lager chamber

[eujamfh]

i was hoping to get some thoughts from folks on a lager chamber. I am going to buy a chest freezer but I am debating two things and am looking for input.

- Should I get a 7 or 14 cu foot unit?
- Should I get a single or dual temp controller?

As way of background, this fridge will primarily be used for lagers (I have another freezer that fits a conical I use for hefe, belgium etc that need a relatively stable temp. I usually do my IPAs and stouts in carboys in the basement which is in the mid 60s in the winter, and even in summer only reaches low 70s. In summer, I use a wet towel and fan to keep the ales under 70.

I am looking to get another ferm chamber because I want to get into lagers, and I think the one freezer will not be enough given the long time the lagers will take (its an upright). I like having hefe or a belgium on tap year round and they need a month of stable temps.

I plan to brew 10g batches.

I am leaning towards a single temp controller in a 14cu ft freezer. I figure the extra space could be useful and I have the space in the basement to fit it. I guess my thought is it will typically be in "chill mode" nearly all the time and when I want to do a diacetyl rest, I can simply add a heater if ambient temps are not high enough for those couple days.

Any suggestions? I dont want to have buyers remorse one way or the other. I know any combination would work…but would appreciate any thoughts.

 

[Seanysean]

If you are able to definitely go with the larger 14 cu freezer. I went cheap and am now regretting it.

 

[Hello]

If you can fit and afford 14 cu ft then get that. There's really no way to regret it unless you're squeezing it into a space that eventually annoys you due to clutter.

 

[Bulls Beers]

I have two 9's. One for fermenting and one for lagering. I should have went a little bigger for my lager chamber. It's always better to go bigger.

 

[mtyquinn]

Go big with the fridge. As far as the temp control- it's rare that I would need to heat up in my house. I've had a big chest freezer with a johnson (that could be dual if I hacked it) for years and it's been really nice. Never needed to heat a beer enough to swap my controller.

 

[BigFloyd]

I went the upright freezer route ($60 used via Craigslist) for lagering and very happy that I did. Sliding full kegs and fermenter buckets in and out of the upright is so much easier than hefting them in and out of the chest freezer (mine got re-assigned as a keezer).

It sits at a steady 35-36*F controlled by an STC-1000. I also cold crash primaries in it and store stuff (like harvested yeast and bottled beer) on the top shelf.

 

[brettg20]

On a side note I just opened a bottle of a vienna lager I bottled last January....wow! Go with the BIGGER one. I temp control all of my freezers with the Johnson A419, below is a link for under $60. When I need to heat (which is rare) I just move one of the jumpers over and plug in to a small desk heater which works great.

http://www.pexsupply.com/Johnson-Controls-A419ABC-1C-Single-Stage-Digital-Temperature-Control-120-240v-SPDT?gclid=CPiOq9nOxLwCFciIfgodgB0Anw

 

[eujamfh]

Great - that is the advice I was seeking. I will have to check the prices, but if I recall it was not too great a difference from the scratch and dent place. Around here people sell used freezers (2-5 years old) for $100 less then new. I can buy from the Sears outlet and get one for about the same price WITH a full one year warranty.

I will also get a chest freezer vice upright since I can use a peristaltic pump to transfer and I think I can get more in there for a cheaper start up price. Used uprights are even more difficult to get here. I do like the in/out conviencance, but I think with the pump I can minimize the pain factor.

I think I will also get the single stage controller. I have the A419 on the the keezer and a ranco on the other fermenter (sinple to wire in an extension cord cut in half). I will probably buy whatever is cheaper at the time I order. Worse case I swap and plug in a lamp for that period of rest.

Thanks for the advice (and encouragement!). I am still new to this and I can for a fact say this forum and its members have saved me a lot LOT of time and money. Of course, it has COST me a lot of money…but worth every penny since I have gear that works for me, and I don't have any buyers remorse (thus far!) about the size and type of set-up I ended up buying.