Chaos Brews
Member
Hi all, I have a few questions I wasn’t able to get clear answers on from other threads on the forum. Appreciate any experience or suggestions people have.
1. I’m tossing up between a bar fridge or bar freezer to use as a fermentation chamber. I’ve read freezers are good because they are more power efficient, better insulated and are great for cold crashing to get tempt down to 1-2c quickly. But I also read to find a frost free freezer because the frost can be bad for the brew. I’ve done a bunch of searches and it’s been hard to find a bar freezer size that is a frost free version and second hand at that. So my question is, will I be ok with a simple bar fridge to cold crash or should I keep hunting for a bar freezer?
2. I already have a standard size bar fridge I use as a bar fridge. I would want to stack the new fermentation chamber on top, for two reasons, 1-to be able to easily take gravity readings without having to pull the fermenter out and set it up on something each time. 2-to be able to bottle easily without moving it too much on bottling day since I will be cold crashing as well. My question is, if a freezer is the best option still, is there any issues stacking a bar freezer on top of a bar fridge? Like how the general advice is to a dryer on top of a laundry and not the other way around etc.
Other info that might change your answers:
- i use a 30L plastic fermenter (pic attached)
- I want a upright fridge or freezer in bar size due to space, and don’t want a freezer chest due to having a bad back
- I will more often than not be brewing ales so outside of this the unit would be off as the ideal temp would be around 21c.
- I live in Melb, its either cold af or hot af
Cheers
1. I’m tossing up between a bar fridge or bar freezer to use as a fermentation chamber. I’ve read freezers are good because they are more power efficient, better insulated and are great for cold crashing to get tempt down to 1-2c quickly. But I also read to find a frost free freezer because the frost can be bad for the brew. I’ve done a bunch of searches and it’s been hard to find a bar freezer size that is a frost free version and second hand at that. So my question is, will I be ok with a simple bar fridge to cold crash or should I keep hunting for a bar freezer?
2. I already have a standard size bar fridge I use as a bar fridge. I would want to stack the new fermentation chamber on top, for two reasons, 1-to be able to easily take gravity readings without having to pull the fermenter out and set it up on something each time. 2-to be able to bottle easily without moving it too much on bottling day since I will be cold crashing as well. My question is, if a freezer is the best option still, is there any issues stacking a bar freezer on top of a bar fridge? Like how the general advice is to a dryer on top of a laundry and not the other way around etc.
Other info that might change your answers:
- i use a 30L plastic fermenter (pic attached)
- I want a upright fridge or freezer in bar size due to space, and don’t want a freezer chest due to having a bad back
- I will more often than not be brewing ales so outside of this the unit would be off as the ideal temp would be around 21c.
- I live in Melb, its either cold af or hot af
Cheers