beermeisters kegerator

[aboule13]

Hi,

I was online today doing some kegerator shopping. I was leaning towards making my own, but found a triple tap on beermeisters.com. I called them and asked them what type of fridge they use because I have done some research and dont want to buy a crap fridge to store my precious beer in. They claim the fridge is specifically made for their company. Does anyone have any knowledge or experience with this type of beer dispenser? Am I basically buying a Danby? Thanks for the advice. I have been researching for days and could use some imput from anyone with knowledge.

Andy

 

[RC0032]

Thats a little pricey compared to building one yourself.

Also have them clarify if you get the 3 tap does it come with 3 sets of ball/ pin lock connections?

 

[aboule13]

comes with everything including three corny kegs

ive weighed it all out and could save about 300 bucks by doing it myself... however i just got my first time homebuyer check from the government so i dont mind spending a few extra bucks in order to save some time....

i also wouldnt mind having a chest freezer type conversion....

im torn

 

[Brickout]

Am I basically buying a Danby

Yep, it's a Danby DKC645BLS.

 

[aboule13]

well i'll be damned... or danby'd... its the same exact thing...

correct me if im wrong but Danby has a boatload of potential issues, right?

I had been thinking keezer method, but its just too big for the space i'm planning on putting it in. I guess the best method would be to purchase a better quality fridge and convert it myself.... unless anyone can attest to Danby?

I really wanted to just buy one complete because time is money, and i have the potential to screw up any DIY project, or at least make it more complicated than it should be. I guess I'll just keep researching!

 

[Johnny_Crunch]

I bought 2 Danby units at the same time, both were scratch and dent so I got a good price on them. One is just a small fridge the other is the kegerator.

The kegerator didn't work properly the day I brought it home. The digital temp adjustment would not change and I couldn't adjust the temp. They sent a service company out and they replaced the brain basically and it has worked ever since, about 2 years.

The refrigerator just broke 2 months ago and it is out of warranty, it was in service for less than 2 years. I won't buy another Danby product and replaced it already with something else. Both of these are outdoors built into my outdoor kitchen. You be the judge.

 

[chrispykid]

I really wanted to just buy one complete because time is money, and i have the potential to screw up any DIY project, or at least make it more complicated than it should be. I guess I'll just keep researching!

Time is money, but the pride that comes with doing it yourself can't be bought. Two ways of reducing the risk of a screw up: 1. Pick up a cheap fridge on craigslist, there are tons of them out there and if you don't spend much you're not risking much. 2. Buy a new fridge that a ton of people have already converted and follow their lead. The Frigidaire model is popular and there's a great long running thread. I did a build for the Popular Mechanics website that took a lot of inspiration from that thread and I can assure you I'm not a skilled craftsman by any stretch.

Definitely do your research, but $900 plus for one of these units strikes me as crazy.

 

[RC0032]

correct me if im wrong but Danby has a boatload of potential issues, right?

I bought mine used, had it for 2 years, no issues.


It falls apart tomorrow

 

[aboule13]

I just had a moment of clarity after pondering this for days.... and then i come back to see some people who seem to agree

spending that much money on a kegerator is downright crazy... yes its easy to have it simply shipped, and even with my free money from the government (first time homebuyer), there is no excuse to spend more than I have to. Im going to buy the conversion kit... now i just need to figure out what would fit properly in my basement... a chest freezer or mini-fridge...

you are absolutely right about the pride factor to chrispy, its kind of part of the homebrew DIY mentality... i proudly show off my cooler mash tun to anyone who will listen

 

[aboule13]

do you have a link to that frigidaire thread?

 

[aboule13]

also is kegconnection a good place to get a conversion kit, or is there any other good places for this?

 

[Boomer]

Call Ed at Brewmaster's Warehouse.

There's no way in the world I'd spend $900 on a kegerator. I built mine for less than half of that and it works great. If the fridge goes out, I've got all of the components and can just transplant them to a different fridge. It's also fun to build it yourself because then you'll know all the ins and outs of it so if something stops working, you know where to look and how to fix it. Just my two cents, but I wouldn't buy one. If I did it again, I would build a keezer in stead, though.

 

[ASantiago]

Reviving the thread...

Has anyone else considered/purchased any of BeerMeisters kegerators?

I've read this thread and other info. I get the benefit of doing it yourself (lower cost, pride, etc). And I get that there are alternatives.

The situation today is this:

1. $849 + ~$100 shipping = $950 gets you a fridge, a three-tap tower, three kegs, all the lines, a 5 lb CO2 tank, a dual gauge and basically anything and everything you need (except for the CO2 itself) to keg your beer as soon as the darn thing comes into the house.

2. Size not too obscene so it fits inside the house, as opposed to some of the more common conversions that take up a lot space and generally end up in the garage. (My concern with putting things in the garage is heat, cold, dust, critters, etc).

3. Not everyone is a tinkerer (although even the BeerMeisters stuff will require some assembly). While there is certainly a price premium for NOT DIY, I guess the question is how much is too much of a premium.

Not trying to sway one way or the other, but certainly *someone* out there has one of these things and must be fairly satisfied with it... no?