Recommendation For Anyone Looking For A Beer Cellar

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by TheBeerWhisperers, Apr 18, 2014.

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  1. TheBeerWhisperers

    TheBeerWhisperers Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2014 New Jersey

    I've been aging beers for awhile but not under the most ideal circumstances (we don't have a basement/cellar so I've had to use the fridge, which leads to colder-than-desired storage temperatures). I finally decided to take the plunge and get something that I could dedicate just to aging beers. I saw a number of thermoelectric wine coolers that people used for beers but at the lower end of the price spectrum the quality proved to be suspect and the storage capacity was anemic. Ultimately, I found a great refrigerator on Amazon that was priced right ($199) and had excellent capacity (I've got 49 beers in there currently including 8 that are 22oz or larger).

    If anyone is looking for something long-term beer storage then I'd highly recommend what I picked up. It's called the Danby Beverage Center (I got the one that holds 120 cans). I wrote up a review and posted a picture so in the event either would be helpful, here are the links to both:

    Review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3QYWPJBYGX4HU/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B002MPLYEW

    Photo: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-m...MG1QMYVV/B002MPLYEW/ref=cm_ciu_images_pl_link

    The photo has a brief caption as well as three roll-over notes to explain the layout. Cheers!

    --Matt
     
    #1 TheBeerWhisperers, Apr 18, 2014
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  2. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Personally, I would look for a fridge or maybe a stand-alone freezer, then hook it up with a temp controller.
    Gets the temp exactly where you want it, and has more capacity.
    Not that the Danby isn't a good product, and obviously doing exactly what you want it to do.
     
    #2 JrGtr, Apr 19, 2014
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  3. TheBeerWhisperers

    TheBeerWhisperers Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2014 New Jersey

    I wish I was more familiar with temp controllers because I've seen them referenced before (I think when it came to homebrewing lagers) and that actually sounds like a solid route. I was just throwing the Danby out there in case anyone was looking for a quick fix like I was (all of a sudden we had temperatures in the 80s this week in the Northeast and I was concerned about some new acquisitions and making it through the summer).

    Good call though man!
     
    #3 TheBeerWhisperers, Apr 19, 2014
  4. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/...on-controls-a419-digital-temp-controller.html
    This is one of the simpler ones.
    Basically it goes between the wall and the fridge's plug, and with a probe inside the fridge senses when to turn it on or off. You can set it to the temp you want, and when it gets a couple degrees higher, it will kick on, till it gets a couple degrees cooler. Swings that small won't affect anything (more expensive ones may have even tighter swings)
    A few of the HB stores on line and manufacturers will have more information on them.
     
    #4 JrGtr, Apr 19, 2014
  5. TheBeerWhisperers

    TheBeerWhisperers Initiate (0) Apr 17, 2014 New Jersey

    Awesome--thanks for the heads up! I'll ask my guy over at the hb shop if they carry it.
     
    #5 TheBeerWhisperers, Apr 21, 2014
  6. JasonLovesBeer

    JasonLovesBeer Initiate (0) Mar 27, 2013 Canada (BC)

    That unit was runner-up when I bought mine! I have the Magic Chef 4.7L "beverage center" in which I can stuff around 55 beers at a mix of 12oz, 22oz, and 25oz. It was about the same price.

    I think it's pretty funny that most beer nerds will drop $30+ on a bottle of beer without blinking but won't invest in a decent cellar. Sure, you can convert a fridge or freezer using a temp controller, but there are products purpose-built for what you're doing. I've considered dropping the big coin on a Eurocave or similar high capacity, full-featured cellar but I'm not quite there yet.
     
    #6 JasonLovesBeer, Apr 21, 2014
  7. 2Xmd

    2Xmd Initiate (0) Apr 19, 2013 New York

    U can find find a temp controller on Amazon. Fridge looks good. Although, u could probably fit more bottles if u took the Firestone Walkers out of the boxes.
     
    #7 2Xmd, Apr 22, 2014
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  8. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,096) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Definitely looking to invest in a nice wine fridge this summer. Thanks for the recommendation.

    Given your current layout, how many 750ml C&C bottles could you fit at the bottom? In your review you note that it's somewhat limited due to the water drainer part of the fridge. So my question is, how many can you fit right now? And a second question is, conceivably, if you were to store only 750ml C&C, is there a configuration that can allow you to store more of these upright than what you are able to now? If so, how many?

    This will help a lot as the vast majority of beers I want to cellar are Cantillon and 3F lambics.
     
    #8 Stevedore, Apr 22, 2014
  9. Torontoblue

    Torontoblue Initiate (0) Jun 12, 2005 Canada (AB)

    I've been using a 6ft all refrigerator for the best part of 7 years now, always had it at the highest setting it would go; around 10 to 12c. Finally got this analogue temp controller at Xmas, works a treat and has just a 1 degree temp swing.

    The fridge is currently holding 205 bottles, with a mix of 275ml, 330ml, 500ml, 650's & 750's.

    Getting a larger, all refrigerator is worth the extra expense!
     
    #9 Torontoblue, Apr 22, 2014
  10. RM2017

    RM2017 Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2012 New York
    Trader

    Was curious if the Danby was still doing well for you? I'm looking into getting a small fridge or wine fridge for cellaring, have read some reviews that say the small fridges can die on you at a certain point.
     
    #10 RM2017, Dec 3, 2015
  11. Jwale73

    Jwale73 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,966) Aug 15, 2007 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have a Danby Millennium going on 5-6 years and it's been excellent and doesn't take up a lot of space, which is a major consideration for me.
     
    #11 Jwale73, Dec 6, 2015
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