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Can I store post-fermentation wort in a refrigerator?

Discussion in 'Beginners Beer Brewing Forum' started by ARLStein, Mar 20, 2019.

 

  1. #1
    ARLStein

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2019
    This is my first brew in 5 years.. quick question. I only have 1 Corny Keg and I don't want to bottle, but my recipe is an 11 gallon batch.

    Can I ferment all 11 gallons and then store half in a refrigerator at a certain temperature for 1-2 months? Aka until I drink all 5 gallons of the first half lol (with help).

    I have several carboys and the refrigerator space. This would be an ale recipe.

    Thanks!
     
  2. #2
    doug293cz

    BIABer, Beer Math Nerd, ePanel Designer, Pilot Staff Member  

    Posted Mar 20, 2019
    Post fermentation wort is BEER. Yes you can store it in a refrigerator, but you are at risk of oxidation, which will degrade the flavor of the beer over time. Kegging and bottling both protect beer from oxygen exposure (for the most part). You would need to find a way to purge the headspace of whatever storage vessel you used, and then seal it well, in order to minimize oxidation. If you have a hoppy beer, your chances of having anything worth drinking after extended storage are very low, unless you can practice closed transfer, O2 avoidance, packaging.

    Brew on :mug:
     
    Lefou, balrog, GoeHaarden and 3 others like this.
  3. #3
    grampamark

    From out of the clear blue of the western sky...  

    Posted Mar 20, 2019
    Once it's fermented it's beer. Bottle it or come up with another keg. I wouldn't want to keep uncarbonated beer around for a couple of months.
     
  4. #4
    ARLStein

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2019
    Duh... haha that makes a lot of sense. I guess I'll just bottle the 2nd half. I hate bottling lol.
     
  5. #5
    Gnomebrewer

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 20, 2019
    If it takes you 1-2 months to drink a keg, and you hate bottling, you're probably better off making 5 gallon batches. Unless you don't like brewing......
     
    Soulshine2 and RM-MN like this.
  6. #6
    Zambezi Special

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 21, 2019
    Just wondering: how about bottling the remainder in 2 liter pet bottles (like old sprite or 7 up ones).
    Not too much work that way and capping is very easy ;)
    But it sort of means you have to drink it 2 liters at the time....
     
  7. #7
    TGFV

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 21, 2019
    1L and 710ml bottles also work well for this and are small enough for one person to have in a day or two while being thicker and better for carving than the relatively thin 591 bottles
     
  8. #8
    CascadesBrewer

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    While I know that kegs are not as cheap as they used to be...instead of risking $20+ of beer why not just pony the $50 for a used keg?
     
  9. #9
    Spyderbyte07

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    It sounds like you're planning to ferment the batch in two carboys? Why not leave the second carboy at ambient temperatures the whole time? I suspect a 3-4 month primary will be less harmful than the oxygen uptake from cold crashing.
     
    Clonefan94 likes this.
  10. #10
    Clonefan94

    Senior Member

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    This is the plan of action I would take. Ferment in two separate carboys. Keg the one and let the other one sit. As long as you don't expose it to outside air after fermentation, it would be a pretty stable environment, I would think.
     
  11. #11
    kh54s10

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    Depending on the style of the beer. Keeping one in the fermenter might be the better route to go.

    If it is a stout or such I would leave it in the fermenter with an airlock at ambient temperatures.

    If it is a pale ale fill a carboy almost full, seal tightly, and put it in the fridge.

    If it is a hoppy beer I would find some way to put it into the pipeline and drink it before the hop aroma and flavor fade.
     
  12. #12
    TGFV

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    I still find this crazy. The used pony keg market just got flooded, like major flooded. Yet prices are still high
     
  13. #13
    kh54s10

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    Major flooded?? I haven't seen any evidence of this happening. Link?
     
  14. #14
    deadwolfbones

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 22, 2019
    I must be missing something. Why not just scale down to 5 gallons?
     
    Soulshine2 and Gnomebrewer like this.
  15. #15
    TGFV

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    PepsiCo just discontinued use of their premix kegs a year ago and thousands were sold off from their main branches (Montreal, Missisuaga, and Vancouver (where I work)).

    And from what I hear Coke has started doing the same starting almost a year ago too.
     
  16. #16
    verboten

    With Low Expectations, you're rarely disappointed

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    Ball locks are going for as low as $35 right now.
    I’ve seen pin locks for as low as $29.


    I’m going to have 6 taps, I only have 11 kegs, I need 6 more ....it’s about time!
     
    Lefou likes this.
  17. #17
    kh54s10

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    I was under the impression that this happened long ago. I haven't seen kegs in stores in a very long time. They use plastic bags now.
    And if you are talking thousands that would hardly be flooding the market. I haven't seen any increase in ads for people selling kegs.

    I will have to keep my eyes open.... I could use a few more.
     
  18. #18
    jrgtr42

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    I did get an email yesterday from Homebrew Deals about ball lock kegs as low as about $30 with stacked deals. I don't remember where from though, or what deals need to be stacked.
    I would recommend to the OP to keep his eyes on Craigslist or something for people selling stuff off.
    I don't say jump on the first kegs you see, but wait for a good price, espeicially if there's other stuff included too. IN the meantime, I get it about not liking to bottle, but I'd highly recommend it in this case. if it was just another gallon or so, toss it in a growler or two, or just dump, but 6 extra gallons? yeah, don't waste that.
     
    Lefou likes this.
  19. #19
    Franktalk

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    Why do you need 17 kegs to serve from 6 taps?
     
  20. #20
    MrTimV

    Active Member

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    To have 6 on tap, and then more at various stages of readiness to get cycled into being on tap, aging, carbonating etc.
    That would be my guess anyways.
     
    TGFV likes this.
  21. #21
    verboten

    With Low Expectations, you're rarely disappointed

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    I don't. But I want 6 more, so....




    That's about right.
     
    TGFV likes this.
  22. #22
    kh54s10

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    I want 17 kegs and 17 taps........
     
    TGFV and jrgtr42 like this.
  23. #23
    Lefou

    Danged rascally furt

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    ...and CO2 is everywhere, but unfortunately, it takes some doing to get it pressurized into canisters. This is the one thing I'd really like to see go down in price.
     
  24. #24
    verboten

    With Low Expectations, you're rarely disappointed

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    I'd suggest more than 17 kegs then. The reason I want double demonic tabs is I never want to have an empty line
     
  25. #25
    kh54s10

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    With 17 taps, I don't think one or five empty taps would be much of a problem.......
     
  26. #26
    verboten

    With Low Expectations, you're rarely disappointed

    Posted Mar 24, 2019
    It's the principle of the thing.
     
  27. #27
    TGFV

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Mar 25, 2019
    The US started their discontinuation of premix kegs about 8 years ago and wrapped up about a few years back, replacing everything with BIB, Canada just did their last year, and my site itself got rid of a little over 9k, while both of the major plants back East each got rid of more, by a larger margin.
     
  28. #28
    kh54s10

    Supporting Member  

    Posted Mar 25, 2019
    Oh, Canada... That probably won't affect pricing in the US by much. I started brewing almost 8 years ago. The price of used kegs has been steadily rising since then. The going price seems to be somewhat regional. In New England going price has gotten to about $60 each. Other places I have seen as low as $40 US dollars. I haven't seen any decrease unless and individual goes low just to get them out of their house.

    New kegs on the other hand have come down in price as production of them has increased. When I first say them on the market they were all over $100 usd.
     
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