Newbie - Aging w/ Mini Fridge

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Yabu, Apr 24, 2015.

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  1. Yabu

    Yabu Savant (1,150) Feb 4, 2015 California
    Trader

    Hello and thanks for the consideration.

    Just looking for some quick direction. I've read several posts about aging beer. Wish I could build something cool like some of you - (which is awesome btw) but I'm not a handyman or skilled .

    I live in Los Angeles, so for aging beer with a real Cellar, there isn't an option. Very hot during the summers 90-100 degrees.

    I have a mini fridge, which currently holds Barrel Age beers mostly Sucuba, Parabola, Hangar 24 Pugachev & Hammerhead .

    http://www.haier.com/us/products/ki...ct-refrigerators/hnse045bb.shtml#BVQAWidgetID

    Was planning on having it on the least "cold" dial at 1.

    Is a Mini Fridge like this fairly good considering my options?

    Or is that just wasteful / useless.

    Thank you !
     
    #1 Yabu, Apr 24, 2015
  2. hooliganlife

    hooliganlife Pooh-Bah (1,759) Apr 12, 2007 Missouri
    Pooh-Bah

    it won't hurt anything, i use them. you can always put a thermometer in there and monitor temp. colder ages slower, warmer ages faster.
     
    #2 hooliganlife, Apr 25, 2015
  3. boilermakerbrew

    boilermakerbrew Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2010 Indiana

    My experience with my mini fridge is pretty good.\

    It is 7 years old now and from my freshman year at college. Mine has a dial that only indicates levels of blue for coldness. I keep it set at about 1/3 blue (with a thermometer ~48 degrees F). That is a little on the cold side for long term aging, but if you are looking to balance cellaring ability and the ability to keep an IPA fresh, it's pretty good.

    I aged a ccouple of beers in college in there for 6-8 months at a time and that allowed them to develop appropriately. Admittedly, this might have slowed down their evolution, but not by much.

    All in all, you should be fine for most everything.
     
    #3 boilermakerbrew, Apr 25, 2015
  4. Yabu

    Yabu Savant (1,150) Feb 4, 2015 California
    Trader

    Thank you both for the reply. I'll get the thermometer .
     
    #4 Yabu, Apr 27, 2015
  5. Scott17Taylor

    Scott17Taylor Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2013 Iowa
    Trader

    i use my old dorm fridge set to its lowest setting. it stays about 45 degrees.
     
    #5 Scott17Taylor, May 1, 2015
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