How well do wine fridges work for cellering?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by m4ttj0nes, Mar 12, 2012.

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  1. m4ttj0nes

    m4ttj0nes Initiate (0) Feb 21, 2012 Oregon
    Trader

    I'm thinking about picking up a wine fridge, and was wondering if it will be any better than the closet I'm using now. The closet I'm using doesn't have much variation in temp, and stays relatively cool. One of the issues I'm having with the wine fridge is storing the beers on their sides, I've heard positive and negative things about not storing a beer upright.

    Pic of fridge for reference:

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jeffh97

    Jeffh97 Devotee (344) Jan 18, 2012 Missouri

    Ideally you dont want to cellar beer on its side. I would pass. I've only seen it go back in forth on caged and corked beers.
     
  3. PGHbeer77

    PGHbeer77 Initiate (0) Jan 16, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I've seen pics people have posted of wine fridges they use to cellar bottles upright. They take out the factory made shelves and install a shelf (plywood, etc.) about halfway up.

    Anyone have this setup that can provide a pic?
     
  4. wyatt

    wyatt Initiate (0) Nov 18, 2009 Louisiana

    I have that set up, but don't have a picture. It is really just a wine fridge with plywood in it though. It works great.
     
  5. azureoval

    azureoval Zealot (743) Jan 25, 2010 California

    I use a wine fridge for some of my beer. I use part of it as a "queue" for beers that I plan on drinking soon. It keeps most beers at the perfect temp for drinking. I have had beers like Abyss in there for well over a year on its side with no difference in flavor to Abyss I have stored upright. Real long term storage might be a different story but I have no plans on keeping anything that long. I choose to keeps the bottles on their side because I can fit more bottles that way. I have about 45 bottles in my fridge that is no more that waist tall.
    (Blu Ray Box Set for reference)
    [​IMG]
     
    PaulStoneAnchor likes this.
  6. rmalinowski4

    rmalinowski4 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Illinois

    I have one where I replaced the wine bottle shelves with the white wire shelving that is typically used in closets. I have two different upper shelves, one is solid and is used for all 12 oz bottles (I can fit just over 100 this way). The other has a section of the wire cut out to accommodate larger format bottles. (I can fit 20 large and just over 50 12oz this way). Will try to post some pics after dinner.
     
  7. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,274) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    can you lay those wine fridges on their backs and open it like a chest style freezer? or are there fans and other gadgetry that prevent that?
     
  8. JRod1969

    JRod1969 Maven (1,266) Nov 23, 2010 New York
    Trader

    I have three wine fridges that I have lightly modified for beer. Basically, I planned to use plywood for shelves to allow for upright storage, but was worried that it would not allow air to circulate properly resulting in hot and cold sections. Instead, I had custom shelves made (good friend in metal fabrication business) from thin steel. They are crazy strong and include 1 inch diameter cutouts every few inches for circulation. Also, I was able to drop some shelves down or raise some up to allow for maximum storage while still using the fridges' shelf slots. Lastly, I place a black piece of thick paper over the glass doors (internally) to shield the light. Could not be happier.
     
  9. NittanyBeerFan

    NittanyBeerFan Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2007 Pennsylvania

    They generally cool like regular fridges; so coil, fans, etc on the back.
     
  10. rmalinowski4

    rmalinowski4 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Illinois

    Here are some pics of the inside of my fridge.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmalinowski4/6977798729/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rmalinowski4/6831670642/

    I bought a 8 foot section of the shelving and used a metal saw to cut to size. I used some heave duty wire cutters to cut off some of the rows to fit the larger bottles. I also have a shelf with no cut out to fit all 12 oz or smaller bottles. There is a small fan installed in the top to help with circulation, it really helped to stabalize the temps. I try to run it at 45 degrees, but the temp varries some with ambient temperature. I have had it for 15 months now with no problems.
     
  11. jpsy422

    jpsy422 Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2009 Illinois

    The big flats beer :grimacing: haha.

    that's a nice set up tho.
     
  12. rmalinowski4

    rmalinowski4 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Illinois

    Cooking beer or maybe an "extra special extra" for a regular trading partner. I am aging it, it is already over a year old.
     
  13. jpsy422

    jpsy422 Initiate (0) Jul 12, 2009 Illinois

    Nothing ruins a brat quite like BFB. haha.

    One of these days I'm going to invite over some serious beer geeks and have a tasting with Big Flats, Hamms, and Natty Ice. Take it really seriously and just see what they do.
     
    wezzul likes this.
  14. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Nothing goes together quite like a blue Gatorade and a Skor bar.
     
    DanE, bruindre and claaark13 like this.
  15. rmalinowski4

    rmalinowski4 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Illinois

    I think the Backwoods Bastard or Down N Dirty would go better, but my preference on the candy are the Crispy Crunch bars from Canada. They are kind of like a Butterfinger, but much more peanut butter flavor.
     
  16. claaark13

    claaark13 Maven (1,412) Nov 29, 2007 Indiana
    Trader

    I recently got a sweet deal on a 150 bottle wine cooler that I couldn't pass up. I intend to build a standing shelf for a large number of De Dolle bottles and other capped bottles.

    Today, however, I opened it when the sun was shining through our back glass door and I noticed a HUGE amount of condensation collected on the bottles. Enough to start messing with some labels. So, I had to move it to a cool/shaded part of the house. My biggest gripe is that I am realizing that I "need" another one of these. My wife is not happy about that thought.

    If anyone has ideas on keeping the humidity low, please advise. I tried to search, but the old forums are not accessible.

    Also, had anyone had experience with using electrical tape round caps when cellaring? I'm thinking of doing it for some seriously long-term bottles to help prevent rust and oxidation. I suppose waxing is an option, although taping is easier and less messy.
     
  17. rmalinowski4

    rmalinowski4 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Illinois

    Does it have a glass door? If so, get some insulation from HD or Lowes and cover the glass(on the inside). It will also keep the light out and help it run colder.
    Help the air circulate better. Find a way to install a small fan to help move the air. Condensation can be caused by different temps inside the fridge. I noticed as much as a 10 degree difference between the back and front of my fridge before I did the two steps above.
     
  18. yeahnatenelson

    yeahnatenelson Initiate (0) Feb 8, 2010 Illinois

    R. Malinowski, The Fridge Whisperer...

    Really impressive work! You've got me debating buying one now.
     
  19. claaark13

    claaark13 Maven (1,412) Nov 29, 2007 Indiana
    Trader

    No, it has a black door. It is this:

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/72117615@N07/6828327848/in/photostream/

    I opened the door today to pull a Fantome, and within moments of sunlight exposure it had a lot of condensation.

    I'm hoping that the move to a consistent part of the house will control my issue. However, I want to ensure that I don't have this happen again. I'm currently afraid to fill it with certain C&C bottles due to this issue, or certain rare or old bottles with caps.
     
  20. claaark13

    claaark13 Maven (1,412) Nov 29, 2007 Indiana
    Trader

    I think maybe my problem is that I don't have any candy bars in the bottom compartment. I will get some Butterfinger bars tomorrow.
     
    TastefulNudity likes this.
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