Chest Freezer Woes

Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:40 am

So I got a used chest freezer for cheap of of Craigs List. I bought a temp control and fermented my first batch in it. The fermentation went wild and the blowoff went every where. There is now a layer of beer and scum at the bottom of the freezer and it reeks. It probably the worst thing I have ever smelled. On the plus side, the beer is great.
User avatar
blinddog
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:43 pm
Location: Tumwater, WA

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Fri Oct 15, 2010 10:22 am

Spray in some water, scrub it all down, and suck it out with a wet/dry vac.....no worries.!!


Sergeant, Gulf Coast, Air Force Div.


Keeper of the :asshat: 2011-2012

"Push keeps shoving something in my mouth" Kim Woods

BJCP Judge
User avatar
Whitebeard_Brewer
 
Posts: 1285
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:07 am
Location: Biloxi, Ms.

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:12 pm

Whitebeard_Brewer wrote:Spray in some water, scrub it all down, and suck it out with a wet/dry vac.....no worries.!!


+1

I also spray Starsan solution to sanitize the chest every so often.
bluesman
 
Posts: 16
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2008 6:08 pm
Location: Delaware

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:50 pm

I usually put a little tub of arm and hammer baking soda in there too. it seems to help suck up the smell, but i still clean the shit out of it between ferments
patso
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:57 pm

Well I just cleaned it out. I took about two and a half beers to do it. There was about a half an inch of muck on the low end of the freezer. I scooped it out and scrubbed it down. Then I gave it a good hot Oxycleaning. I now have a much happier chest freezer. I think I am going to invest in some of that there Fermcap stuff or whatever it is called so I don't have to worry about blowoffs any more.
User avatar
blinddog
 
Posts: 82
Joined: Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:43 pm
Location: Tumwater, WA

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Sat Oct 16, 2010 9:46 am

good idea. I started using that stuff too, and havnt had bad blow off since. not losing all those healthy yeast cells out the top of the carboy might make better fermentation too.
patso
 
Posts: 8
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 5:45 pm

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Sat Oct 16, 2010 11:12 pm

that happens to me every so often. You can start by opening the drain plug and draining everything out. I typically bleach the whole thing. It's not touching the beer so it doesn't scare me to use it.
What's Brewing
Primary:
In the Aging Tank: Special Bitter
Bottled:
Kegged:
User avatar
meisterofpuppets
 
Posts: 563
Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:24 am
Location: Northern Kentucky

Re: Chest Freezer Woes

Sun Oct 17, 2010 6:01 am

Also, I use one of these in my kegorator...really helps keep the moisture down!!!!


Sergeant, Gulf Coast, Air Force Div.


Keeper of the :asshat: 2011-2012

"Push keeps shoving something in my mouth" Kim Woods

BJCP Judge
User avatar
Whitebeard_Brewer
 
Posts: 1285
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2007 6:07 am
Location: Biloxi, Ms.

Next

Return to Fermentation

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

A BIT ABOUT US

The Brewing Network is a multimedia resource for brewers and beer lovers. Since 2005, we have been the leader in craft beer entertainment and information with live beer radio, podcasts, video, events and more.