freezers, jockeying for space, lagerring idea

[nathan]

So I'm finding myself frustrated with the freezer space I have and only running one lager through primary at a time, since I'll have a Diacetyl rest at a different temperature, then back to primary temp, then out of the freezer into it's keg and on to the big ole lagerring freezer (chest freezer, 34F, lots of room so no worries here).

My idea is to set my lagering freezer to a primary temp that will work for most or all of the lagers, and take the carboys OUT and move them to the ale freezer at 65F-68F for diacetyl rest for a day or two, then put them back in the lager freezer at lager primary temp to finish primary, the to keg as usual.

Then I would just have the two freezers at constant temps, and could do a lager, and when it was a week into primary, be adding another lager to the freezer to start it's primary, without worrying about the Drest temps.

Does this make sense? It might be a tad warm on the D rest, but wow, could I produce a lot more lagers!

 

[bwitt]

65f is the top end of the d-rest range from what i've read but I think you will be ok.

I'm also struggling with my temp control right now.

I started a lager 3 weeks ago in the fermentation fridge at 50f.
2 days later I decided to do a light ale which I usually do on the kitchen table because we keep the house temp at 72f. 2 days later We had a very hot day and when I got home from work the house temp was 74f and the carboy thermometer was at 79f. I freaked out and moved the ale to the fermentation fridge which was at 50f to start cooling it down.

I did a little research and found some posts where others were using 60qt igloo ice cube coolers for ale fermentation boxes. I went to walmart and picked up 1 for $23 came home and removed the lid and fashioned a new lid out of some styrofoam that I had so the carboy would fit with the neck and airlock sticking out of the new lid. I threw in some ziplock bags filled with ice and I was able to get the temp stabilized at 67f.

I think if I plan my brewing a little better in the future I can better utilize my equipment. Like doing 2 lagers at the same time so I can put them both in the fermentation fridge at the same time. Then when its time to lager I can keg them and move them to the serving fridge at 35f for lagering. Then my fermentation fridge would be free for ales or whatever.

My problem this time was due to getting too many new brewing toys too close together and wanting to play.

 

[nathan]

I am with you on the too many toys (too many to use all at once, not too many in general, though). I plan on the one freezer being for ales at 65 or so, so this may work. While I really do like to brew on saturday AND sunday, I cannot always swing it, so now I won't have to worry about it, I can do lagers a week apart if I like and see how it works. If it's going smoothly, I'll have the two standup freezers (one for ales, one for lager primaries) and the giant chest for long lagering, force carbing, etc., where everything is in cornie kegs.

Of course, one of my standups is not being reliable, so I may need to replace it.

 

[Liquidicem]

Man, I wish I could talk SWMBO into more freezers around the house. It took me months to get approval for the keezer.

 

[nathan]

those are all out in the garage. My truck lives outdoors now.

 

[WBC]

I have 1 freezer (server/loger fridge) I keep at 36F to 38F. I have 1 refrigerator which I keep set at 66F or 50F to 55F (primary fermenter) depending on the beer to be fermented. When doing lagers I ferment at 53F and when 14 days are up I transfer to a corny keg and place it in the server/lager freezer. I use 2 Ranco controllers. This allows me to make lagers or ales 14 days apart.