How to Build a Remote Compressor Fridge for Beer

A mini fridge is large enough to hold a keg.

As any brewmaster will tell you, brewing beer in the hotter months is almost impossible. The temperature at which you ferment the beer will directly affect the taste and alcohol content of the finished product. The solution for brewing in hot weather is to create a consistent, controlled temperature at which the beer can ferment. A programmable thermostat is just the tool to help. These thermostats are available for less than $100 dollars and plug directly into the wall. Does this Spark an idea?

Print this article

Small refrigerator
External thermostat
Zip ties
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  
  Remove the shelving from the fridge so your beer container will fit inside.
- 2
  
  Plug the refrigerator into the thermostat and the thermostat into the wall.
- 3
  
  Unwind the wire between the thermostat and the probe wire and decide where you want to locate the probe. Keep away from directly beside the door, as these temperatures are higher if you constantly open the door. Also, do not insert the probe directly into the liquid, as the center of the liquid will have a higher temperature than the outside until it is chilled all the way through.
- 4
  
  Duct-tape or zip-tie the probe in place, making sure that it is not flat against the wall of the fridge, and secure the wire with additional strips of duct tape to keep it secure.
- 5
  
  Set the thermostat to the desired temperature and leave it alone. When the probe measures the temperature inside the fridge to be under your programmed number, the thermostat will turn on the compressor and cool the fridge. Once the temperature is reached, it will turn it off.