Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Mini Fridge  (Read 1769 times)

Offline narcout

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2217
  • Los Angeles, CA
Mini Fridge
« on: September 14, 2015, 10:07:02 am »
I would like to get a second fermentation chamber so I can try my hand at mead.

Is there a mini fridge available that can hold a 5 gallon corny keg right out of the box, without my having to modify the door or mess around with the freezer coils?

If not, I'll just buy the smallest chest freezer available.

Sometimes you just can't get enough - JAMC

Offline Iliff Ave

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4508
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #1 on: September 14, 2015, 10:12:09 am »
I was looking into this a few months ago and was unable to find anything that would work. The biggest issue is that most do not have a flat bottoms because that is where the compressor lives. Normally it juts out creating a shelf and then height becomes an issue.
On Tap/Bottled: IPL, Adjunct Vienna, Golden Stout, Honey Lager
Fermenting: IPA
Up Next: mexi lager, Germerican pale ale

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #2 on: September 14, 2015, 10:57:59 am »
Even with the shelf, you should have room for a corny keg.  Maybe not for a fermenter, though.

I've got an old Sanyo.  I don't know what's on the market today that works, but there must be something.

Take an empty corny with you to a big box store and see what fits.
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline kpfoleyjr

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 84
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #3 on: September 15, 2015, 08:15:19 pm »
I have a 10 cu. ft. Magic Chef refrigerator that easily fits my 6.5 gallon wide mouth glass carboy or my 5 gallon carboy with 3-piece or "S" airlock.  They're around $350 new, but I found a new one at a flea market for $100.  Use it for fermenting with a Johnson controller.  I found the little mini fridges are not big enough to hold them.  It has a freezer on top, but I don't use it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Philbrew

  • Brewmaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 867
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2015, 10:36:32 am »
I would like to get a second fermentation chamber so I can try my hand at mead.

Is there a mini fridge available that can hold a 5 gallon corny keg right out of the box, without my having to modify the door or mess around with the freezer coils?

If not, I'll just buy the smallest chest freezer available.
I made a kegerator with this Danby All Refrigerator mini fridge.  $189 special order at Walmart.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Danby-Designer-4.4-cu.ft.-All-Refrigerator/40487632?action=product_interest
I fitted two cornys by modifying the door but one fits easy.  The chill plate is on the back wall so there's 4 inches of space above the top of the handle of the corny.  (total inside height is 29")  It seems well built.
« Last Edit: September 18, 2015, 10:40:03 am by Philbrew »
Many of us would be on a strict liquid diet if it weren't for pretzels.

Offline narcout

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2217
  • Los Angeles, CA
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2015, 11:01:50 am »
Thanks for the responses.  Best Buy has a 5.1 cubic foot chest freezer on sale right now for $150, so I'll probably go with that. 

I think it will accommodate one of my larger fermentors as well so I can use it to get a second batch of beer going if my main freezer is occupied.
Sometimes you just can't get enough - JAMC

Offline kbenton00

  • 1st Kit
  • *
  • Posts: 15
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2015, 11:55:52 am »
I found a 7.1 cu ft. chest freezer at my local Costco for $189.  I picked up two... turned one into a keezer and the other is my fermentation chamber.  I can fit 4 corny's in the keezer with room for the CO2 bottle on the compressor shelf.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk


Offline narcout

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2217
  • Los Angeles, CA
Re: Mini Fridge
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2015, 12:33:43 pm »
Yeah, the 7 cubic foot models aren't much more expensive. 

I just don't have have room for another large freezer in the basement (I already have an 8 cubic foot model down there along with a kegerator).
Sometimes you just can't get enough - JAMC