Best appliance for fermentation?

mdineenwob · Dec 26, 2011

What's the best for fermentation? Top/bottom fridge, chest freezer, stand up freezer, etc

I'm building a temp control unit from eBay aquarium thread and need to pick up one of the above vessels.

Also - what's the best for the heater? In the winter my garage can get in the mid 30s so it'll be used a lot during the winter months.

Thanks!

Malticulous · Dec 27, 2011

I say a chest freezer. When you open it the cool stays in. I use a 15 watt light to heat mine and just let the cooling system fight it.

msehler · Dec 27, 2011

I was going to make a smart-*ss comment about a bucket being the best (before I got "appliance" the second time reading it)...but I'm just going to add to Malticulous. That Ebay temp controller has provisions for a "heat" and "cold". I'd use his method (a light bulb) plugged into the heat side of your controller.

FYI - I ferment all my beers in a bucket in my basement, so take this for what it is, but I HAVE built an ebay temp controller for a chest freezer (no room for fermenting).

mdineenwob · Dec 27, 2011

Malticulous said:
I say a chest freezer. When you open it the cool stays in. I use a 15 watt light to heat mine and just let the cooling system fight it.

That's what I thought about the chest freezer but wouldn't a fridge be the most utilitarian? Wouldn't the yeast cake get shaken up taking it out of the chest where I could siphon directly from a bucket in a fridge?

wilserbrewer · Dec 27, 2011

A fridge is easier to load, self defrosting, smaller footprint. A freezer is cheaper to run and will hold more depending.

Homercidal · Dec 27, 2011

Fridge or Freezer will both work. I'd go chest style if I were to do it again, but my fridges are working fine. I'm not sure if stacking is any easier than lifting over, so whether one is better for loading than the other is up to you.

The smaller footprint of an upright is nice.

Zamial · Dec 27, 2011

I plan to build my own chamber because I can make it whatever size I want. Then using the famous Ebay temp controller I will get an old "dorm fridge" and carfully remove the compressor and the cooling coil and mount it to my creation (They usually come out in 1 peice). BTW this is in no way my idea and has been done by many people here.