Help with Kegerator/Fermentation freezer dilemma

[Otter]

I need help solving a real dilemma. I just bought a upright freezer on Craiglist for $50. I originally purchased it with the intent to use it as a fermentation freezer, but it is a lot more spacious than I thought. I can fit at least 8 kegs in this thing, as there is enough room for a second level. Of course, I would have to build a stronger shelf to hold the additional kegs. It can hold at least two 6.5 gallon carboys, again I would need to build a shelf.

However, I already have a small chest freezer that I currently use as my kegerator. It only holds two kegs without any further modification than the collar. I keep my bottled beer on the compressor hump. If I switched to a 2x8 collar, I could hold 3 kegs. I can use the chest freezer as my fermenter, however it will only hold two carboys side by side. I would still need to add a taller collar to account for the blowoff tube.

My dilemma is the following: should I switch the upright freezer to my kegerator. I could use it to cold condition kegs, carbonate kegs, etc. Or do I stick with the 2 tap kegerator, and just use the freezer as a fermenter.

I've gone back and forth over this numerous times, and would just like to get some other viewpoints.

Thanks.

[Mylo]

It sounds to me like either one will hold a maximum of two 6.5G carboys. I also understand from your post that your upright freezer will hold eight kegs (which is more than your chest freezer can hold). You have to build a shelf in the upright either way. Easy choice. Use the upright for your new serving kegerator and your chest freezer for fermenting. Potentially more kegs on tap is always the better choice.


Mylo

[meisterofpuppets]

100% make the upright a kegerator and the chest a fermentation chamber. You want as much space as possible to hold kegs, because you not only get more variety, but you have more opportunities to brew.

[foomench]

I agree on the space/quantity issues others have raised. But for logistics, I hate pulling carboys out of my chest freezer. Kegs are easier to raise and lower. Just another thing to think about.