Keezer or Fermentation Cooler

[BugAC]

Some info first. I have my first brew fermenting right now, will bottle next wednesday. I made a Cincinnati Pale ale like in the How To Brew book.

So i just bought a 7.2 or so Cu Ft frigidaire freezer off of craigslist. Works great.

My problem is, do i want to convert it into a Keezer, like in the DIY board, or a fermentation cooler?

I love the look of the keezer, and am willing to make the conversion. However, having the freezer and being able to ferment any beer i want, is a huge plus.

What are your opinions? I could always look around for a small beer fridge and convert into a kegerator. But i feel like i'm wasting the space i already have with the freezer.

 

[BendBrewer]

Location is everything. I would say Keezer but you live in a warm area. I have a keezer and my ferm chamber is my closet. You might need one though.

 

[SD-SLIM]

Kegged beer is the best thing since sliced bread...go with a keezer! I quick way to get by without a fermentation chamber is to get tubs (larger than your fermenter) and fill them with water, they will help you brew ales in that warm Baton Rouge weather!

 

[phenry]

For you being in Louisiana I'd say fermentation chamber. I'd rather have great bottled beer as opposed to good on-tap beer imho.

 

[BugAC]

Well right now i'm using a 40 qt igloo cube ice chest to keep my fermenter in. I filled it up to the brew line with water and added 1 water bottle and switch out every day or 2 and keep it below 70. But eventually i'd like to do lagers and oktoberfest beer and i don't believe i'd be able to keep it cold enough without changing out bottles every few hours and i work so that can't happen.

 

[BugAC]

the water bottle i add is frozen, by the way

 

[BendBrewer]

Well right now i'm using a 40 qt igloo cube ice chest to keep my fermenter in. I filled it up to the brew line with water and added 1 water bottle and switch out every day or 2 and keep it below 70. But eventually i'd like to do lagers and oktoberfest beer and i don't believe i'd be able to keep it cold enough without changing out bottles every few hours and i work so that can't happen.

If you are already dealing with ferm. temps than by all means build a keezer.

 

[Chrisl77]

How many kegs would you put in it? A 7.2 cf freezer is a decent size you could probably fit 3 kegs and a fermenter in it easy.

 

[BugAC]

If you are already dealing with ferm. temps than by all means build a keezer.

But are there other methods of getting down to lager temps other than a keezer? Bare in mind i work 8-10 hours/weekday.

 

[BugAC]

How many kegs would you put in it? A 7.2 cf freezer is a decent size you could probably fit 3 kegs and a fermenter in it easy.

It is plenty big enough for that. I guess i'd be worried that if i was lagering a beer, that the cold temps would freeze the co2 lines or taint my kegged beer.

 

[BendBrewer]

It is plenty big enough for that. I guess i'd be worried that if i was lagering a beer, that the cold temps would freeze the co2 lines or taint my kegged beer.

cold temps taint kegged beer?

If you want to lager than you are going to need a fridge of some kind. Might be able to build one out of a small fridge or something on the cheap. I would really like to make some pilsners but it's just not in the cards right now due to space issues. One day.......

 

[duckmanco]

Kegged beer is the best thing since sliced bread...go with a keezer! I quick way to get by without a fermentation chamber is to get tubs (larger than your fermenter) and fill them with water, they will help you brew ales in that warm Baton Rouge weather!

Keezer for sure for one simple fact. You can cheaply and easily control fermentation temps with the method described above and it will work just as good as the freezer. You cannot however, keg the finished beer for as cheap as the tubs with water method...... I made this very decision a month or so back and was blown away by how simple and effective the swamp cooler turned out to be (I only do ales as of now and have not lagered FYI to be fair). All of the fusel alcohols completely dissapeared.

Keezer that thing out and you won't look back.

 

[BugAC]

cold temps taint kegged beer?

Well maybe not taint, but if i'm lagering at a cold temp in my keezer, wouldn't that affect my kegged beer? Or am i worrying about nothing?

 

[brewit2it]

But are there other methods of getting down to lager temps other than a keezer? Bare in mind i work 8-10 hours/weekday.

Not anything easy I can think of but there are ways to brew beers in the low 60's that would be hard (or impossible) to differentiate from a true lager.

 

[sirhc1210]

Might wanna do something like this:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/wanted-info-keezer-side-fermentation-chamber-134679/

except it could come off the collar of the keezer and the temp control hooked into the fan into the freezer.