Lagering vessel

[Tetsuo1981]

Hi all

Was hoping to get my next brew on this Saturday, a Coopers Cerveza kit with the idea of lagering it for a long time after fermenting. Problem is getting something fit for purpose that will fit in my brew fridge. I have a wilko pressure barrel that kind of fits but it's at a dodgy angle. Would just buy another bucket FV but what I've googled says there'll be too much head room leading to oxidation / oxidisation (can't remember which)

Would this be do-able at this dodgy angle?

Cheers

 

[user 18729]

Hi all

Was hoping to get my next brew on this Saturday, a Coopers Cerveza kit with the idea of lagering it for a long time after fermenting. Problem is getting something fit for purpose that will fit in my brew fridge. I have a wilko pressure barrel that kind of fits but it's at a dodgy angle. Would just buy another bucket FV but what I've googled says there'll be too much head room leading to oxidation / oxidisation (can't remember which)

Would this be do-able at this dodgy angle?
View attachment 24771
Cheers

Would it fit if you removed the tube heater and shelf?

 

[Tetsuo1981]

Would it fit if you removed the tube heater and shelf?

Maybe, I stupidly wired the heater and temp probe through the back. Will have a go but ot sure because of the hump at the back (where the shelf meets the back of the fridge.) it's a dumpy barrel. And infuriatingly it's not out by much. I'll give it a look and let you know

 

[user 18729]

Maybe, I stupidly wired the heater and temp probe through the back. Will have a go but ot sure because of the hump at the back (where the shelf meets the back of the fridge.) it's a dumpy barrel. And infuriatingly it's not out by much. I'll give it a look and let you know

Worth a try! Failing that it’s a good excuse to look at buying a cornie or sankey keg (they come in 9/10L sizes as well as the 20L)

 

[Tetsuo1981]

Would it fit if you removed the tube heater and shelf?

Tried it and no go thanks to the bloody moulding on the inside of the door

Worth a shot though. Might look into dismantling the door at some point. Thought about kegs but money is tight and not sure I want to disappear down that rabbit hole just yet! Will give them a look though

 

[user 18729]

You can Lager it in your pressure barrel at a wonky angle, that won’t hurt. You can then dispense until the level gets close to the tap, then carefully right the barrel to get the last few pints.

 

[Tetsuo1981]

You can Lager it in your pressure barrel at a wonky angle, that won’t hurt. You can then dispense until the level gets close to the tap, then carefully right the barrel to get the last few pints.

Cheers for that, feel a bit more reassured now. I'm not going to keep the finishd beer in the barrel, looking to bottling it finally as I've promised some to some friends a bit further a field but glad it should work on the slant. I would lager in the bottle but again, not convinced I'll get them all in the bloody fridge. Think I need a new fridge when this all blows over!!

 

[cheeseyfeet]

Where did you get your fancy shiny fridge shelf? Looks sturdy!

 

[Tetsuo1981]

Where did you get your fancy shiny fridge shelf? Looks sturdy!

It's a one off, Heath Robinson contraption made from a scrap of melamine or formica covered board from my dad's shed covered in silver primer and wheel lacquer to seal and protect it and a bit of random metal trim hot-glued on to finish it. Blue Peter eat your heart out!

 

[hemanresu]

Tried it and no go thanks to the bloody moulding on the inside of the door
View attachment 24773
Worth a shot though. Might look into dismantling the door at some point. Thought about kegs but money is tight and not sure I want to disappear down that rabbit hole just yet! Will give them a look though

sit the barrel on something so the moulding can slip underneath

 

[Tetsuo1981]

sit the barrel on something so the moulding can slip underneath

It's sat on a can kit in the 2nd picture so height won't be an issue, it's the poxy spine running down the middle of the door that's stuffed me up

Was gonna have a go at surgically removing the offending lump tonight but had wiring problems in the brew shed so that and my yeast starter will have to wait untill tomorrow now when I get in from work

 

[AleDr]

It's sat on a can kit in the 2nd picture so height won't be an issue, it's the poxy spine running down the middle of the door that's stuffed me up
View attachment 24807
Was gonna have a go at surgically removing the offending lump tonight but had wiring problems in the brew shed so that and my yeast starter will have to wait untill tomorrow now when I get in from work

Ok , didn't realise it was the vertical bit that's the problem
Be careful with the scalpel

 

[Tetsuo1981]

Ok , didn't realise it was the vertical bit that's the problem
Be careful with the scalpel

No worries, I'm no David Bailey!! And usually work all day with scalpels so will definitely be careful,

 

[Tetsuo1981]

After a bit of a one trying to make my first yeast starter (don't ask, pilot error, well detailed in another thread) I've taken the plunge and tried making my barrel fit my fridge. Butchered the door, all seems to fit OK, just need to make a seperate lower shelf / stand for the barrel

Fingers crossed it'll all dry fine and be ready for action next weekend