Finally getting a kegerator. Tips?

[andconnolly6]

After way too many years of bottling my beer, I'm finally getting a kegerator. I wanted to see if there are any tips you guys might have to make this transition easier on me.

 

[Sammy86]

Most guys will tell you to find a cheap one on Craigslist...there have been some amazing stories posted on of people getting brand new to slightly used with no damage for 100 bucks.

Next thing is beer lines. You don't necessarily have to spend a ton of money but you'll want to get good lines to dispense the beer from.

CO2 fills can be expensive...trying going to a welding supply place or gas place and see if they will fill it. Many places do exchanges so the first tank may be slightly more expensive.

Lastly, make sure you read up on and or watch YouTube for proper Corny keg maintenance. If the beer goes into an unclean or unsanitized keg all that work you did To make the beer will be for naught if it gets infected in the leg when a simple solution of proper cleaning and sanitizing could have prevented it!

Cheers!

 

[Nagorg]

Lots of tips but some may vary on what your kegerator setup is. What are you doing? Chest Freezer w/collar (keezer), converted fridge (full size or mini fridge?), commercial variant?

One of the first general tips that hit my thoughts right away is with dehumidifying. Depending on your setup, you may also benefit from some type of air circulation to help balance temperature and assist with your dehumidifier drawing moisture out of the air.

Lots more info on this forum and likely some sticky's on some topics.

Welcome to kegging, its wwaayyyy nicer than having to bottle every batch. (Though I still bottle some on occasion...)

 

[andconnolly6]

Thanks guys! I'm going with a standard dual tap kegerator. If I can't find a cheap one from craigslist, I'm probably going with this one-
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draf...tor/Kegco_K309SS-2_dual_faucet_kegerator.html

 

[PapaO]

First get rid of the 5 foot of beer line and start with 12 feet of 3/16 ID. Clean and lube your kegs. Then do a dry ( wet ) run with water it's better to lose water then beer. Hook up your kegs full of water turn on CO2 set reg. to 40 psi pour a glass out of each tap and turn off CO2 tank. Spray with Star Sna to check for leaks. Let this sit for 24 hours if reg. is at 40 psi your good to go. Now pour a glass of water and dump it and fill again check temp and this the temp of your keg this will help when you carb your beer.

 

[m00ps]

I just bought this a week ago and it works great. Currently carbing my first kegged beer at a cool 34F.

This package ships free and comes with everything you need for a dual keg setup, including kegs and co2 tank. I looked at beverage factory when shopping, but shipping alone was like $125 and didnt include the kegs or CO2 tank
http://www.kegerator.com/edgestar-ultra-low-temp-home-brew-dual-tap-kegerator-kegs-kc2000twinhbkg/KC2000TWINHBKG.html?cgid=Kegerators

 

[Howhownow]

Drop a bit more cash up front on nicer faucets. Trust me. Perlick 630's are the standard, Stainless models if you can.

 

[Rev2010]

Thanks guys! I'm going with a standard dual tap kegerator. If I can't find a cheap one from craigslist, I'm probably going with this one-
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draf...tor/Kegco_K309SS-2_dual_faucet_kegerator.html

I have the three tap black door version of that kegerator and LOVE it. I also agree with going with longer lines. I went with 12' lines and get perfect pours. Btw, I ordered from Beverage Factory as well and they are great to deal with, however, do not get your beer line from them. I got their beer line and it leeched terrible plastic taste and odor into any beer sitting in the lines for even one hours time. I swapped out the lines to Ultra Barrier Silver and now have zero plastic taste/odor. It's a PVC free beer line with a silver anti-microbial lining. I got it here:

http://morebeer.com/products/ultra-...crobial-pvc-free-beer-tubing-316-id-foot.html

Many on here use Accuflex BevSeal Ultra which many get for less money than the Ultra Barrier Silver. But keep in mind it has an inner glas-flex lining which makes for less fluid resistance so you will need longer lines. The tubing is also more rigid, which is the reason I didn't buy it for my kegerator. Kegerators are more cramped inside so having less flexible tubing might create a bit more of an issue with space inside. Anyhow, others that own that tubing can offer more insight if you're interested. That tubing is available here:

http://www.birdmanbrewing.com/accuflex-bev-seal-ultra-barrier-tubing-3-16-id-50ft-free-shipping/

Ah yes, and get Perlick 630SS faucets like suggested above. They are well worth it!


Rev.

 

[peterj]

I would go with a used craigslist fridge (should be able to find one for $100 or less) and convert it to a kegerator. That's what I did. I started with 2 kegs and recently added a third. I still have a fair amount of bottle storage in the fridge, and I use the freezer for hops and other frozen storage. I got all of the lines and taps and everything from kegconnection.com, and I had a great experience with them. Here's a link to the 2 tap setup kit: http://www.kegconnection.com/2-faucet-fridge-homebrew-kegerator-kit/.

As others have said I would go with at least 10 ft lines, upgrade to Perlick (I just went with chrome and they're fine, but do SS if you don't mind the extra cash), and read up on how to properly force carb a keg (hint: it doesn't involve shaking ).

You're gonna love kegging! It's way better than bottling! Though I do still bottle batches every now and then.

 

[Kjuckett1025]

I think the most important thing to ask yourself is how many kegs you wish to have at a time.

I use to like to brew two seperate 5 gallon batches at a time, but bottling became a bad experience. I shrank down to one batch at a time.

With kegging, I plan to return to two batches, which will be two kegs.

Since I want room to possibly grow to a maximum of 4 kegs, Im going with a keezer. Chest freezers seem to be cheaper than your standard mini fridge, and have the added bonus of not having to manipulate electronics inside of the unit, as well as risking damage when drilling through the top / possible ice coils that need to be bent.

Many 5.5 Cu freezers seem to fit up to 3 kegs, sometimes 4. Id say look into a keezer ( I also find them more
pleasing to look at ).

 

[Nagorg]

Thanks guys! I'm going with a standard dual tap kegerator. If I can't find a cheap one from craigslist, I'm probably going with this one-
http://www.beveragefactory.com/draf...tor/Kegco_K309SS-2_dual_faucet_kegerator.html

FWIW, I found my keezer on Craigslist for $400. It included a 20# CO2 cylinder, 2 Corny kegs, 3 gang CO2 manifold, 2 SS Perlicks and a Johnson temp controller. One of the kegs even was about half full of a Pliny clone that wasn't too bad!

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Tip the glass when you pour

 

[MEPNew2Brew]

Nagorg - awesome deal on the keezer. I am about 3/4 the way through building one based on the exact freezer - black with black stain.

OP - I HIGHLY recommend going with a keezer. Never have I ever seen anyone complain about getting a too big keezer. If you want to have 2 on tap, you need at least room for three so you can be cold crashing the third while drinking the first two (unless, of course you have another freezer to work with). I have 4 faucets and room for a fifth to cold crash and I think it is just about right.

 

[Kjuckett1025]

Nag, thats a good find!