About to start kegging - debating 2 tap kegerator vs 3 tap keezer

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cinderbike

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Got all the equipment except a tank and a fridge/freezer. However I'm stuck: I don't ever see myself going past 2 kegs of beer, but I get the impression a lot of people underestimate how many taps they'd use.

On the one hand, the minifridge conversions with towers seem to look nicer, but that 3rd tap is tempting. What say you, HBT?
 
Haven't ordered mine yet but I am getting a kegerator within the next 2-3 weeks and am definitely going with 3 taps.


Rev.
 
I went from 2 taps and then made an 8 tap keezer. I would say 2 won't be enough but you don't have to go with 8. Also depends on how much you drink and how fast. I drink occasionally and have people over so that's why 8 is good for me. Its good to have a variety on tap instead of just 1 or 2. I would say 3-4 would be a good number. Think it out and plan it out but at least have something you can possibly upgrade on if you do decide to start off with only 2.
 
I plan to go for four taps in my keezer with plenty of room to lager or stash bottles.
 
Kegging offers a freedom from bottling that's awesome! It does, however, limit your pipeline in a way bottles don't.

My custom keggerator has a 3 tap coffin box which I love! But I'm in brew mode and have three finished beers waiting for a keg to open up, and I still want to brew more. I don't drink like a frat boy any more, so my pipeline is officially log jammed!

Long story short, the more kegs you have, the better pipeline you can build. Plus, variety rules!
 
I'm gathering materials for a four-tap keezer right now. My reasoning for going with four is:
- One for a darker beer (stout, porter, etc ..)
- One for a hoppy beer
- One for a wheat beer
- One for a lighter beer (cream ale, blonde ale, etc ...)

That covers my tastes pretty well and allows variety for whatever I happen to be in the mood for.
 
- One for a darker beer (stout, porter, etc ..)
- One for a hoppy beer
- One for a wheat beer
- One for a lighter beer (cream ale, blonde ale, etc ...)

- One for cider/hard lemonade
- One for champagne
- One for soda for kids

that is 7, then you need to add....

- Seven for carbing the one in queue for all taps.

Think that will cover it.

... unless you need nitrogen for your stouts. DAMN

- Two for nitro setup

So anywhere around 16 will do nicely.
 
- One for cider/hard lemonade
- One for champagne
- One for soda for kids

that is 7, then you need to add....

- Seven for carbing the one in queue for all taps.

Think that will cover it.

... unless you need nitrogen for your stouts. DAMN

- Two for nitro setup

So anywhere around 16 will do nicely.

This! :D

Seriously though - I went with four for the same logic (light, dark, hoppy, specialty).

It works great, but I really wish I had a fifth branch on my CO2 manifold so I could be carbing/aging one keg, and serving from four.
 
I was having the same debate recently. Luckily (or unfortunately depending how you look at it) I'm in an apartment at the moment and space is at a premium.

After discussing with SWMBO, we decided that a 2 tap, through the door kegerator built from a minifridge would be the best route. We figured that this would allow us to:

-scavenge the kegerator and build a keezer when we move into a larger place
-upgrade into a keezer if the kegerator ever craps out

or, ideal option 3

-once we move into a larger place, keep the kegerator in the bedroom and build a keezer

That being said, we're (currently) ok with only 2 beers on tap, and if we have the desire for a greater variety bottling.
 
Build a nice keezer to match the decor of your house! My coffin keezer holds 4 kegs. I initially thought that 3 taps would be plenty. WRONG! I went with a dual body regulator and a 3 way manifold off of one of the regulators, so that I could have 3 beers on tap and 1 keg in the keezer conditioning and carbing up. I found myself getting impatient and swapping beer lines around to get to my newest creation and realized very quickly that 4 taps were needed. Needless to say, it didn't stay a 3 tap keezer for long, it's now 4. Build something that you can grow into! ;)
 
A two tap upright is nice for serving up on the main floor.

DripTray_New1.jpg


A chest keezer is nice in the brewshop where you're conditioning and carbing the beer. A collar makes getting in and out much easier than if there is a tower installed on top.

Chest_Bigger_2.jpg

...and if you're in need of something more portable there is always....

Rolling_Kegger997.jpg
 
BierMuncher said:
...and if you're in need of something more portable there is always....

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=34805"/>

Just when I thought I've seen it all.... Awesome! :mug:
 
IM doing my kegerator to hold four taps. Is it cheaper to order a 2 tap conversion kit and add manifold, kegs, spouts later, or to piece the whole thing together and just add kegs and spouts later. I guess the manifold would be ready and not have to be swapped out.

Need to be on 2 kegs, and I think thats all I can afford now. What's my best option?
 
thetmaxx said:
Is it cheaper to order a 2 tap conversion kit and add manifold, kegs, spouts later, or to piece the whole thing together and just add kegs and spouts later.

Kinda depends. I put together 3 kegs, three faucets and shanks, 5# co2 tank, 3 way manifold, dual body regulator, and hoses and disconnects pieced together from craigslist, eBay, and AHS for FAR cheaper than I could have bought it together (about $180 I paid).

BUT, it took me about 4 months of bottom basement searching.

If you're willing to put in lots of time, piecemeal is the way to go. Otherwise, buy all together.
 
Well, looks like I'll take the cheap way out and do both. I'll get a 2-tap fridge for now (also in a small apartment and space is tight) and buy a chest freezer down the road and use the old one for lagering.

Now it's just up to finding a fridge to convert. It's odd how most mini fridges can be the same external dimensions and yet internally will either fit 2 kegs without modification or require removing door panels, etc. It looks like the Danby DAR440 is still in production, I see Sam's Club has one for $160. I'll have to check it out...
 
Well, looks like I'll take the cheap way out and do both. I'll get a 2-tap fridge for now (also in a small apartment and space is tight) and buy a chest freezer down the road and use the old one for lagering.

Now it's just up to finding a fridge to convert. It's odd how most mini fridges can be the same external dimensions and yet internally will either fit 2 kegs without modification or require removing door panels, etc. It looks like the Danby DAR440 is still in production, I see Sam's Club has one for $160. I'll have to check it out...

IF your willing to spend $160 alone for a fridge, then look on CL and find a freezer for $50.00. Take the leftover money and the money you planned to spend for a tower and buy a 3 tap tower for $150-$160 and still be ahead of what you would have originally spent. Why upgrade DOWN THE ROAD when you can have it NOW for less! That is unless you already have a tap. Which I assume you don't. :mug:
 
I don't have the room for something larger than a 5 (7, max) cu. ft. Chest freezer. And if I can avoid buying a new fridge I will.
 
I only had a perfect spot in the kitchen for a two tap kegerator so that is what I built. Later added a chest freezer (turned fridge) that I use for cold crashing carboys, bought it large enough that I can also keep 3 kegs on tap in there too. I keep my 'main' beers (usually a pale of some sort and something seasonal) in the kitchen kegerator and then have my more 'specialty' beers in the basement (right now a Stout, Porter and IPA).

Sure I'd love to have 7 beers on tap in the kitchen but you've got to work with the space you've got.
 
A two tap upright is nice for serving up on the main floor.

A chest keezer is nice in the brewshop where you're conditioning and carbing the beer. A collar makes getting in and out much easier than if there is a tower installed on top.

That's what I'm doing - already have a two-tap kegerator up on my main floor. And I'm going to put a 8.7 or 10.2 chest keezer in the garage for conditioning/carbing/lagering in cornies. Bought a BeerGun for bottling from the kegs and then the keezer will hold on-deck kegs for the kegerator.
 
I don't have the room for something larger than a 5 (7, max) cu. ft. Chest freezer. And if I can avoid buying a new fridge I will.

A lot of 7's will hold 3, sometimes four or more if you build a collar. Just trying to help you get the most beer (er I mean bang) for your buck!
 
This is a 7 made by Haeir. Now I have seen them called the professional series. Menards and others sell them. Just another option.

ForumRunner_20110929_115443.jpg
 
Well, looks like I'll take the cheap way out and do both. I'll get a 2-tap fridge for now (also in a small apartment and space is tight) and buy a chest freezer down the road and use the old one for lagering.

Now it's just up to finding a fridge to convert. It's odd how most mini fridges can be the same external dimensions and yet internally will either fit 2 kegs without modification or require removing door panels, etc. It looks like the Danby DAR440 is still in production, I see Sam's Club has one for $160. I'll have to check it out...

I would suggest the frigidaire mini fridge. Still available new @ lowes or best buy, or CL if you can find one.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/frigidaire-model-frc445gb-mini-fridge-kegerator-conversion-89013/
 
im currently building a 4 tap keezer and i dont think that 4 will be enough. the plan is for a 10 tap keezer when the money frees up a bit better.
 
If nothing else, don't skimp and get the cheap faucets. Just spend the extra money from the start and go with Perlicks. You won't regret it!
 
If nothing else, don't skimp and get the cheap faucets. Just spend the extra money from the start and go with Perlicks. You won't regret it!

+1 get perlicks.

Also 3-4 taps minimum... I have a 2 tap kegerator, I will upgrade to a keezer after I move. I also live in a condo with limited space, so I feel your pain. But you can probably fit 3-4 taps in a danby freezer in your storage room (if you have one). Do that!
 
Option C: - four taps :D

I went from 1, to 2, and now have 4. I have the kenmoore kegerator (best wedding present ever!). I can fit 3 kegs and two bottles in (currently have that at the moment). I picked up a couple of pinlock kegs and converted them to ball locks, so that I use all of the same fittings. The pinlock will fit under the bumpout at the back of the kegerator, allowing 3 kegs at once. It's just my wife and I, so no need for more than that. The 4 taps allow for a dedicated nitro tap (no more swapping it out as needed). And has been said already, get the perlicks.

My crappy looking chest freezer/ferm/lager fridge in the garage, conditions all of the kegs. It has no taps (outside of an errant picnic tap or two, but not intended for serving). It is temp controlled though.

I got my 4 tap for a very nice price through Kegcowboy. Standard T tower style. Works very nice.
 
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