The Best Fridge/"Wine" Cooler

i have a new air wine fridge which i found on amazon for a reasonable price. this particular model holds 28 bottles and does come with a temp control - it's not perfect but overall i'm happy with the purchase. some things to consider when shopping around: as they were designed for wine, the size of many beer bottles, esp the 750s, makes the true amount you can fit less than the stated number. i had to remove a coule shelves to accomodate the larger bottles. Re the temperature, my model seems fairly sensitive to the ambient air around it. if the temp in my kitchen rises above 80 or below 60, it is not uncommon for the fridge temp to raise/drop, up to a couple degrees. and it is not completely silent, although after a day the hum settles into the background and you don't notice it (not unlike a regular refrigerator) also, just a side note - over the past year or so i seem to have been buying at a rate that eclipses my consumption; i wish i had invested in a model with a larger capacity. good luck!

 

I got a Vintage Keeper 110 on craigslist for $250. I dunno where you are from but I found that after looking for just a week or two. That fridge retails at over $1000, and is rated to hold 110 wine bottles laying on their side. I just added some flat shelves so my beers can stand up, and it is currently holding about 200 beers full, mostly bombers/750ml.

Not sure what kind of price you are looking at, but $250 is cheaper than most ~30 bottle fridges new. Keep an eye out on craigslist is my advice, or buy such a fridge new if necessary.

 

Unfortunately I do not have an electricity meter to determine how much this alone is using, but it plugs right into a regular 120v outlet. It is supposed to be a dedicated outlet, but I do not have one, and it works fine. As for the dimensions, its 71"x24.5" and 18" deep.

 

i started with a 50 bottle cellar, $60 craigslist. 4 months later grew out of it. 6 months later bought a vinotemp 240 bottle, $200 craigslist. Grew out of that by the following year. Searched and negotiated different people for a year. Scored a 600 bottle vinotemp for $400. Best part is the top racks are removable and thats where I keep my 3L bottles...epic. The story ends with bigger is better lol. Just price out the biggest cellar you can afford on craigslist and you'll never regret it.

Some people don't like laying the bottles on the side. I've had no complaints on it. You just have to plan ahead and take the bottle out of the cellar so the sediment moves to the base of the bottle before you open and pour. Small price to pay for such space efficiency.

Good tasting