Been reading through the forums and lots of debate on a frig vs. freezer to ferment and store beer.
Here is my problem… beer ferments too high in a better bottle even when kept in a cooler filled with water, wrapped in a towel and rotating out frozen ice bottles. At best I can keep the temp at around 70-74*.
Due to space issues in my garage and a bad back, I will need to go with a frig (freezerless).
I am leaning toward this 16.7 Kenmore frig at Sears.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04660722000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
It seems to be good size and have glass shelves which is what I want, so that bottles store safely. I have had the wire shelves collapse before when stacking beers for a party and let’s just say… it was a disaster.
I would plan to remove the bottom two drawers and the first shelf, so that I can hopefully store at least 1-2 carboys with airlocks and blowoff tubes. Then use the top 3 shelves to store beer (22oz bombers and random store bought beers).
I guess my concern is wanting to ferment AND store beers in the same frig. Obviously, I would want to store beers at cooler temps then what I would ferment them at. Would be ok to raise frig temp to a ferment temp (65-68*) with bottled beer in the frig and then bring back down again after fermenting beer has been removed?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!!!
Here is my problem… beer ferments too high in a better bottle even when kept in a cooler filled with water, wrapped in a towel and rotating out frozen ice bottles. At best I can keep the temp at around 70-74*.
Due to space issues in my garage and a bad back, I will need to go with a frig (freezerless).
I am leaning toward this 16.7 Kenmore frig at Sears.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_04660722000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
It seems to be good size and have glass shelves which is what I want, so that bottles store safely. I have had the wire shelves collapse before when stacking beers for a party and let’s just say… it was a disaster.
I would plan to remove the bottom two drawers and the first shelf, so that I can hopefully store at least 1-2 carboys with airlocks and blowoff tubes. Then use the top 3 shelves to store beer (22oz bombers and random store bought beers).
I guess my concern is wanting to ferment AND store beers in the same frig. Obviously, I would want to store beers at cooler temps then what I would ferment them at. Would be ok to raise frig temp to a ferment temp (65-68*) with bottled beer in the frig and then bring back down again after fermenting beer has been removed?
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks!!!