DoubleAught

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Ok, I think I'm about ready to take the step into kegging. I'm hesitant about the additional costs and am looking for the best deal I can get. I think I'd like to start out with two kegs so I have a little variety. Would you recommend using the picnic taps or upgrading? I have a spare fridge that I can easily put two kegs in and thought turning it into a kegerator while I'm at it. That part isn't necessary though. I'm mainly just looking for tips, anything to make it easier to start out.

So from those with experience, what do you recommend?

Thanks!

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In their efforts to regulate beer quality, the ancient Babylonians, who were among history's earliest brewers, decreed that any commercial beermaker who sold unfit beer would be drowned in their own libation.

Kmcogar

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I waited for black Friday. Kegconnection.com had some great deals. On the other hand they always do. I got a 1 keg set up for about $100. Then I found the rest on Craigslist for dirt cheap. Good luck. It's well worth it

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Ægir was a god who would host a party where all the gods would drink the beer he brewed for them. He made this in a giant kettle that Thor had brought. The cups in Ægir's hall were always full, magically refilling themselves when emptied.

tally350z

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Just started kegging myself. I went with a single keg and the picnic tap. It has been working great for me so far. I don't plan on setting up taps anytime soon. Maybe if I get a few more kegs then I will get the taps. I say keep picnic taps for until you can go more.

Edit: Careful, cause once you start kegging you will want to brew alot more cause its so much easier then bottling.

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Drunken Tortoise Brewery
Primary - Indian Brittish Ale, Belgian Pale, American BarleyWine, Partigyle from BarleyWine.

Secondary - Hibiscus Mead.

Kegged- Slightly Smoked APA,
Dry Irish stout.
Bottled - Rum Oaked Porter.

BootstrapBill

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I would get taps. You can find them for pretty cheap. I got mine from birdman brewing for like $20 bucks. I think you waste a lot less, it makes your beer pours easier, and you don't have to clean up after the drips from the cobra heads. Save yourself the mess and spend the money.

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Primary: In search of something different.
Secondary: Kolsch, Red IPA
Kegged: Hard Blackberry Lemonade, Bitter
Notable Empties: Pecan Porter, NorthWestern Pale Ale, Double IPA, Red IPA, Amber

daksin

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I like my picnic taps. The kegerator's on the balcony of my 580sqft condo, so bling really isn't my deal. They work great and are cheap, easy to clean, and easy to find parts for.

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Bottled:Monticello Barleywine, Red Nosed Tripel
Kegs:Cali Common, Imperial Common, Sunshine Belgian Rye, Sticke Note Alt
Secondary:Cherry Blackberry melomel
Primary: Honey Blonde
On Deck: Belma Pale Ale, Cluster Fug IIPA, American IIPA v1.0, rauchbier, roggenbier

krazydave

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I prefer taps, but it doesn't mean you need to get them right away if you don't want to spend the extra money right now.

My suggestion would be to watch craigslist like a hawk. You can find a lot of stuff on there for cheap. Also, post an ad in the wanted section for stuff you need.
I found people selling multiple items in some cases and I was able to keep what I wanted and turn around and sell the stuff I didn't need. In doing so, I was sometimes even able to recover the initial cost, thereby making the stuff that I kept free, or even gain some cash.

erikpete18

Recipes 

Nothing at all wrong with starting out with picnic taps if you're looking to save some cash. I would recommend rigging up a system to keep the taps up and out of the way (could be as cheap as a bent paper clip) so that they don't accidentally get turned on somehow.

What I'd definitely suggest not doing (from my experience) is going through the door with taps but getting the cheap faucets to keep expenses down. You'll just wind up shelling out for Perlicks in a year after you get tired of your faucets sticking. I'd say start with the picnic taps and keep an eye out for deals on the rest of the stuff you'll need so you can collect it over a while and spread the cost out. I know Austin will do Perlick faucets on sale every now and then. Farmhouse has some of the cheapest shanks I've been able to find, and I think that's a regular price. And of course, craigslist!

H-ost

Recipes 

I started with a 2 keg setup (still using it). One thing I would recommend is to get a CO2 splitter with 2 check valves. The dual keg kit I bought did not come with one and without it you either have to switch the gas between the kegs when you want to serve or use a splitter with no valves which means you need to leave both kegs hooked up at all times to avoid loosing CO2.

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"Wisdom isn't "thinking hard". It's experience." - PassedPawn

Yooper

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I think picnic taps (cobra taps) are fine to start with, and let you get into kegging cheaper without having to drill a fridge/mess with faucets yet.

I started with three kegs, planning on using two in the kegerator and having one "on deck". I bought a regulator with a "Wye" (T) fitting so I could have two kegs on tap, and a 5 pound co2 tank. I got my stuff from kegconnection.com and have been very pleased. Much later, I bought a few more kegs, bought some perlick faucets, and drilled the holes for the kegerator.

Here's what I got: http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=326 plus one extra keg, and the co2 tank. It's good for having two kegs to dispense, and it was all set up for me.

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Broken Leg Brewery
Giving beer a leg to stand on since 2006

devils4ever

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I have picnic taps with my setup. I don't drink every night, so I like the idea of them being inside the refrigerator being kept cold. Taps on the outside might get warm causing problems. Plus, they are cheaper.

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