Beer keg refrig...kegerator

Drdogface · Drdogface's Garage

For the past month or so I've been looking into different styles and makes of beer keg reefers. Most of the affordable ones can be had for $500 or so and hold half a keg (or smaller) plus the CO2 tank. I've tried to research the customer satisfaction and most reviews are pretty negative. There are several brands but most I've never heard of. One can purchase an older reefer and convert it but I don't really have the room for that.

Anyone here on the board have one they like...or don't like for that matter? I really like the taste of real draft beer much more than cans/bottles ... well, who doesn't.

Thanks for any input...

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I looked into this a while ago and sadly, just don't drink enough beer anymore to make it cost-efficient. Two good friends have them, one in his kitchen and one in his basement. Both seem to be messy and cause plenty of stench if not cleaned up immediately. But maybe I can be moved again to do this if some folks post good photos and stories.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Here's a previous thread with some nice pics and suggestions show me your Keg-er-rator

another related thread: Who knows where you can get the Kegerator? Jack?

Big Ed · 06-09-2006, 06:42 AM

I have a Danby unit that I bought from a guy in Canada here. Reputable company, and good service. I like the unit fine, it works well for in home use. Downside is, the spill tray is just a plastic tray -- it doesn't run to a drain. So you can turn the tap on for a sec to let the foam dissipate before sticking your cup under (well, I guess you COULD but you'd be cleaning the tray a lot).

The really good ones are the Beverage-Air models, but these are upwards of $1,000.

fastpat · 06-09-2006, 07:01 AM

I've been looking at those for a while, including just yesterday. I know the brand Haier, they make all kinds of commercial refrigeration units, huge ones for meat markets and the like. I'm not familiar with the other brands you see here, but maybe others are.

We're remodeling the kitchen wing of the house, and I want to include a kegerator in it somehow.

Here's a more detailed version of the above drawing, sent by the architect last week. The wet bar is currently the work island in the kitchen, reused instead of being carted away. I hated to see that granite top wasted.

I'm going to find out if I can install a kegerator under one end of the wet bar, or if I need to make it free standing. One on wheels, like on the web site above, would be nice, but costs more and I'd only use it on the deck in good weather or in the new screened porch.

It'd be great to hear from folks on the other brands.

Paul T · 06-09-2006, 08:10 AM

My wife (then my g/f) bought me a Kennmore beer meister a few years back (yes, she's into P-cars too!). I love it and have had zero problems.

I tend to drink a lot of micro brews, so I went here and got a 2 tap tower and dual regulator setup and converted it so I can have 2 beers on tap at once. I buy sixtels usually (1/6 keg) so you can get 2 of them in there no problem and the dual regulators allow you to control the pressure in each keg individually.

I personally love the 1/6 kegs because it's not a big commitment (only 2 1/2 cases) and you can cycle some variety through. When you are not having a lot of parties (i.e. not football season) a 1/2 keg can last a LONG time.

fastpat · 06-09-2006, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul T
My wife (then my g/f) bought me a Kennmore beer meister a few years back (yes, she's into P-cars too!). I love it and have had zero problems.

I tend to drink a lot of micro brews, so I went here and got a 2 tap tower and dual regulator setup and converted it so I can have 2 beers on tap at once. I buy sixtels usually (1/6 keg) so you can get 2 of them in there no problem and the dual regulators allow you to control the pressure in each keg individually.

I personally love the 1/6 kegs because it's not a big commitment (only 2 1/2 cases) and you can cycle some variety through. When you are not having a lot of parties (i.e. not football season) a 1/2 keg can last a LONG time.

That reminds me to check with one of the local brew pubs to see what size containers they can fill. I know they do the 5 gallon ones, and full kegs, but don't know about other sizes.

1/6 keg I've not seen, do you have a picture of one?

Paul T · 06-09-2006, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rick Lee
Both seem to be messy and cause plenty of stench if not cleaned up immediately. But maybe I can be moved again to do this if some folks post good photos and stories.

I find so long as I keep the drip pan clean, there is no smell at all, at least with mine. I'll post some photo's later when I get home. Come on, you know you want one! Now I can't wait to get home and pour a cold one...

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Pat, put a full size fridge downstairs and pipe up to a dual-tap tower at the bar...

Tishabet · 06-09-2006, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fastpat

1/6 keg I've not seen, do you have a picture of one?

fastpat,
I believe a 1/6 keg is the so called pencil keg, the same type that you see with soda.

Paul T · 06-09-2006, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fastpat
That reminds me to check with one of the local brew pubs to see what size containers they can fill. I know they do the 5 gallon ones, and full kegs, but don't know about other sizes.

1/6 keg I've not seen, do you have a picture of one?

The 1/6 is the 5 gallon...

Paul T · 06-09-2006, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhoward
Pat, put a full size fridge downstairs and pipe up to a dual-tap tower at the bar...

This can be done, but it's difficult to keep the lines cold enough to prevent foaming. Ideally the beer line would be run inside a piece of pvc conduit, which would have fans blowing cold air from the fridge through the length of the run. I've never tried it so maybe not as bad as I'm thinking, but I've heard it's difficult to do right without going nuts and spending a lot of $$.

charleskieffner · 06-09-2006, 09:14 AM

I WANT ONE! its HOT out there! todays a mere flesh wound 106 degrees!mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmbeer-NECTAR OF THE GODS!

fastpat · 06-09-2006, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhoward
Pat, put a full size fridge downstairs and pipe up to a dual-tap tower at the bar...

I can't, there's no basement in what will be the den, in fact right now it's still a concrete slab beneath the crappy suspended floor (you know, the kind that flexes when you walk over it). The PO converted the garage into a fourth bedroom in a rather amateurish fashion, the suspended floor is 11 inches below the floor of the rest of the house. That will give us only about a 3 foot crawl space when the floor is raised up, and made properly. The room is pretty big at 25 ft 9.5 inches by 21 ft 7 inches, so even if I can't build it into the bar, there should be enough floor space for it.

The bedroom wing of the house does have enough space below for something like that, even though it's completely unfinished, but I don't feel the need for a bedroom beer tap.

fastpat · 06-09-2006, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul T
This can be done, but it's difficult to keep the lines cold enough to prevent foaming. Ideally the beer line would be run inside a piece of pvc conduit, which would have fans blowing cold air from the fridge through the length of the run. I've never tried it so maybe not as bad as I'm thinking, but I've heard it's difficult to do right without going nuts and spending a lot of $$.

Very true, and then there's the cleaning of the lines that must be done to prevent souring of the fresh keg.

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

I have a remote fridge with insulated lines running about 15 feet to my bar. Hasn't been a problem. Neither has cleaning.
Oh well...

Big Ed · 06-09-2006, 10:19 AM

A small hijack, I apologize in advance for this. Where do you guys who have these in your homes buy your line cleaning solution? I just ran out and everyplace I see online charges outrageous amounts for shipping. TIA

fastpat · 06-09-2006, 10:25 AM

That resource I posted above for the kegerators has those supplys as well.
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/cleaning-equipment/index.shtml

dhoward · dhoward's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Ed
A small hijack, I apologize in advance for this. Where do you guys who have these in your homes buy your line cleaning solution? I just ran out and everyplace I see online charges outrageous amounts for shipping. TIA

Ask the local saloon when the distributor shows up to clean and check. Get some from him. He doesn't care...
That's where I get mine, He just automatically leaves it for me now...

Paul T · 06-09-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dhoward
I have a remote fridge with insulated lines running about 15 feet to my bar. Hasn't been a problem. Neither has cleaning.
Oh well...

Good to know...like I said, I had heard it was difficult but never knew anyone that had done it. How did you insulate your lines? just standard pipe insulation?