Show me your chest freezer keggers. Please?

Bobby_M · Mar 27, 2007

I've decided that my circa 1979 upright freezer is an energy hog and I don't want to waste time fitting faucets on it. I'm ready to go out and buy a brand new chest freezer and I'd like to find one that will fit at least 4 cornies, 5 or 6 would be better. I noticed Lowes, at least my local, has only 3 to choose from. One small (probably hold two cornies) and two larger ones for $400 plus. I bet there's a sweet spot model out there that someone has already done the homework on. I'd rather not have to walk into a store with two cornies in hand if someone can dispense some knowledge on me. I use pinlocks (9" diameter). Thanks.

Dude · Mar 27, 2007

Take a tape measure with you, or cut out a circular piece of wood that is the diamter of a corny keg. That is all you are concerned with. Height won't matter because you'll have to build a collar for it anyway. A chest freezer isn't tall enough to hold cornies without a collar. You can then build the collar and integrate the taps into that. I've seen you on brewboard, search there for some totally awesome ideas. stout_fan has my favorite.

AleHole · Mar 27, 2007

I also read a great idea... cut out a cardboard footprint of how many kegs you have and the configuration you want them and take that to the store with you.

Bobby_M · Mar 27, 2007

Good idea on the cutout. I think I'll just make a bunch of 9" circles and take them shopping. I don't have any particular configuration desire other than being able to fit them. It would be great if they'd fit in the grid pattern rather than staggered because it's just a more efficient use of space. Either way, I'll know exactly how many it will hold.

Right, I plan on building a collar just to keep from modifying it anymore than I have to.

EdWort · Mar 27, 2007

Here's mine. It's a 10 cubic foot Amana. It will hold 6 five gallon cornies and 1 three gallon corny, but no room for a CO2 tank.

homebrewer_99 · Mar 27, 2007

EdWort said:
Here's mine. It's a 10 cubic foot Amana. It will hold 6 five gallon cornies and 1 three gallon corny, but no room for a CO2 tank.

You'll just have to reconfigure to 5 cornies and a CO2 tank...

EdWort · Mar 27, 2007

homebrewer_99 said:
You'll just have to reconfigure to 5 cornies and a CO2 tank...

yeah, right now it has 3 cornies, a CO2 tank, and a bucket fermenter of Kolsch that is crash cooling. This is my carbing & chilling setup. SWMBO has authorized another chest freezer for proper fermenting temps since she want my son of fermentation chiller out of the living room and we're getting to the warm time of the year. She said "I want that thing out of here" and I told her it would not work very well in a 100 degree garage. She said "Then use a chest freezer" and I said "Great idea! Thanks Hon!" :ban:

I'm stoked. The garage will have a beer fridge capable of storing 6 cornies, a chest freezer for carbing & crash cooling, and finally a chest freezer for fermenting & lagering. I'll finally do some lagers this year.

sirsloop · Mar 27, 2007

It would not be hard to pipe C02 in through the back of the collar. Keep your big tank outside the chest. You may also want to make a couple of cut outs that are the size of your better bottles. It can't hurt to leave some ale out of the fridge to age while you have 1-2 lagers brewing away in the cooler.

on a side note... i'm not gonna be able to make it up to your place for another week or so. I was just out in san jose last week and i'm flying down to florida for another week on Wed. We'll sort out the keg thing then. Heck... if you have parts i'll help you put your chest together over some homebrews. Drinking homebrew while building stuff is the best!!

Bobby_M · Mar 27, 2007

It might be as simple as changing out a few lids. I think I may have mixed them up in cleaning. I was mostly concerned with getting you lids with pressure reliefs because I didn't want a blown up keg incident on my conscience. After thinking more about it, it's a crazy concept. No way the reg would put out 100+ PSI. The tubing would go first anyway. PM me when the travel slows down.

Brewpastor · Mar 27, 2007

I don't have any internal pictures of mine, but it will hold 7 full size cornies and 2 2.5 gallon cornies. Here are some images, which are also posted elsewhere:

TheJadedDog · Mar 27, 2007

I do so love the Pastors beer porn.

sirsloop · Mar 27, 2007

lmfao... huge!

Pimp Juice · Mar 27, 2007

The candle adds a nice touch

Dude · Mar 27, 2007

BP...that is so amazing.

You totally kicked ass on that thing!

Brewpastor · Mar 27, 2007

Thanks. I do love it and the chalk board for names is SWEET!

Denny's Evil Concoctions · Mar 27, 2007

BP. How do you keep your taps cold? Glycol and pump?

Evetually want to move up to a steup like yours. I have 2 tap (on a 3 tap tower- can only fit 2 cornies in the fridge) system at the moment (see gallery) with an option of running another line in from another cooler. Had thought of doing that with a chest freezer nest to it and then also having my carboys in there.

But when I move and hopefully get resttled into a decent sized place I'll probably to the chest freezer setup simular to yours.

Brewpastor · Mar 27, 2007

Right now I don't do anything with them. It is only a 12" run and I don't find it to be a concern. I have a design using gylcol and a pump, with small ID copper tubing, but that is way back on the burners. Right now the upper box is well insulated and the radiant cooling through the bottom of the Tower/Box keeps things fine.

Brewpastor · Mar 27, 2007

Oh, I also keep my CO2 outside the cooler.

EdWort · Mar 27, 2007

Very Sweet Brew Pastor! Did you do the woodwork yourself?

It would be great to see some pics of the inside.

neckbone · Mar 27, 2007

BP, that is the most rediculously needless thing I have ever seen!!!!!

Thank you. I now have something to work towards. A kickass beverage serving station to be the envy of the whole neighborhood!!!! :mug:

thebull · Mar 27, 2007

Can't get the pictures to post.

JnJ · Mar 28, 2007

Here is mine;

Pictures are a little blurry.

Beermaker · Mar 28, 2007

Damn Pastor...all Perlick. Nice, I am drooling.:cross:

D2T · Mar 28, 2007

Here's mine. An Amana 14.8 cu ft chest freezer, 10# CO2 tank that fits perfectly on the compressor hump, and 4 Perlick faucets.

This was right after I built it. Now it's full of kegs, the side oak panels are attached, and the manifold is mounted.

BierMuncher · Mar 28, 2007

They're all great. Innovation must be a traight of the homebrewing crowd.

One question (I think I know the answer).

I see a lot of probes for external thermostats. Is there no chance a chest freezer can stay at 32 degrees at the warmest setting or is an external absolutely necessary?

Has anyone tried?

Kudos to all...I'm next. :rockin:

Vermicous · Mar 28, 2007

I can't speak for all freezers, but mine froze water even at the lowest setting. I was hoping to avoid shelling out the cash for a controller, but this way I can use it for lagering and hit the temps within a couple of degrees.

McKBrew · Mar 28, 2007

You know the saying "keeping up with the Jones's". If I were to try that with you guys I'd fail miserably. Brewpastor your system rocks. You other guys have some great set-ups as well. Someday, someday....

Pimp Juice · Mar 29, 2007

Most chest freezers are just that, freezers! The lowest setting is still freezing usually... Mine got as warm as 15 degrees.

Bobby_M · Mar 29, 2007

Nothing a ranco or similar controller can't fix, I got mine on Ebay for $25 shipped.

sAvAgE · Mar 30, 2007

Is there aHOWTO or a Wiki for these? THis is fantastic. Would LOVE to do something like this and Kegerators are WAY too expensive.

Show me your chest freezer keggers. Please?

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