2015, 09:33:01 am »
I use a chest freezer for fermenting and a fridge for my serving.  I just plan out my schedule and it works fine.  One my ales finish I just leave them in the freezer during my lager ferments.  When I'm not brewing it becomes my conditioning vessel.  Wish I had room for another freezer.  Have to make due with what you have.
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S. cerevisiae

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #7 on: January 21, 2015, 02:56:47 pm »
The Son of Fermentation Chiller was designed for people who do not have space for a dedicated fermentation freezer or refrigerator.

http://www.ihomebrewsolutions.com.php53-28.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/chiller-plans.pdf
« Last Edit: January 21, 2015, 06:16:18 pm by S. cerevisiae »

Offline yso191

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #8 on: January 21, 2015, 03:44:06 pm »
I use an upright freezer primarily as a fermentation chamber, but I recently added two taps to it so it can double as a kegerator.  I did this because over the holidays I had 4 kegs ready to go, and wasn't planning on a brew day.  And unless I'm in a hurry wanting to brew another quickly, when fermentation is done, I'll keg it, set the temp to 32* and cold condition the beer for a week or so in it.

This is a Kenmore that I paid about $450 for:



« Last Edit: January 21, 2015, 03:48:42 pm by yso191 »
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Offline Stevie

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Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #9 on: January 21, 2015, 04:12:28 pm »
Upright freezer with the cooling shelves???? And they say unicorns don't exist

Edit - meant to say without the cooling shelves.
« Last Edit: January 21, 2015, 09:31:16 pm by Steve in TX »

S. cerevisiae

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Re: Chest Freezer (fermentation and keg storage)
« Reply #10 on: January 21, 2015, 06:17:30 pm »
There's nothing cooler than a frost-free freezer (pun intended).   ;D