Do you need a kegerator to use a keg practically?

[aprichman]

I'm a little confused on how kegging works. If you don't have a kegerator and kept your keg in the fridge what kind of work would be involved in order to get a beer for yourself? Would you just take the keg out of the fridge and hook up the CO2 tank and party tap?

Also does it matter how much beer you put in the keg? Lets say I had 3 gallons, could I just drop that into a 5 gallon keg and force carb it? Does force carbing work very well if you can't keep the keg cold?

Kegging sounds so much simpler than bottling and it would be nice to make the switch, but I'm in a small apartment so a full size kegerator is out of the option. A Mini fridge would be possible but are those typically big enough to fit kegs? Does anyone know what the minimum dimensions for a mini fridge would be?


Cheers

 

[toestothesun]

Hi aprichman,

You could place your keg, along with a small CO2 tank (lines, picnic tap and all) inside your regular fridge. Also, there are smaller, 2.5 gallon kegs that you could use in the same manner as well.

 

[sikkingj]

Attach a picnic tap to your key in the refridgerator, and you are set. For CO2 pressure, just blast it (after its carbed) once in a while and you'll be fine.

If you want it perfect pressure,buy a paint ball canister (20oz) and small regulator from someone like Williams (http://www.williamsbrewing.com/MINI-DUAL-C02-REGULATOR-P2650.aspx) - I use and love this mini regulator.

Best of luck!

 

[YeastMode]

For parties at other locations than my house (like tailgates or the such) I toss my keg in a $20 trash can from Home Depot with 2 bags of ice. I have been outside in Florida weather for 3+ hours and the keg was still cold.

So, to your question, you can get and use a picnic tap without a kegerator. The only real concern you have is keeping the keg cold for serving.

 

[aprichman]

Sounds like I would need a fridge since even a 2.5 - 3 gallon keg would most likely take up too much space in the fridge that I use now.

Does anyone use mini fridges to store 2.5 - 5 gallon kegs or is something bigger most likely required?

 

[Conan]

A mini fridge should fit a 2.5 gallon keg and 5 pound CO2 tank, no problem. Most kegerators are made of small refrigerators anyway. Kyle

 

[aryoung1980]

What about going the Beer Box route? http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/beerbox-portable-homebrew-dispenser.html

 

[GenIke]

A mini freezer could be an option as well.

 

[te-wa]

you could, in this weather, keep a corny keg and tank outside of refrigeration.. and use a jockey box. that is dependent on the ambient temp of your apartment, how fast you go thru a keg, and how much $ you want to spend on ice every couple days.

a jockey box build could be as little as $30 if you get used cooler, coil of copper and some fittings on sale. commercial ones are over $100 usually.

 

[aprichman]

What about going the Beer Box route? http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/beerbox-portable-homebrew-dispenser.html

Those look pretty neat but not being able to force carb is a deal breaker. With the Beer Box I would still have to prime my batches which means breaking out the bottling bucket and then wait ~2 weeks for everything to carb up. The only difference this would make is that I would rack into 2 vessels instead of ~48.

A mini freezer could be an option as well.

Yeah, a small 5.0 cubic foot chest freezer might be a better option. Do you know what kind of temperature controller works well for the chest freezers?

you could, in this weather, keep a corny keg and tank outside of refrigeration.. and use a jockey box. that is dependent on the ambient temp of your apartment, how fast you go thru a keg, and how much $ you want to spend on ice every couple days.

a jockey box build could be as little as $30 if you get used cooler, coil of copper and some fittings on sale. commercial ones are over $100 usually.

I have seen those and they look great for bringing kegs out but don't seem ideal for home use. My wife and I go through 5 gallons in ~4 weeks, so it would probably cost a lot of money over the long term keeping things cooled down.

 

[SixDemonBag]

This is the smallest footprint fridge I could squeeze a 3gal keg + co2 bottle.

 

[Newsman]

This is the smallest footprint fridge I could squeeze a 3gal keg + co2 bottle.

Most mini-fridges can fit at least one keg and a 5# CO2 bottle, as long as they are around 4 Cu FT or so. But your best bet would be to take an empty keg with you to the appliance store so you can be sure you can fit the keg in there.

 

[ghohn]

As an alternative to the mini-reg posted in this thread, take a look at this:
http://www.kegconnection.com/pin-valve-regulator-single-guage-5-16-check-valve/

It's compact and fits the ubiquitous paintball CO2 tank.

OP ... How cool is your 'ole lady?

 

[wtaylor3]

When u asked how cool the op's ole lady was I thought you were gonna post this pic lol

View attachment 1419599066800.jpg

 

[ericbw]

A 2.5 or 3 gallon keg with a paintball tank is a great solution. You need to price it online to get the best deal. Keg connection, keg outlet, and rite brew have all been good sources for me.

Save a little money by getting a single gauge regulator. Also look for used kegs. One of those sites has good deals on really nasty looking kegs. I got 3 gallon kegs for $30. Pin locks.

If you don't have room for a kegerator, this works well.

 

[ghohn]

When u asked how cool the op's ole lady was I thought you were gonna post this pic lol

Haha ... That's a pretty cool ole' lady right there. The point I was trying to make is whether or not a wooden shelf in your primary fridge would cause marital distress.

 

[danok1]

A 2.5 or 3 gallon keg with a paintball tank is a great solution. You need to price it online to get the best deal. Keg connection, keg outlet, and rite brew have all been good sources for me.

Save a little money by getting a single gauge regulator. Also look for used kegs. One of those sites has good deals on really nasty looking kegs. I got 3 gallon kegs for $30. Pin locks.

If you don't have room for a kegerator, this works well.

I believe these are the kegs ericbw refers to: http://www.homebrewing.org/3-Gal-Loose-HandleBottom-Pin-Lock-Keg-Used_p_4678.html

-Dan

 

[Newsman]

something like this would be just about perfect --- you should be able to fit at least one 5 gallon keg in and a 5# tank --
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-4.52-cu-ft-Refrigerator-Black/35033013

 

[ericbw]

I believe these are the kegs ericbw refers to: http://www.homebrewing.org/3-Gal-Loose-HandleBottom-Pin-Lock-Keg-Used_p_4678.html



-Dan

That is. I forgot I should give a shout out to Adventures in Homebrewing. Cheap, cheap shopping, and delivered early!

 

[jzamora3]

does the co2 tank have to be inside the fridge? or can it be stored outside with the proper adjustments made to the fridge?

 

[ericbw]

does the co2 tank have to be inside the fridge? or can it be stored outside with the proper adjustments made to the fridge?

Meaning drill a hole in the side? Yes. But do you rent? Is it your fridge?

You have to make sure to not drill through a tube in the wall of the fridge. Many don't have them.

You also need to have room next to the fridge for it.

If this is a permanent solution, read up on how to be sure not to cut the refrigerant lines.