Beer refrigerator tips

My freezerless fridge works pretty well. I did replace the wire shelves with tempered glass. The glass is a more stable platform and it also gave me a little more room. A commercial cooler, like a True Cooler would be great if you can find one. They are kind of expensive though.

 

Hard to keep IPAs cold and stouts at cellar temp in the same fridge.

 

You can modify a chest freezer with a temperature control if you want (look up keezer online and you'll see plenty of examples), but I've just got a regular fridge I have turned nearly off. It stays a pretty steady 55* now, though once the ambient temp drops in the winter, it may start to get too cold. You'll probably want your IPAs in the 40s to drink, though, so you'll better off with them in your main fridge.

 

To keep my wife happy, I keep all my beer in the cellar temp fridge, and if it's something I want to cool down a bit more I move it to the main fridge day of.

I have a standard fridge set at warmest(not 55-60, but not too cold) Holds 40 large formats and 50 12ozers. It keeps me honest with capacity as well.

 

I keep mine on the warmest setting about 55F I have plenty of room even for 1 or 2 homebrew kegs. Best part the fridge was free. I keep frosty glasses above for those who prefer it. I drink majority of my beers around this temp.

 

I've got a Haier dorm fridge I bought, I keep it on the warmest setting and its about 50 degrees.Not perfect, but it works for now. A dual temp beer fridge would be awesome if someone would make one.

 

Wine enthusiast has dual temp fridges. Mine is small but they sell larger ones. They can be modified to work for beer.



I'm too disorganized/ have too many different styles in there to use the dual temp controller but it's an option. I think the range is 46-64.

 

What model is this one? Do you like it?

 

It's called the wine enthusiast classic beverage center. I bought it like a year ago but it looks like the model I have is no longer available. I like it a lot, fits like 15 bombers/750 ml on the bottom standing, and maybe 25 bottles or 22oz bombers on top, middle section is good for 12 oz cans or bottles that can be laid on the side.

I like it, but it's too small for my beer hoarding - I have the majority of my darker beers in a cellar closest (for better or worse).

 

Can anyone speak to aging beers in refrigerators where food "leftovers" are stored? Does this have the potential of ruining the beers by chance?

 

That won't impact the beer. Just like you can't smell any trace of beer from outside an un-opened bottle, the same works for outside odors trying to get in.

 

Does anyone use a wine cooler? Does storing laying down really make a difference?

 

Thanks for the heads up!

 

edalolie,

I received an Insignia Wine Cooler for Christmas. It was the exact one I asked for and it ran about $84. It had enough variation in shelving, that I was able to remove one, keep the basket and the top rack. I can't remember if its a 16, 18 or 20 bottle Cooler, but I've got it chock full of 12oz bottles/cans, bombers, 2 waxed 32oz growlers and 6 750’s. I'm very happy with it. Its a bit small, but at that price, I can get another and have it like dual zones!

I had to buy a little thermometer to place in front. It reads 54° F at all times!

 

I see that that Cooler is now $129 and its 16 bottle.