recommendations for chest freezer

[paulbern]

Hey Gang!

My wife has finally agreed to let me get a chest freezer to use for cold crashing/lagering, etc. I would like one that is garage-ready and can hold a carboy that is 12in diameter and 24 in. tall. I have an Inkbird temp controller I plan to use with it. I've looked at Lowe's and Home depot and Amazon websites, but getting the inside dimensions is near-impossible. So I ask: does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[Minbari]

Hey Gang!

My wife has finally agreed to let me get a chest freezer to use for cold crashing/lagering, etc. I would like one that is garage-ready and can hold a carboy that is 12in diameter and 24 in. tall. I have an Inkbird temp controller I plan to use with it. I've looked at Lowe's and Home depot and Amazon websites, but getting the inside dimensions is near-impossible. So I ask: does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

Go to a local place and bring a tape measure.

 

[Donoroto]

Hey Gang!

My wife has finally agreed to let me get a chest freezer to use for cold crashing/lagering, etc. I would like one that is garage-ready and can hold a carboy that is 12in diameter and 24 in. tall. I have an Inkbird temp controller I plan to use with it. I've looked at Lowe's and Home depot and Amazon websites, but getting the inside dimensions is near-impossible. So I ask: does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks!

I got a 7-cubic-foot chest freezer at costco. It fits 4 corny kegs (barely) and has additional room for a couple six packs. Kegs are 25-ish inches high, so a 12x24 carboy will fit.

I don’t remember the brand, I can find out. They are said to be the largest appliance manufacturer in the world. It was made in USA I think. Around $275 two years ago.

 

[Zambi]

Not an answer to your question, but you say you want it for cold crashing/lagering.
It's quite heavy and awkward to lift things out of a chest freezer. Maybe do sort of a simulation run at home. You may be better off with a standing fridge

 

[Steve Ruch]

Not an answer to your question, but you say you want it for cold crashing/lagering.
It's quite heavy and awkward to lift things out of a chest freezer. Maybe do sort of a simulation run at home. You may be better off with a standing fridge

That's why I went with an upright freezer the last time I got one.

 

[Semper Sitientum]

If you have a Best Buy in your area or delivery range, I bought an Insignia 5 cuft. Freezer for <$150. As you can see from the pic., there is less space on right side due to the compressor hump. But the left side is 17”x13”x27” - LWH. So, it will fit the width of your carboy albeit a bit snug. The basket is removable. They do sell a 7 cuft. for <$200 which will give you probably another 6” in width. The top opens 90 degrees so it’s easy to load and unload. Personally, I don’t have a problem lifting 2’+, but I can see it could be a concern.

 

[Limey]

I have a 7cu ft chest freeezer that I got for $100 on Amazon Marketplace. Made a collar and installed three taps! It holds three corny kegs easily, plus other brewing supplies (hops, yeast, etc) and lives in my garage - works great and even in a relatively sparcely populated area there are always several chest freezers in various sizes and condition on marketplace!

 

[paulbern]

Thanks, everyone for your suggestions! As Semper mentions, BestBuy has the 7cu Insignia on sale, so imma go with that!

​

 

[Lowlyric]

Make cardboard disc of your equipment and take it with you. That's what I'm doing.

 

[Donoroto]

…or treat the staff to a keg of beer

 

[LloydGM]

Dang, I didn't see this thread until today, 12/17. I was going to say that I bought a 10cu ft Frigidaire from WalMart, online with free delivery, for only $300, and if my measurements are correct, it should fit 6 kegs.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Frigidai...reezer-Garage-Ready-EFRF1003-White/2547948714

I'd like to hear what you settled with and how your build goes.

PS I got 6 NukaTap Mini taps for not much at Williams Brewing, super easy to hook up with duotight fittings & tubing!

 

[paulbern]

I got this: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/insign...y-chest-freezer-white/6385046.p?skuId=6385046 . This is the one suggested by Semper above. It can fit a 6.5 gal. and 5 gal. big mouth bubblers, so it works great for me. I filled the 6.5 with water, cranked the freezer and it got the water from 68f to 32f in six hours. I also have an Inkbird ITC-312 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQ88JMY7?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title) which also works great.

 

[LloydGM]

Oh yeah, that's the 7cf version of the one I was going to get before that Walmart sale. Still gathering parts for mine, hope to start building it this Xmas break. I got that Inkbird controller, too, and another for a fermentation chamber I'm going to build from an old dorm fridge. G'luck on yours, glad to hear it's working out well. /cheer