I am torn on what I would like to add next to my brew set-up. Currently I have a four tap keezer, built on a 14cu ftchest freezer (allows four on tap, three on carb with a 20lb co2 tank). I have an upright freezer that fits my 15g minibrew conical or one 6.5g carboy (not tall enough to stack and not deep enough to get two carboys). I have four 6.5 carboys so I can at any one time have 30Gs fermenting at one time (only done a couple times in preparation for parties/holidays etc). I have 16 corny kegs.
I have been brewing about a year AG and this year am going to tackle pilsner and lagers.
I am torn between a couple set-up options:
1. Purchase another 15g conical and a upright freezer to use solely for lagers. I would use the conical for primary, as well as to lager. Cost=$300 for conical, $300 for upright freezer, $80 for temp controller.
2. Purchase a chest freezer and do primary for lagers in carboys (lifting them in and out would be a pain), transfers them to a corny and lager them in a corny. Cost=$175 for chest freezer, $80 for temp controller.
Clearly the cost difference is large and that is a factor. The advantages to the conical is racking any trub prior to pitching and not having to lift carboys in and out. Advantage to chest set-up is cost.
Both will do the job I do have a peristaltic pump so I could certainly configure a hose set up for $50 to pump wort into carboys in chest freezer and transfer out to corny, but it would be a less clean transfer since I would no doubt pull up some trub.
I am leaning toward the cheaper option but wanted to see if there was any major pros/cons I am missing since I have never lagered.
Any insight is always appreciated!
I have been brewing about a year AG and this year am going to tackle pilsner and lagers.
I am torn between a couple set-up options:
1. Purchase another 15g conical and a upright freezer to use solely for lagers. I would use the conical for primary, as well as to lager. Cost=$300 for conical, $300 for upright freezer, $80 for temp controller.
2. Purchase a chest freezer and do primary for lagers in carboys (lifting them in and out would be a pain), transfers them to a corny and lager them in a corny. Cost=$175 for chest freezer, $80 for temp controller.
Clearly the cost difference is large and that is a factor. The advantages to the conical is racking any trub prior to pitching and not having to lift carboys in and out. Advantage to chest set-up is cost.
Both will do the job I do have a peristaltic pump so I could certainly configure a hose set up for $50 to pump wort into carboys in chest freezer and transfer out to corny, but it would be a less clean transfer since I would no doubt pull up some trub.
I am leaning toward the cheaper option but wanted to see if there was any major pros/cons I am missing since I have never lagered.
Any insight is always appreciated!