Benefits of what to start with (freezer vs fridge)

[jimmyjusa]

I've been told I'm going to be getting a kegging setup for my birthday. Since I'll be looking to build a kegerator what would be best value in general?
Chest freezer
Side by side fridge/ freezer
Top/ bottom fridge and freezer
I know a chest freezer would work as a sole dedicated option but on the flipside a combo would allow freezer space for hops.

 

[mongoose33]

I've been told I'm going to be getting a kegging setup for my birthday. Since I'll be looking to build a kegerator what would be best value in general?
Chest freezer
Side by side fridge/ freezer
Top/ bottom fridge and freezer
I know a chest freezer would work as a sole dedicated option but on the flipside a combo would allow freezer space for hops.

A kegerator and a keezer are really different approaches. Generally a kegerator will have a tower on top with one or more faucets; a keezer will have faucets through a wooden collar.

Much of this decision comes down to capacity. A kegerator typically has limited capacity, generally from one to three 5-gallon kegs. A keezer can handle from as few as 2 (with a 5-cu foot freezer) to 10 or more. I have a keezer that's about 9 cu foot and I can get 7 kegs in it.

A kegerator will have a smaller footprint; a keezer generally a larger one, though this is consistent with capacity.

IMO, the least effective approach involves a combined freezer/refrigerator. A lot of capacity is given up to freezer space, and the capacity as a result isn't great.

As far as a freezer being available for hops, how many hops are you planning to keep? IMO, probably the least important reason to choose one or the other.

********

A keezer can be expanded; you might start with maybe 1 or 2 faucets, but have room to expand as need and resources expand.

So--what capacity, in kegs, are you planning for? That, IMO, is likely the determining factor. You can do some pretty cool stuff either way, so start with that. Here's mine, a 5-faucet affair, with a glass rinser on the side and a flatscreen monitor for the menu:

 

[jimmyjusa]

Thanks for that input, for now I'm looking to start with two taps but would like to grow to probably 4 overall. For hops i currently have probably 5 or 6 pounds because i buy by the pound. Sounds like a keezer would work best

 

[Pkrd]

I'd definitely prefer a keezer but available space excluded that.
Have a browse here for some ideas...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/show-us-your-kegerator.29053/

 

[jimmyjusa]

It will be going in our laundry room most likely so i should have space for a larger footspace

 

[mongoose33]

Thanks for that input, for now I'm looking to start with two taps but would like to grow to probably 4 overall. For hops i currently have probably 5 or 6 pounds because i buy by the pound. Sounds like a keezer would work best

The above is actually my second keezer; the first used an old freezer that finally gave up the ghost, bought a new one.

In my original keezer I had 3 taps, then added a 4th, then later a 5th. So there's room for expansion. When you lay out the spacing on the faucets (3", btw, between centers on mine), mark out the additional ones. Put a tiny dimple in the wood with an awl, small enough that you can't see it unless you go looking. Far easier to get them to line up correctly and spaced out properly in the beginning. Then when it comes time to add a faucet, you only have to find that dimple and go from there.

When the time comes to look for a keezer, take along some paper plates or similar cut to the diameter of your kegs; that way you can lay them on the floor of the display model and see how many you can get in there.

One other consideration: virtually all chest freezers have a compressor hump. It's not possible to get a keg or two on top of that unless A) you make the collar very high, or B) get some pinlock-form-factor kegs. Morebeer sells torpedo kegs, one style is shorter and wider, one style taller and skinnier. The tall/skinny one is essentially the same size as a standard ball-lock keg.

I can get the shorter/squattier torpedo kegs on my compressor hump, but not the taller standard size, given my 2x6 collar dimensions. You can of course go to a taller collar but the higher it goes, the more difficulty in getting the kegs in there.

BTW, check my signature below for an easy way to build a keezer that allows it to be easily moved, and requires no glue to assemble.

 

[Blazinlow86]

I have a stand up fridge that holds 4 of the newer aeb Pepsi ball locks or pinlocks. If I had the old style Pepsi kegs it could hold 6. I modded mine so the freezer is now also a fridge that holds all my store bought beer. I really like it. However had I not already had a spare fridge and was starting fresh I would have probably just done a keezer. Cheers

 

[jimmyjusa]

I have a stand up fridge that holds 4 of the newer aeb Pepsi ball locks or pinlocks. If I had the old style Pepsi kegs it could hold 6. I modded mine so the freezer is now also a fridge that holds all my store bought beer. I really like it. However had I not already had a spare fridge and was starting fresh I would have probably just done a keezer. Cheers

Is yours a side by side style with freezer, or have the freezer on top or bottom?

 

[jimmyjusa]

The above is actually my second keezer; the first used an old freezer that finally gave up the ghost, bought a new one.

In my original keezer I had 3 taps, then added a 4th, then later a 5th. So there's room for expansion. When you lay out the spacing on the faucets (3", btw, between centers on mine), mark out the additional ones. Put a tiny dimple in the wood with an awl, small enough that you can't see it unless you go looking. Far easier to get them to line up correctly and spaced out properly in the beginning. Then when it comes time to add a faucet, you only have to find that dimple and go from there.

When the time comes to look for a keezer, take along some paper plates or similar cut to the diameter of your kegs; that way you can lay them on the floor of the display model and see how many you can get in there.

One other consideration: virtually all chest freezers have a compressor hump. It's not possible to get a keg or two on top of that unless A) you make the collar very high, or B) get some pinlock-form-factor kegs. Morebeer sells torpedo kegs, one style is shorter and wider, one style taller and skinnier. The tall/skinny one is essentially the same size as a standard ball-lock keg.

I can get the shorter/squattier torpedo kegs on my compressor hump, but not the taller standard size, given my 2x6 collar dimensions. You can of course go to a taller collar but the higher it goes, the more difficulty in getting the kegs in there.

BTW, check my signature below for an easy way to build a keezer that allows it to be easily moved, and requires no glue to assemble.

all the leaders in that thread look great and i like the no glue method.
When I'm thinking of the fridge option I'm not thinking of regular kegerator fridge that's used for the commercial ones but repurpose a used one where i think the freezer on top or bottom would be better than side by side.
With the keezer again I'll buy used, found a 14ish cu ft for 150 that comes with temp controller. It's bigger than I'd need for a while but I was thinking I could use one part to cold crash before transferring.

 

[mongoose33]

all the leaders in that thread look great and i like the no glue method.
When I'm thinking of the fridge option I'm not thinking of regular kegerator fridge that's used for the commercial ones but repurpose a used one where i think the freezer on top or bottom would be better than side by side.
With the keezer again I'll buy used, found a 14ish cu ft for 150 that comes with temp controller. It's bigger than I'd need for a while but I was thinking I could use one part to cold crash before transferring.

That's exactly what I did with my first homebrew refrigerator. I got a deal on a bunch of homebrewing equipment which included a refrigerator, freezer on top. The bottom part was for kegs, the top part has been used for all kinds of stuff--chilling bottles prior to bottling, reservoir for a glycol solution for chilling, even for food once.

I bought it primarily for use as a fermentation chamber but after I bought my conical (which allows me to control temp directly) I've used it as a way to keep extra kegs cold, and even force-carb and serve out of them using picnic taps. I've run a CO2 line plus wiring through the side (no cooling coils there). Multi-function refrigerator!

 

[NeoBrew]

One of the chief virtues of a keezer is that it can be done inexpensively. Obviously you can spend a little or a lot to finish it out as a keezer. There are certainly drawbacks to them as well. They can be a chore to get kegs in and out of. Both the height and the fact that there tends to be beer lines, co2 lines, de-stratification fans, etc. to shift and work around while lifting a 50lb corny get over the lip.

The other drawback is that they are not made to run at refrigerator temps. I believe that makes them pretty energy efficient, but are really poor at dealing with the condensation that comes with refrigeration. You will want to run a de-stratification fan for sure. I also used to use an Eva-Dry to help soak up some of that moisture.

I eventually switched over to what they call an "all refrigerator". It is an upright refrigerator with no freezer section. It was fairly expensive at about $700. It has been a great setup. I can fit up to 5 kegs on the floor, which is plenty for me. The upper half could also be used for another 4-6 kegs. In my case I use that to store bottled beer and overflow groceries that don't fit in our kitchen refrigerator.

If you are interested I have a build page here.

 

[Blazinlow86]

Is yours a side by side style with freezer, or have the freezer on top or bottom?

The freezer is in the top. It's a older style fridge with the cooling in between the freezer and fridge. I'm not sure if you could modify a newer style as easily. Cheers

 

[jimmyjusa]

I think I'll be checking out a secondhand appliance store this weekend to look at options. No kegs on hand so I'll have to use online measurements to see what will be best that they have. I've got 3 kegs on the way to start with.

 

[LittleRiver]

... checking out a secondhand appliance store this weekend to look at options. No kegs on hand ...

Before I went freezer shopping I cut cardboard circles of the keg sizes I planned to use. They were VERY helpful in checking the fit.