Wine-cooler cellar

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Psychmusic, Jul 12, 2012.

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  1. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    Recently I've been trying to start cellaring more of my better beer. As I've really got no experience with this I was hoping for some advice.

    Currently I've only got two bottles that apparently age well, a DFH World Wide Stout and a 120 min. For my first foray into cellaring I didn't want to try with anything rarer or hard to come by. Currently, they're sitting in a refrigerator at about 40 degrees. I know this is kind of low and will slow the process of flavor-change, but I don't have an alternative where I am. My basement is completely finished, and the temperature in the rest of my houses storage areas are very variable.

    SO... I was looking into getting this (http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CWC-1200-12-Bottle-Countertop-Stainless/dp/B000T9XPGI) counter top wine cellar. Problem is the reviews are pretty negative. It seems to have a huge problem with condensation.

    I was wondering, then, whether anyone on here had any experience with it (for wine or beer), or if anyone had recommendations for a few affordable/reliable option.
     
  2. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    You will hear people tell you that you shouldn't store beer on its side. I personally cannot say whether you should or shouldn't, but many breweries recommend standing bottles upright.

    Check your local craigslist. You will find many mini fridges that you can pick up for very cheap, or even larger wine coolers that you can install your own shelves into so that the bottles stand upright.
     
  3. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    I was actually hoping to re-purpose the grates to store them upright. They seem removable, so I was going to store fewer bottles than the capacity would indicate is possible, but standing up.
     
  4. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

    Probably so, but 300 bucks is really expensive for something that small. Just my opinion.
     
  5. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    Agreed- but I found one used for $35 so it could be worth the investment.
     
  6. JM03

    JM03 Initiate (0) Nov 12, 2010 Ohio

  7. mcaulifww

    mcaulifww Initiate (0) Aug 18, 2011 Virginia

    If you'r going to remove shelves give your self 3 shelfs worth to stand bombers upright, 4 if they're corked bottles. That first one doesn't really seem big enough to start a cellar
     
  8. otispdriftwood

    otispdriftwood Initiate (0) Dec 9, 2011 Colorado

    Currently, they're sitting in a refrigerator at about 40 degrees. I know this is kind of low and will slow the process of flavor-change, but I don't have an alternative where I am.


    I'm guessing this isn't a dedicated beer fridge, but I recently bought an apartment fridge for around $350 and keep it at 45 degrees in the summer and 50 in the winter. It will fit at least 3 cases of 12 oz. bottles both stubby and tall in the main section and 6 - 10 bombers and 2-32 oz. growlers in the door if I remove one of the shelves. As it turns out, it was one of my better investments.
     
  9. trancesk8er

    trancesk8er Initiate (0) Jan 19, 2011 California

    I have this
    http://www.beveragefactory.com/wine/cellars/600e.shtml
    Used off craigslist $400. Best thing ever! That small fridge is not a good idea for cellaring at all. You will out grow it in a month, then be pissed off lol. My cellar is nearly full all the time and is great in the garage. Yes the bottles are on the side (good for the corked beer) only draw back is that you will get sediment buildup on the bottom side of the beer not the bottom of the bottle. I usually just stand them up for an hour or two before I open them so it doesn't get poured with the beer. Not a big deal as I see it. Also has enough space on the top to stack the 3L bottles.
    Good luck
     
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