I am looking into kegging my beer in the near future. Should I buy a complete keg system from someplace like northern brewer or Midwest or should I piece one together and buy each component separately? If I should buy separately please suggest some items for my shopping list.
Keg System
- Thread starter Dee74
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JONNYROTTEN
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If you leg your beer to much your likely to get a foamover. Don't let the wife catch you 
JONNYROTTEN
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I would think twice about legging your beer. Its a slippery slope. Before you know it youll be humping your keggle
A complete kegging system from NB or someplace else will work, may want a longer length beverage line depending on your temp and CO2 pressure. You will still need a small fridge to put it into. Craigslist or Letgo often have kegerators or keezers with kegs and CO2 tank, etc for less than the NB setup. There are often good deals out there.
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
Also look on CL and the for sale items here on HBT for kegging items, such as kegs, CO2 tanks, regulators, etc.
I've ordered all my kegging and dispensing supplies (QDs, tubing, taps, shanks, etc.) from Ritebrew.com. Their pricing is whole lot nicer than NB or Midwest (same company as NB). I bought a CO2 tank with double regulator and a bunch of kegs off Craigslist.
Most places will only swap CO2 tanks, so you'd never get to keep your brand new shiny one. Call around to see what's what. You shouldn't pay more than $1.50 per pound of CO2 for a 10# or 20# fill or swap. But a 5# swap/fill may run you $10-15.
I've ordered all my kegging and dispensing supplies (QDs, tubing, taps, shanks, etc.) from Ritebrew.com. Their pricing is whole lot nicer than NB or Midwest (same company as NB). I bought a CO2 tank with double regulator and a bunch of kegs off Craigslist.
Most places will only swap CO2 tanks, so you'd never get to keep your brand new shiny one. Call around to see what's what. You shouldn't pay more than $1.50 per pound of CO2 for a 10# or 20# fill or swap. But a 5# swap/fill may run you $10-15.
This is a good point on tanks. Buy a beat up steel tank and get it exchanged for what is usually a shiny, certified aluminum tank.
ircbrewing
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I got a great deal on a two corny keg system from kegconnection.com.
Here you can get a whole one keg set up including one keg, one C02 bottle and a regulator for $160. Pin locks. Ball locks will cost a tad more, but I use pin locks and have had no issues whatsoever.
https://www.kegconnection.com/1-faucet-basic-homebrew-kegerator-kit/
Here you can get a whole one keg set up including one keg, one C02 bottle and a regulator for $160. Pin locks. Ball locks will cost a tad more, but I use pin locks and have had no issues whatsoever.
https://www.kegconnection.com/1-faucet-basic-homebrew-kegerator-kit/
You can always start with a single keg package deal. But beware, a multi tap keezer is just around the corner. Don't ask how I know. Starting small can let you figure out the kegging process and what you want when expansion comes.
Starting small can let you figure out the kegging process and what you want when expansion comes.Ive bought my corneys and tubing from them, plus ll the extra fittings, can say mostly positive things about them.. I did get the double tower and intertap faucets from williams brewing. Im probably out 250 to 300 bucks, bought the kegorator off cl for 100 bucks with 2 #5 tanks.
i use pin locks also, once i bumped on loose and lost 3 pints of bee
As stated several times you can purchase most of the items you'll need used, if you have time to wait. Remember that when you buy used kegs, manifolds, etc you'll be best served to replace all fittings, lines, and o'rings before using
Trying to track down leaks is no fun
Trying to track down leaks is no fun
The nice thing about a package is you don't have to piece it together which can feel daunting when you're just starting out.
Generally the packages I've seen have items that at this point I wouldn't probably buy.
An interesting place to start is to buy a 2-gauge regulator, a gas quick disconnect, tubing to go from regulator to the gas QD, a tank, and a picnic tap. Along with the keg, that's enough to have kegged beer. It's how I started.
That helped me understand the system from tank to keg, and it gave me time to research how I wanted to build a system from keg to faucet.
I don't think there are very many people who don't expand their kegging and dispensing system at some point, so buying with the future in mind will save you money in the long run.
Generally the packages I've seen have items that at this point I wouldn't probably buy.
An interesting place to start is to buy a 2-gauge regulator, a gas quick disconnect, tubing to go from regulator to the gas QD, a tank, and a picnic tap. Along with the keg, that's enough to have kegged beer. It's how I started.
That helped me understand the system from tank to keg, and it gave me time to research how I wanted to build a system from keg to faucet.
I don't think there are very many people who don't expand their kegging and dispensing system at some point, so buying with the future in mind will save you money in the long run.
MaryB
Well-Known Member
Depends on your budget... being a cheapskate I took an old fridge and made it into a 3 tap kegerator using pin lock kegs that I picked up for $30 each on sale(each included the disconnects, and a space O ring set). Think I have 10 kegs now so I can have beer set back and ride through winter and only brew on warmer days!
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