The Refrigerator Solution
One of the most obvious solutions if you live in a humid or hot, volatile climate is to turn to technology to tame Mother Nature. You could, of course, build a walk-in, like the ones you see in many liquor stores. But that’s needlessly expensive. An old refrigerator, with a slight modification, can easily do the job provided you’re willing to pay the enhanced electric bill. All you need to turn that icebox into a true cellar is a refrigerator thermostat. Originally made for home-lagering, they’re also perfect for keeping your ‘frig at the optimal temperature, too. You simply plug the refrigerator into the thermostat and the thermostat into the wall, which then allows you to set the internal temperature to your exact specifications. You can find these gizmos at most homebrew supply stores or online.
One downside to using a refrigerator is that there’s not much humidity in them—they’re designed to keep food dry—which means they’re not ideal for storing cork-finished beers. If that’s your only solution, try to keep them in your refrigerator only when absolutely necessary, perhaps just during the hottest months.
This author uses several refrigerators set at different temperatures, one around 55 degrees for longer aging, one set colder for lagers and for beers not meant to age for very long, and a third just for guests to avoid one inadvertently opening a prized vintage.
