cold plate in a freezer

[Karamuru]

Is there any reason why a cold plate couldnt be installed into a small freezer instead of a ice packed cooler?
thanks

[edramshaw]

In theory it could work if you didn't drink that much. The freezer can't keep up with the heat transfer as well as the ice which really limits how many beers you pull through there are still keep them cold.

[BrewGuru]

Karamuru - if this setup is for the bar that you have referenced in other posts, you need to be aware of a couple of things.

Jockey boxes (using cold plates or coils) are only intended for short term event dispensing, not for constant use at a bar - they are difficult to balance and the gas equipment you would require to get a good mix that would maintain the proper level of carbonation will cost more than proper draft dispensing equipment.

ALL beer that is NOT PASTEURIZED absolutely MUST be maintained at refrigerated temperatures or it will begin to go bad VERY quickly - if all you will be serving is Guinness and other imported beers, you can keep the kegs at room temperature and look at one of the chiller systems that MM sells, however, unpasteurized beer kegs cannot sit at room temp for several days and still be ok.

Good luck

[Karamuru]

thanks for the insights. can you recomend a affordable draft dispensing system for 4 beers(all unpasturized). Also need some help deciding on a effective cold room system for storage and cold fermenting.

[marzsit]

thanks for the insights. can you recomend a affordable draft dispensing system for 4 beers(all unpasturized). Also need some help deciding on a effective cold room system for storage and cold fermenting.

the cheapest way to go would be a large, 20cf or so converted chest freezer. commercial back bar keg units are very expensive, a 4-keg unit could easily cost 5-8 grand or more.....

[Mirko_S]

Search craigs list and be patient. You could find a good used unit for a fraction of the cost. Just make sure it's not a really old unit with the old freon.

[rickk1000]

If this is for 5 gallon corney kegs, chest freezer with proper above-freezing" controls (such as the Johnson controller) is awesome. Consider a "collar" for getting lines in and out rather than trying to drill thru the freezer wall.

If it is for commercial 15.5 gallon kegs, lifting the 140-ish pound kegs into the chest freezer will be less than fun.

[loganlambe1155]

Why stocking so much beer ?