I’ve been flip flopping between a chest freezer and mini fridge to use as my fermentation chamber. I’m leaning towards the mini fridge since I will probably never brew any more than a 5 gallon batch.
For those who use this fridge or one similar would a 6.5 gallon bucket or carboy fit with an airlock? The door shelves in this model are removable but not sure if I will be able to utilize the very bottom of the fridge or if I will need to use the bottom shelf to clear the compressor hump.
I’ve been looking for interior size specs, but haven’t found them except for cu ft. I’m guessing from looking at the photos that this has nowhere near enough interior space, especially depth wise for your needs. It appears to have door shelves that extend well into cabinet space and seems to be like most other small fridges in having the compressor taking up a significant amount of depth space in the bottom back. I wouldn’t make a move on this until I found exact specs for interior space.
It’s hard to find interior specs. The door shelves are removable so that shouldn’t be an issue.
I saw the actual fridge this morning and it appears that a 6.5 gal bucket or carboy would fit. Just not sure if there is enough clearance for an airlock.
There are a lot of guys who use mini fridges for a fermentation chamber so I know they can work. 4.4 CFT is one of the bigger ones before stepping up to a full size fridge.
I really don’t want to get a chest freezer. Mainly due to space and the fact I would never store more than one 5 gallon batch at a time.
I understand a small mini fridge would not work but possibly a 4.4 CFT one would.
So far everyone says to get a chest freezer. I find it hard to believe no one is using a mini fridge as a fermentation chamber, more specifically a 4.4 CFT one.
The NB site shows a 6.5 gallon bucket is 12" diameter and 17.5" tall. A airlock would add approx. 3-5" to that so I am looking at a total of 22.5" of hear clearance is needed.
The fridge I linked shows a width of 22" and a height of 33". I realize these are exterior dims but seems like a 6.5 gal bucket would fit.
Suppose I need to take measurements and physically look at the unit.
Yea, I would measure it and go check it out before you buy it.
I don’t think it’s going to fit. Something you didn’t mention that you also need to consider is if you need to use a blow off tube, which will be higher than a regular airlock (plus the space for whatever you put the other end of the blowoff tube into).
I had to use a blowoff tube with my hefeweizen yeast even with temperature control. That yeast is a monster.
Oh, and that bottom part of the fridge you linked has the compressor in it. It’s a little tough to see, but the space there doesn’t go all the way to the back of the fridge as there’s a huge hump there for the compressor.
I highly doubt you’ll fit a carboy in that fridge.
[quote=“Templar”]Oh, and that bottom part of the fridge you linked has the compressor in it. It’s a little tough to see, but the space there doesn’t go all the way to the back of the fridge as there’s a huge hump there for the compressor.
I highly doubt you’ll fit a carboy in that fridge.[/quote]
The compressor sits in the bottom back portion, behind the bottom drawer in the pic he linked to. If not for that, it might fit, but would still be close.
My kids have these for their dorm rooms, and I checked them out when they brought them home for the summer. Theirs don’t have enough room for an Ale Pail,which I think is shorter and wider than a 6.5 gal carboy. I think theirs are only 3.3 cu ft, but the interior is set up the same as the 4.4 on the bottom
The area at the bottom is affected by the compressor and that is a concern but if I remove the shelves in the door then it may fit. If I need to utilize the bottom shelf then I doubt a bucket or carboy would fit with an airlock.
If that’s the case, then I would have to get the chest freezer. Best Buy has a 5.1 cft for $149 so that is an option. My wife complains now that “my side” of the garage looks like Sanford and Sons yard.
I have a tool box and two smokers but it’s kept nice and neat. My shed is also full but if I needed, I could make room for it. Just would prefer to keep whatever I get in my garage.
I’ll check the measurements tomorrow on my way back to work.
If I was you I would just head to wherever sells what you’re looking for, and bring along whatever vessels you intend to ferment in. That’s going to be the quickest way to check and you will get immediate feedback regarding which ones have shelves that can be removed, etc. Some of these things have molded shelves that can’t come out without destroying them.
Here’s another question for the ones who use the chest freezers. I’ve read some posts that mold/condensation could be an issue. In Louisiana it is hot and humid so if mold will be an issue it will be here.
Seems like people are using either a computer fan to circulate air or an Eva Dry Dehumidifier. Would I need to use both or one or the other?
It’s to make sure cold air circulates to the top of the freezer where the faucets are located, typically drilled through an added wooden collar. You won’t need need a collar for your set-up and I’m guessing you likely won’t need a fan either.
I think humidity may be a bigger issue for people who open the freezer more often or rarely get a chance to wipe it all down and dry it out.
However, I imagine using the freezer to ferment is going to give you plenty of opportunities to clean the thing out. Plus you won’t have that wooden collar. You might not have anything to worry about.
My chest freezer is now serving as a keezer, so I don’t ferment in it anymore (my old fridge is my new ferm chamber), but I don’t have mold issues in either one.
I started using the Eva Dry in my keezer just because it’s full of kegs and cans/bottles so wiping stuff down can be a chore. The Eva Dry keeps things nice and dry.
In a ferm chamber freezer with one or two carboys, as long as you keep it clean you won’t have any issues at all. I always keep a damp cloth on hand when taking samples for readings so if I drip I can wipe it right away. If you let it get dirty, you’ll probably get some stuff to grow in there.
[quote=“Templar”]I have one of these small mini-fridges for just storing beer, there’s no way a 6.5 gal carboy for 5 gal batches would fit in it with an airlock…
You’d be better off buying a chest freezer. The smaller ones can be had for about $150 new and appear that they could hold one carboy, maybe two.[/quote]
If you went to the new Big Mouth Bubbler carboys you could do to in one no problem :cheers: Tank
Stopped by HD this morning and took some measurements. From the front of the hump on the bottom where the compressor is located to the edge of the interior door is 12". The height from the bottom to the bottom of the freezer compartment is 24".
The bucket dims are 12" diameter and 17.5" tall.
This fridge has removable door shelves. With the shelves removed, the door closed and should be enough clearance for an airlock and/or a blowoff tube. There would be enough room for the bucket and a 2L jug but not much else.
So, now I need to decide on the fridge or freezer. I would get more use out of the fridge as I could use if for storage of brew when I am not fermenting and is smaller. The freezer would probably not get any use other than for a fermentation chamber unless I use it as a fridge to keep my beer temp at 40 degrees or so.
Unless space is a major concern, the freezer doesn’t cost that much more and allows for more possibilities in the future (kegs, another carboy for 10gal batches). Just my opinion.
[quote=“ed_brewer”]Stopped by HD this morning and took some measurements. From the front of the hump on the bottom where the compressor is located to the edge of the interior door is 12". The height from the bottom to the bottom of the freezer compartment is 24".
The bucket dims are 12" diameter and 17.5" tall.
This fridge has removable door shelves. With the shelves removed, the door closed and should be enough clearance for an airlock and/or a blowoff tube. There would be enough room for the bucket and a 2L jug but not much else.
So, now I need to decide on the fridge or freezer. I would get more use out of the fridge as I could use if for storage of brew when I am not fermenting and is smaller. The freezer would probably not get any use other than for a fermentation chamber unless I use it as a fridge to keep my beer temp at 40 degrees or so.[/quote]
Ooh… that’s very close for me. I ferment in a big mouth bubbler, which is 12" diameter by 23" (sans airlock). I secondary (shut up, I know, but I have my reasons) in a five gallon plastic bottle that I’ll be measuring tonight… I may have to check this out.
