OK, with the semester winding down and the summer soon arriving, beer is on my mind! I had a dilemma last Xmas when my father-in-law gave my wife and I a small Magic Chef chest freezer while I already had a full size freezer in my basement. So I didn't want to be an ingrate and say I had one already but I've been unwilling to return it, which essentially is the same as telling the guy I didn't want it!
So, I came onto the boards today to bump around. Came across the use of these chest freezers as fermentation chambers. So if anyone can answer a few questions, it might let me use this freezer in a way my father-in-law would appreciate!
I live in WNY so our summers are mild but can be hot (my basement is about 60 degree in the summer and 50 in the winter) and fermentation a challenge.
Amd I correct to assume that with a two stage controller, I can easily convert this chest freezer into a fermentation chmaber capable of both lager and ale temps?
Stage 1 is obviously a controller on the freezer itself, which would reduce the temp in the freezer.
Stage 2 would be connected to a light or other heat source that would increase the heat?
Or being in WNY could I get away with a single stage and assuming that external temps would be high enough in the summer to provide the necessary heat for ale fermentation?
So, I came onto the boards today to bump around. Came across the use of these chest freezers as fermentation chambers. So if anyone can answer a few questions, it might let me use this freezer in a way my father-in-law would appreciate!
I live in WNY so our summers are mild but can be hot (my basement is about 60 degree in the summer and 50 in the winter) and fermentation a challenge.
Amd I correct to assume that with a two stage controller, I can easily convert this chest freezer into a fermentation chmaber capable of both lager and ale temps?
Stage 1 is obviously a controller on the freezer itself, which would reduce the temp in the freezer.
Stage 2 would be connected to a light or other heat source that would increase the heat?
Or being in WNY could I get away with a single stage and assuming that external temps would be high enough in the summer to provide the necessary heat for ale fermentation?