Lagering, {fridge-freezer?}

Howdy fellow Homebrewers,

About a year ago I bought a temp. controller for a 'lagering fridge'.
A friend gave me an old funky refrigerator
and after hooking the controller to the fridge and trying it for a few days,
The thing wouldn't even get cool inside.
The motor of the fridge ran all the time,
and I figured it was just an old 'wore out' 'dog'.
put the controller back in the brewery and have been waiting for another chance at a 'free fridge', but ...

The weather getting colder and I have been brewing ale again,
and getting the firewood cut up for winter,
I am getting in the brewing mood and the thought of making lager
once again has arisen.
I have heard that a fridge will get in the low 30's.
But it would seem even with the problem of having to lift a corny out of the chest type freezer vertically,
the chest type would be a better choice it being better insulated,
a better motor built for doing more work,
and having the door in the top, saves lost cool air when opened.

Shouldn't I get me a chest type freezer in a 4-'6' corny size for a lagering cooler?


Help !


J. Winters Knife
Published Poet
Expert Marksman

Chests are ideal, but it really depends on you and how fast you want a lagering fridge/freezer, and how much you want to spend. Rock on and start lagering!

A freezer used a lagering chamber may have a problem with condensation build up and corrosion. There's a substantial difference in mechanics between a fridge and a freezer.

I had a the choice, I'd go for a fridge for conversion.

I have a freezer and it works great for lagering at 40 and or fermenting at 65 degrees while in my garage which is over 100 degrees in the hot Texas summer heat.

This is a 10 cubic foot Amana Scratch & Dent chest freezer I picked up new. I have not had any condensation problems as I leave a little bucket of damprid in it. It works great.



For just cornies, it can fit six 5 gallon and one 3 gallon with ease. I now leave the damprid on the little compressor hump.