dual purpose fermenter/kegerator

[gotbags-10]

So I want to start kegging my beer. I also would like to have a fermentation chamber of some sorts. I was thinking about a small chest freezer with a stc-1000. That way I could control fermentation temps and then when its done and kegged I could use it as a kegerator/keezer. I really don't want to buy two units as space is an issue. Anyone see any issues with this? The only thing I can think of would be that I couldn't start my next batch until the keg is gone but that would be fine with me.

 

[prandlesc]

I use an upright for my dual purpose fermentation chamber/serving keezer, and I have the space luxury of having both a serving chest keezer with four taps and a dual-purpose upright - that now has four standard beer taps, a nitro tap, and a wine tap.. The challenges I have with dual purpose are exactly as you state - you con't do both at the same time. Where it's really been frustrating is when I'm lagering a beer for several weeks. The lager fermentation takes a few weeks, then the lagering process is another month or two. So I can't serve (or ferment another beer) using that keezer until the lager is ready. It just takes a little more planning, or drinking warm or really cold beer. You might be able to use an upright and split the upper half from the lower half using some rigid insulating foam. That might give you enough control in one of either the top or bottom to accomplish a normal fermentation temperature and keep service temp in the other half. It would take some experimentation, but might work.

Best of luck.