Beer Cellar thread - real cellars, closet cellars, fridge cellars, freezer cellars, wine coolers

[evilc]

Always a good thread.

Me:

Bought a freezerless fridge, set it to 52F with this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00368D6JA/?tag=talkbeer-20

The probe is inside a bottle filled with water and 2oz Isopropyl Alcohol.

It's been working awesome.

 

[Bill2]

We just got a big box from America, it's so hard to get fresh Keystone and Natty in Tuvalu. Went straight into the cellar.

 

[evilc]

We just got a big box from America, it's so hard to get fresh Keystone and Natty in Tuvalu. Went straight into the cellar.

That looks like a solid inventory control and proper stocking operation!

 

[Minnesotaryan]

my house came with a perfect cellar of sorts. it has insulataed walls against the naturally chilled concrete walls. I can fit a good amount of beer in there, though I need to inventory what I have and free up some some space, I have approximately 20 cases in there right now.

 

[evilc]

my house came with a perfect cellar of sorts. it has insulataed walls against the naturally chilled concrete walls. I can fit a good amount of beer in there, though I need to inventory what I have and free up some some space, I have approximately 20 cases in there right now.

I would love a house like that. It's 105F here in the summer.

 

[jedwards]

This was my old cellar -- great basement space in the northeast corner of the house, I insulated the whole thing and it stayed in the 55-60 range year-round:

Just moved to Denver for a year and have no space... so it's all boxed up in a wine storage facility for the moment. I miss the cellar I could just pop down to anytime.

 

[evilc]

Oh and if anyone calls out the Jai Alai in my "cellar" - it's at work. I received the trade that day - domed them when I got home that day!

 

[evilc]

This was my old cellar -- great basement space in the northeast corner of the house, I insulated the whole thing and it stayed in the 55-60 range year-round:

Just moved to Denver for a year and have no space... so it's all boxed up in a wine storage facility for the moment. I miss the cellar I could just pop down to anytime.

Love the legit stuff - wish I had that ability. Everything is fake in California =)

 

[franch]

need to find a standalone wine cellar on Craigslist.

 

[evilc]

need to find a standalone wine cellar on Craigslist.

I looked at those - the Eurocaves etc. People were asking 1k for ancient, questionable ones. Went with the 75$ controller and 200$ Craigslist fridge :/ The bitch works tho!

 

[Bill2]

That looks like a solid inventory control and proper stocking operation!

Only the finest staffers were allowed in the cellar room during this delicate operation. You notice the top rack already bowing from the stress? Very delicate indeed.

 

[drgarage1]

my house came with a perfect cellar of sorts. it has insulataed walls against the naturally chilled concrete walls. I can fit a good amount of beer in there, though I need to inventory what I have and free up some some space, I have approximately 20 cases in there right now.

I've got a similar situation. The basement is open to the air on both ends (security gates on both sides -- very San Francisco), and we have thick, chilly concrete walls. It's 55-60 year-round down there. It's fantastic.

 

[jedwards]

I've got a similar situation. The basement is open to the air on both ends (security gates on both sides -- very San Francisco), and we have thick, chilly concrete walls. It's 55-60 year-round down there. It's fantastic.

That's awesome to hear -- I'm moving out to SF next June and hoping to find a decent spot to stash everything. Didn't realize the temp was that stable!

 

[evilc]

That's awesome to hear -- I'm moving out to SF next June and hoping to find a decent spot to stash everything. Didn't realize the temp was that stable!

SF is haze gray year round.

 

[drgarage1]

That's awesome to hear -- I'm moving out to SF next June and hoping to find a decent spot to stash everything. Didn't realize the temp was that stable!

It definitely can be. Finding a basement, on the other hand, is a project of years.

 

[Hanzo1]

I used to use a dark closet but I have since moved onto this.

Holds around 30 22/750s which is perfect for me.

 

[surlytheduff1]

I'm in the basement/boxes camp. I've got a basement in an old house in mid-Michigan that stays a pretty steady 62 degrees year round. I've got most of the beers in 12/24 bottle case boxes, in a few different stacks and cubbies. Not necessarily optimal - I would rather have the boxes on shelves. There is a benefit in stacking though - it keeps you away from certain stuff that you have a hard time resisting (Expedition bottles, I'm looking at you).

 

[Minnesotaryan]

I would love a house like that. It's 105F here in the summer.

it gets hot here, though mostly high 80s to 90s, but between the ac and the natural chill of the basement it works great. have a thermometer on the door just to have a little piece of mind.

 

[Minnesotaryan]

I'm in the basement/boxes camp. I've got a basement in an old house in mid-Michigan that stays a pretty steady 62 degrees year round. I've got most of the beers in 12/24 bottle case boxes, in a few different stacks and cubbies. Not necessarily optimal - I would rather have the boxes on shelves. There is a benefit in stacking though - it keeps you away from certain stuff that you have a hard time resisting (Expedition bottles, I'm looking at you).

I put the beer I want to forget about furthest away, with more boxes on top and boxes on top of the ones in front of them.

 

[flexabull]

It definitely can be. Finding a basement, on the other hand, is a project of years.

Exactly, basements in CA?!?! Hahahaha...

I think I've seen 2.

 

[claaark13]

I looked at those - the Eurocaves etc. People were asking 1k for ancient, questionable ones. Went with the 75$ controller and 200$ Craigslist fridge :/ The bitch works tho!

I've purchased two, scratch and dent, new Eurocave models (they were the exact same model from different guys, so they probably came from the same local distributor) from Craigslist between early 2012 and 2013. They kick complete ass. I converted one into mostly standing storage, the other is mostly vertical storage. They were ~$400 each. Best beer investment(s) I've made, ever.

I should also note that they look like gun cases (yes, people have asked), so that will be an advantage in 16yrs when my daughter starts dating.

 

[stakem1]

I've purchased two, scratch and dent, new Eurocave models (they were the exact same model from different guys, so they probably came from the same local distributor) from Craigslist between early 2012 and 2013. They kick complete ass. I converted one into mostly standing storage, the other is mostly vertical storage. They were ~$400 each. Best beer investment(s) I've made, ever.

I should also note that they look like gun cases (yes, people have asked), so that will be an advantage in 16yrs when my daughter starts dating.

Noted AND put on my to-do list.

Edit: who am I kidding? I already have a gun safe and im building a ground cellar on my land into the mountain.

 

[Gehrig13]

 

[franch]

I've purchased two, scratch and dent, new Eurocave models (they were the exact same model from different guys, so they probably came from the same local distributor) from Craigslist between early 2012 and 2013. They kick complete ass. I converted one into mostly standing storage, the other is mostly vertical storage. They were ~$400 each. Best beer investment(s) I've made, ever.

I should also note that they look like gun cases (yes, people have asked), so that will be an advantage in 13yrs when my daughter starts dating.

ftfy

 

[claaark13]

ftfy

Bastard!

 

[franch]

Bastard!

http://goodmenproject.com/ethics-values/brand-dear-daughter-i-hope-you-have-awesome-sex/

 

[stupac2]

Exactly, basements in CA?!?! Hahahaha...
I think I've seen 2.

But we have crawlspaces, and they can be nearly as good!

It stays <70 even in the middle of summer. Not the best, but not bad. It's fuller now, I should get updated pictures. I have about 330 bottles total, and a buddy is storing his stuff in my place too. He has like 24 on my racks and another 340 or so in boxes.

 

[Shmeal]

Best I can manage with apartment living.

Bedroom shelf: Old-ish photo, empty spots and now filled with beer.

Wine cooler:

 

[ExPimp]

I have a big chest freezer and a medium size Pepsi fridge holding all my bottle, sans a case of bruery beers. Both have a digital temp controller and have worked flawlessly the past 3 years.
It's not very pretty, but it lets my beer slowly degrade.

 

[Treebs]

A little outdated pic, but it's a temp controlled standing wine cellar. I took out the shelves that weren't needed and then cut pieces of plexiglass to fit perfectly on the shelves since they are slatted for laying down wine bottles. I drilled holes in the plexiglass to allow for proper airflow throughout.