Old fridge: what can I use it for?

[jfishell]

Hi all, New to home brewing (just finished my first and second brews this Sunday) and I have an large old fridge in my garage collecting dust (similar to this style) View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1421171751.077680.jpg.
The fridge works great still but I'm not sure what I can do with it other then as a beer fridge.
Would this work as a Keezer? Use it for lagers? Anything I can do with the ice box on top?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
- Jeremy

 

[ultravisual]

http://www.brewpi.com

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

Fermentation fridge. Controlling fermentation temps is critical to making consistently good beer.

 

[Mongrel]

The fridge works great still but I'm not sure what I can do with it other then as a beer fridge.
Would this work as a Keezer? Use it for lagers? Anything I can do with the ice box on top?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
- Jeremy

Fermentation fridge until you're ready to change it into a kegerator, and then pick up a cheap chest freezer to ferment in. Temp control is the best thing I've added to my setup. Use the top freezer for hop storage.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Dahmer started off with a fridge like that...just sayin'.

 

[jfishell]

Thanks for the suggestions. Is it hard to convert it to a fermentation chamber?

I'll keep that in mind floppyknockers, It'll be my backup hobby if this home brew thing doesn't stick. "It puts the krausen on its skin. It does this whenever it's told."

 

[day_trippr]

Dahmer started off with a fridge like that...just sayin'.

lmao!

Cheers!

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Thanks for the suggestions. Is it hard to convert it to a fermentation chamber?

I'll keep that in mind floppyknockers, It'll be my backup hobby if this home brew thing doesn't stick. "It puts the krausen on its skin. It does this whenever it's told."

I gots my eye on you. not because that's weird creepy talk, but you're sounding a bit like me...

you just need a temp controller. most are a plug-n-play/set it and forget it kinda deal. this is the one I used on my chest freezer. http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/brewing-equipment/fermenting-equipment/fermentation-temperature-control/johnson-controls-a419-digital-temp-controller.html
there are cheaper ones out there though.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Fermentation fridge. Controlling fermentation temps is critical to making consistently good beer.

+ 1. A fermentation fridge would allow you to really up your brewing game.
Regards, GF.

 

[bobeer]

I have something similar and I use it as my serving fridge for my kegs. I haven't drilled into yet because I just haven't gotten around to doing so. I also keep the store bought beer in there. The freezer part I use for hops and bulk frozen food we buy from costco.

Fermentation fridge is a good use though if you can afford the temp controller.

 

[Jacob_Marley]

While you can't easily use it as a smoker due to the plastic content, but you can convert it to a curing chamber for meat.

I'd been considering this project for a couple months, but just recently gave someone the refrigerator I was going to use ... anyhow, here's the info ...

The following link has instructions and wiring diagrams ... I had to go to the Wayback Machine to get them, so be aware their servers can sometimes be fickle.

https://web.archive.org/web/2014071...refrigerator-for-curing-meat-or-aging-cheese/

(fwiw - If the original website becomes available again, it would be at ...
http://benstarr.com/blog/how-to-convert-a-refrigerator-for-curing-meat-or-aging-cheese/)

Here is a youtube video of a similar project. The guy in the video actually references the website noted above.
Also, he has three videos total on his youtube site relating to the project - so check the other videos from his list at youtube ...
http://youtu.be/rkk1v1AFVZ4?t=1s


Here are a few more vids on doing something quite similar on youtube ...
http://youtu.be/uKEeOyYI_CQ?t=1s

http://youtu.be/ADWNx0Vh-js?t=1s



As this post probably would be more appropriate for the "Meat Smoking, Curing and Sausage Making" forum here at HBT ... I'm also posting it as thread there for posterity as well.

 

[ubnserved]

Dahmer started off with a fridge like that...just sayin'.

I was going to say something about dead body storage.... you beat me to it! Have to put them some where.
Use the freezer section for making ice. Always good to have ice around especially if you plan on hanging out in these forums. You never know when your berries will be punched by Billy Klubb!