Brew Fridge

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Monday Jan 08, 2007 3:25 pm

Think it was Target over the break had a wine cooler with built in thermostat. Neat, tidy, easy and on special for $399. Anyone use one of these?

timmy · Post by **timmy** » Monday Jan 08, 2007 3:40 pm

Ouch....

Check out fleabay for a cheapy fridge (got mine for a tenner) and then get one of those Fridgemaster gadgets. Should have you fixed up for a quarter of that price....

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Monday Jan 08, 2007 3:52 pm

Once or twice a year KMart will have specials on them for $200.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Tuesday Jan 09, 2007 2:03 pm

scblack, is that the type with an actual thermostat, where you can dial up the temp on display?

The only ones I've seen for under are just standard wine coolers which have a min and max setting.

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Tuesday Jan 09, 2007 2:33 pm

Don't know at all, sorry. I have a brew fridge so never looked.

morgs · Post by **morgs** » Thursday Jan 11, 2007 4:30 pm

I noticed one of these at big w today for $188.
Got me thinking. I m pretty sure the temp range is bout 9 - 18deg. Sounds perfect to me for brewing.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Thursday Jan 11, 2007 5:00 pm

I noticed one of these at big w today for $188.
Got me thinking. I m pretty sure the temp range is bout 9 - 18deg. Sounds perfect to me for brewing.

I use one. A Mistral I bought from Kmart for around $200 from memory.
I find the temperature fluctuates quite a bit & had to fit it out with a thermostat to keep the temperature over 18 in the cooler months.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Thursday Jan 11, 2007 7:04 pm

Chris, I've seen them too, I thought they looked a little to thin to hold a Coopers fermenter, I gather you use a taller, narrower one like they sell at HB stores?

Also the fridge I saw on special was $399 but it was twice as big as that $200 Mistral, and it had built in temperature control - just dial it up.
It's a fair bit of money though.

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Saturday Jan 13, 2007 11:58 am

Yeah I use the taller type. Not sure if a Coopers type will fit.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Tuesday Jan 16, 2007 10:44 am

So you wouldn't recommend the mistral for $200? Not much good for wine either if the temp fluctuates. What sort of fluctuation are you getting?

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Tuesday Jan 16, 2007 5:20 pm

All good now I've installed a fridgemate thermostat. The temperature is much easier to control & the air temperature only fluctuates a few degrees which makes bugger all difference to wort temperature.

It all depends what you want. IMO the wine fridges are great for the size factor. They don't have a freezer & can, in my experience, comfortably fit a single fermentor with a blow off tube. I also like that I can see the fermentor without having to open the fridge door. Although the glass door probably isn't the best option for insulation.

But having said that if you have to fit a thermostat either way, & don't have any space issues, a cheap second hand fridge is just as good an option.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Tuesday Jan 16, 2007 6:23 pm

Yep, that's what I'm thinking.

Was just hoping the little wine coolers would sit at a constant temp assuming minimal ambient temp variation.

Otherwise might as well be second hand fridge and thermostat!

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Tuesday Jan 16, 2007 7:03 pm

Just got a 480 litre kelvinator, frost free for $50 on ebay, works a traet

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Tuesday Jan 16, 2007 7:34 pm

Everyone wants stupid amounts of money for their fridges in Adelaide for some reason. I always check the Trading Post and eBay, and even then when I find a good deal I'd have to beat the other ravenous home brewers on here to the phone!

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Tuesday Jan 16, 2007 11:05 pm

Pale_Ale wrote:Everyone wants stupid amounts of money for their fridges in Adelaide for some reason. I always check the Trading Post and eBay, and even then when I find a good deal I'd have to beat the other ravenous home brewers on here to the phone!

Good luck m8

morgs · Post by **morgs** » Wednesday Jan 17, 2007 4:33 am

Pale_Ale wrote:Chris, I've seen them too, I thought they looked a little to thin to hold a Coopers fermenter, I gather you use a taller, narrower one like they sell at HB stores?

Also the fridge I saw on special was $399 but it was twice as big as that $200 Mistral, and it had built in temperature control - just dial it up.
It's a fair bit of money though.

The one at big w for 188 was wide enough, i checked it with a coopers kit in the other aisle.

However the depth was just shy i think as the cooling unit sat at the back? Although i didn't accurately measure. Anyone use the rank arena 28 bottle holder?? Does a fermentor fit?

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Wednesday Jan 17, 2007 9:12 am

I think the Rank Arena is very very similar to the Mistral if not the same, and chris. fits a tall type fermenter in his.

morgs · Post by **morgs** » Wednesday Jan 17, 2007 10:06 am

i think my pail type fermentors would fit. I won't look stupid dragging it in to the shops with me will i ? lol

scblack · Post by **scblack** » Wednesday Jan 17, 2007 10:36 am

morgs wrote:i think my pail type fermentors would fit. I won't look stupid dragging it in to the shops with me will i ? lol

I've done it.....

chris. · Post by **chris.** » Thursday Jan 18, 2007 8:40 pm

Pale_Ale wrote: Was just hoping the little wine coolers would sit at a constant temp assuming minimal ambient temp variation.

Not in my experience Pale. With the thermostat inline & the fridge set to the coolest setting I'm finding good results.
If you have the space go for 2nd hand IMO.