Downside to draft beer at home

[wilserbrewer]

Are people being realistic about kegging costs? I have wanted to buy the stuff for a long time, but always hold back because it costs so much:

2-3 kegs: $150
CO2/Regulator/lines/fittings: $150-175
Chest Freezer: $200
STC-1000: $30

Is there a way to do a reasonable 2 keg setup for less that $550?

My main complain with bottling is the inconsistent carbonation. The temp in my house changes, the batch size always seems to vary (hard to estimate an exact volume with big dry hop from whole cones).

Those are pretty accurate retail prices....I have bought kegging equipment for .20 cents on the dollar on the used market. Got a vintage good condition fridge for free, and chest freezers for free as well as 40-50 bucks.

Deals are out there, takes patience.

 

[Transamguy77]

Are people being realistic about kegging costs? I have wanted to buy the stuff for a long time, but always hold back because it costs so much:

2-3 kegs: $150
CO2/Regulator/lines/fittings: $150-175
Chest Freezer: $200
STC-1000: $30

Is there a way to do a reasonable 2 keg setup for less that $550?

My main complain with bottling is the inconsistent carbonation. The temp in my house changes, the batch size always seems to vary (hard to estimate an exact volume with big dry hop from whole cones).

I think that is about right, you can keep a look out for used stuff or buy it in pieces. I have $750 invested in my kegging set up, for me the fridge was free so I spent that money on more kegs. If you find a fridge you won't need a temp controller and it seems like fridges are cheaper.

It sounds like a lot of money but the time savings for me was worth the switch not to mention having 20+ cases of beer around now it's all in 10 kegs.

 

[brewfarmDan]

i prefer bottles. For one, a keg is not very mobile. I ted to go out a lot, fishing on the boat, disc golf, hunting, more fishing, camping. Pretty much every weekend we are not at home. Bottles fit in a cooler nicely. Also, I dont have to put all 5 gal in the fridge. I can pop a couple stouts in the fridge for the next day, and let the other 40 bottles continue to age in the cellar. The only thing i would keg is something i dont care about it aging, and want to drink really fast. Which with my taste in beer, would be nothing.

I like to fill swing top bottles from kegs for travelers

 

[SupervisingChildren]

I got a jockey box and co2 tank for 120, 5 kegs for 150, and a small fridge for free. Craigslist can definitely be your friend.

 

[robotinc]

I got a used kegerator for $300 that came with a co2 tank. It was only a single tap on the tower, but fit two kegs. I've picked up used kegs from $5-$40. If you are patient, there are great deals to be had on Craigslist

 

[Singletrack]

I'm a bottler who will eventually keg. For now, bottling works for me, and I actually enjoy bottling (gasp). I use 22 oz bombers and just a few 12 oz per batch. The big bottles cut the time and effort and serve as a reasonable stopping point for my consumption.

I bottle 6.5 gal per batch, because that's about the max for my equipment and system. If I start kegging, how should I handle the extra 1.5 gal? Would I need to both bottle and keg? If so, I see that as a down side to kegging.

 

[MattyIce]

There is a wonderful variety of keg sizes available. Five gallon cornies are the most prolific among home brewers, but they are far from the only option.

 

[AndytheBeave]

I'm a bottler who will eventually keg. For now, bottling works for me, and I actually enjoy bottling (gasp). I use 22 oz bombers and just a few 12 oz per batch. The big bottles cut the time and effort and serve as a reasonable stopping point for my consumption.

I bottle 6.5 gal per batch, because that's about the max for my equipment and system. If I start kegging, how should I handle the extra 1.5 gal? Would I need to both bottle and keg? If so, I see that as a down side to kegging.

Well you could adapt your recipe to ensure that you only have 5 gallons going into your fermenter. Bottling the last 1.5 gallons seems to me that you would be getting the best of both worlds:
1) beer on tap
2) bottles for the road
3) only 1.5 gallons to bottle rather than 6.5
Seems like a win all the way around to me.

 

[beergolf]

It is 36 steps to the tap..and only .10 steps to the fridge.....

 

[Gameface]

It is 36 steps to the tap..and only .10 steps to the fridge.....

Sounds like somebody needs to rearrange their furniture.

 

[atom]

I'm a bottler who will eventually keg. For now, bottling works for me, and I actually enjoy bottling (gasp). I use 22 oz bombers and just a few 12 oz per batch. The big bottles cut the time and effort and serve as a reasonable stopping point for my consumption.

I bottle 6.5 gal per batch, because that's about the max for my equipment and system. If I start kegging, how should I handle the extra 1.5 gal? Would I need to both bottle and keg? If so, I see that as a down side to kegging.

I typically have an extra half to full gallon of beer when i keg...i take the extra and put it into 2L soda bottles and throw a carbonator cap on em. get em cold, add some co2 and shake em up...they are ready to drink within hours and it's a nice sneak preview of what's to come in the keg.

 

[lefort3]

I was infected with the brewing bug and now I'm a health hazard, but loved in the community. Six taps. Right now an IPA, Blond, Saison, Kolsch, Milk Stout, and a Bourbon Tripel. Just installed faucet locks with teenagers entering high school. I sense curiosity may be kicking in.

 

[1977Brewer]

I was infected with the brewing bug and now I'm a health hazard, but loved in the community. Six taps. Right now an IPA, Blond, Saison, Kolsch, Milk Stout, and a Bourbon Tripel. Just installed faucet locks with teenagers entering high school. I sense curiosity may be kicking in.

On bottling day, my 16 year old kept telling me how good my Mosaic IPA smelled. She has a gluten sensitivity, and is very very cautious about it. Thank God.

OT, I think I said before that beer faucets at my house would only lead to heartache. Turns out that bottles are worse, when you have ten cases of them stacked all over the garage.

 

[PlexVector]

Disclosure: Bottler looking into kegging

Drinking too much because its convenient to get to is a concern I guess, but if that's a possibility I'd say its probably a bad idea to be homebrewing in the first place.

Having said that, if you're like most homebrewers who just like enjoying great beer and consider the alcohol a bonus (or a non starter), the time savings is a big deal.

Easy...put a lock on the keezer and give the significant other the key...

 

[lefort3]

My bar looks like it was built by a beer Nazi now. The Perlick locks stick up like a salute.