Ideas on Beer Engine Keezer

homebrewdude76 · Nov 14, 2015

I bought a beer engine and am now thinking of ways to make a keezer for it.
I would plan a large center top section for the beer engine and 2 taps.
But the cap of the engine faces the wrong way, and the back metal plate for the spigot is not too pretty.

homebrewdude76 · Nov 14, 2015

Photos of engine

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homebrewdude76 · Nov 14, 2015

I think I can flip the cap around so the front is on the back and on the side of the direction of pull

homebrewdude76 · Nov 14, 2015

But I would need to redrill the metal plate to move the spigot down. Then will this entire device be too high to handle?

homebrewdude76 · Nov 26, 2015

Still looking for ideas on this

Bellybuster · Nov 26, 2015

how do you plan on using the engine? With a cask ale breather? you'll be chilling this cask ale along side other beers?
I ask because it matters, if you plan on simply using it like a tap, you will be sorely disappointed

Schmoltsbeer · Nov 26, 2015

Run a line from a 'fridge' (that is kept about 65 degrees F) to the engine that is bolted to a counter. Or just leave the cask out at room temp and connect to engine (this is what I would probably do).

homebrewdude76 · Nov 26, 2015

I was planning on using a cask ale breather. I think I have one already.

homebrewdude76 · Nov 26, 2015

I was planning on other kegs in the fridge. I normally run on the warm side anyway.

Bellybuster · Nov 27, 2015

you could probably build a box/cabinet on top of the mini fridg to clamp the engine to?? Kinda like a coffin box, with room for a couple taps on either side.
I certainly wouldn't be modding the engine at all, they are pricey

homebrewdude76 · Nov 27, 2015

I will use a chest freezer

homebrewdude76 · Nov 27, 2015

I just wonder if I build a typical keezer, then a tall box next to the keezer just for the engine. Would make lifting the keezer lid easier

homebrewdude76 · Feb 7, 2016

I have been planning this one.
I have purchased most/some of the materials.
Have the freezer and rough sawn oak.

Planning on making the "box" bigger than the freezer, then offset the beer engine.
I was going to build a box on top for the 2 taps.
But for weight reasons, I will go with a 2 tap tower. Brass to match the beer engine.

Now thinking of the top. I am guessing I want the weight of the top to push down on the freezer gasket.
So the top.lid should not touch the outer oak box.
I would then hang some trim from the lid as a skirt around the box.

I have some slate tile I was going to put on the top.. But I think that will too much weight.

homebrewdude76 · Feb 14, 2016

I am going to build the beer engine on the side.
So there will be two tops at different levels.
Larger lid will be higher than the smaller solid beer engine platform.

I built the base from yellow pine with caster wheels.

homebrewdude76 · Feb 14, 2016

This was a cheaper freezer and the hinges are very cheap.
The back will flex just with lid movement

I need it to fit 3 kegs.
I will probably add a collar to it, so I could fit 4 kegs.
Collar will help with the lid hinge.

homebrewdude76 · Feb 27, 2016

I framed in the beer engine.

Need to do some work to the wood shop before I can start to process the oak.

homebrewdude76 · Mar 12, 2016

I picked up a matching tap tower also. Black ceramic with brass/gold taps. Will mount on top of the freezer. So now I am not making a box for taps on the top.

homebrewdude76 · Mar 13, 2016

Did some work this weekend.

Need to think about how I will attach the plywood to the top?

homebrewdude76 · Mar 20, 2016

Side panels are done.

Need to start thinking of method to attach the wood to the freezer lid.

bpmpg · Mar 20, 2016

you are a better man than I am. I just put my beer engine on top of a mini fridge that I keep at 52 deg. I also use a cask breather and a cask widge (makes tapping/serving with a breather and engine too easy!)

cyberbackpacker · Mar 20, 2016

Liquid nails the ply to the top of the freezer!

homebrewdude76 · Mar 21, 2016

bpmpg said:
you are a better man than I am. I just put my beer engine on top of a mini fridge that I keep at 52 deg. I also use a cask breather and a cask widge (makes tapping/serving with a breather and engine too easy!)

I have the one way valve that came with the engine. Prevents beer under pressure from being pushed out the engine. I am planning on a propane regulator.

Have you seen the need to cool the beer lines or the engine?
Mine has the option to run a water cooled option.

John Paul Stoddard · Mar 21, 2016

Late seeing this posting. You figured it out by yourself I see. Woodwork is looking great. I was gonna recommend the same base and Cabinet set up. I always wondered why people did not build like that and put the CO2 Canister outside the Freezer. Simply drill a hole and run supply line in.

I would not recommend putting the Ceramic tower on top of the Freezer. Two reasons
1) I would be afraid that it would Break the first time you opened the Lid.
2) If you gonna place it net to a wall you may have to pull it away every time you open it to prevent it from striking the Wall.

I recommend you add a section on the Other End and mount it on the Opposite end.

homebrewdude76 · Apr 16, 2016

Worked on the trim today.
And fit up the hardware.
Need to trim the bottom then sand/finish.

homebrewdude76 · Apr 19, 2016

Not sure what to finish it with yet.. Still debating

homebrewdude76 · Apr 24, 2016

Not sure this is the best way, but I had a leftover roll of AL tape. Almost 2 inches of foam insulation behifld it.

homebrewdude76 · Apr 24, 2016

Photo

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homebrewdude76 · May 5, 2016

Outside all done

homebrewdude76 · May 5, 2016

Side view

RichBrewer · May 6, 2016

Fantastic craftsmanship! :mug:

homebrewdude76 · May 7, 2016

Side view

Yesfan · May 7, 2016

Holy ****! Wow, awesome!

rmr9 · Feb 24, 2020

Resurrecting this long dead thread! I’ve recently gotten my hands on a beer engine and want to build something similar to this (it won’t come out as beautiful but it’s my inspiration!) any ideas for relatively affordable places to get the wood for such a project?

NewJersey · Feb 26, 2020

rmr9 said:
Resurrecting this long dead thread! I’ve recently gotten my hands on a beer engine and want to build something similar to this (it won’t come out as beautiful but it’s my inspiration!) any ideas for relatively affordable places to get the wood for such a project?

Home Depot, seriously.
Good plywood is never cheap tho unfortunately

Also, wth is a beer engine?
how did the name engine come to be applied to what looks like a specialized beer tap?

rmr9 · Feb 26, 2020

Home Depot was my go-to at this point. Find some halfway decent looking plywood and stain it.

A beer engine is essentially a hand operated pump that draws beer from a cask. Traditional way of serving English beers!

Ideas on Beer Engine Keezer

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