Out door structure

[Manngold]

Hi all,

I have cleared it with SWMBO that I can have a custom built outdoor structure for my brewing! I am planning on having elcetiricty supplied to it, so that I can apply heaters to my FV. But thinking about it, I could perhaps get a fridge put in there. My initial measurements come in a 1m deep, 1m wide, and 1m tall. Does this sound big enough for a fridge?

Thanks.

John

[50quidsoundboy]

probably big enough for a fridge but i'm worried that at 1m tall you're going to have to crouch every time you go in there

[Manngold]

Hmmm, a very good point. I was more thinking a place where I could store things and FV's whilst they are brewing. My initial measurements allow me to store about 6 crates and 2 FV's. But might need to adjust some things. It was literally just going to open and be a storage area with leccy. The doors would open out in front of me and also towards the top.

[daddies-beer-factory]

what about a shed ? if space is an issue you can get a 6" x 3" shed something like this http://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk/ ... tore/23835

you could get an under counter fridge in there, but not a tall larder fridge

[floydmeddler]

Yup, a shed's the way forwards. Just make sure you keep it rat/mice proof!!

[Manngold]

Thanks guys. How do I make it mice / rat proof? I am currently storing my beer in boxes in a shed that has had a rat problem before.

Thanks

[Fil]

rats n mice are no threat to beer in bottles or kegs, but any sugar grain or adjuncts left available to em in flimsy placky bags is fair game..

50l x-mango chutney barrels make great rodent proof grain stores once de-whiffed £11 delivered via ebay if you cant get a freebie from a local indian restaurant. and with the lid screwed down nowt will get to your ingredients

[mackem72]

Since talking bout sheds, im considering getting one to store beer in once its bottled, I know the uk isnt exactly well known for blistering summers but wanted to ask is bottled beer ok being stored sheds in the kinds of temperatures we get during our wonderful summers or do you guys have some way of trying to cool the sheds down. Sorry for ignorance only just starting out in this brilliant hobby

[floydmeddler]

You could wire it up and put a few temp controlled fridges in there.

TBH though, I don't really know what temp beer should be stored. I brew, ferment at 18c for a week, crash for a week then keg. The beer then conditions for a week in whatever temp the garage is at. Currently 24c on average. Beer tastes damn fine.

I suppose, what I'm saying is, I don't think you need the same strict temp control for storing beer as you do with wine.

Be interesting to see what others think about this, actually.

[Fil]

my beers in the bottle and keg are too subject to garage and out house temperature fluctuations. I think once its in its final serving vessel conditioned and tight you can relax a lot about maintaining specific temps. tho i would expect a beer kept in a cool stable temp to have a better shelf life.

[Manngold]

I was alson wondering about something similar, but at the other end of the spectrum. What about when it gets really cold, cover it in a blanket? Occasionally it will drop to below zero, is this ok, or bad?

[floydmeddler]

I have a 2L bottle of Oatmeal stout in my attic. I brewed it last Dec and am keeping it for this Xmas. Hope it'sll be OK... it's warm up there!!