Micro Kegerator?

[Cpt_Kirks]

OK, I have a big kegerator. Holds 6 kegs, has 4 taps.

I have the mini-kegerator. Holds 2 three gallon kegs, has a two tap tower.

Thing is, the mini is a little big for some things. I don't need 62 beers if it's just me. Sure, I could just lug around a two liter bottle or two, but where is the fun in that?

How about a MICRO kegerator? Little cooler, two 2 liter bottles, tiny CO2 rig, picnic tap. About 11 beers.

Hmm...

 

[david_42]

A 12 volt beverage cooler might be just the ticket.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

A 12 volt beverage cooler might be just the ticket.

Maybe...

The cooler will be the problem. I want to find one just a little bit bigger than two 2 liter bottles, just enough extra room for some ice.

The rest will just be some work. I already have a little CO2 injector.

 

[jcobbs]

I wanna see this--sounds like exactly what I want whenever I finish my addition with the upstairs master bedroom...which hopefully will be sometime before I'm too old to climb the stairs! I do small batches so this sounds just about right!

 

[Eric_Duel]

http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-Mini-5-2dLiter-Beer-Tapper/dp/B000SB8EMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1263746782&sr=8-1

You could keg in mini kegs (they are cheap and disposable after a number of batches) and use this. Temp and pressure are adjustable, uses 16 gram co2 cartridges.

It works with non-Heineken kegs (although it does include an adapter if you want Heine as well).

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-Mini-5-2dLiter-Beer-Tapper/dp/B000SB8EMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1263746782&sr=8-1

You could keg in mini kegs (they are cheap and disposable after a number of batches) and use this. Temp and pressure are adjustable, uses 16 gram co2 cartridges.

It works with non-Heineken kegs (although it does include an adapter if you want Heine as well).

Those are not very portable.

I am looking for something that is very easy to carry along, as easy as a twelve pack. I thought about mini-kegs, but 2 liter bottles are free.

 

[jcobbs]

http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-Mini-5-2dLiter-Beer-Tapper/dp/B000SB8EMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1263746782&sr=8-1

You could keg in mini kegs (they are cheap and disposable after a number of batches) and use this. Temp and pressure are adjustable, uses 16 gram co2 cartridges.

It works with non-Heineken kegs (although it does include an adapter if you want Heine as well).

THAT's what I'm talking about!! The ultimate plan is one of those in the master bedroom/sitting room, right on top of the mini-fridge holding the wine and snacks. Then the SWMBO and I can lock the door, hide from the world....and seriously appreciate the fact that our children are grown!!! :rockin:

 

[Edcculus]

What about a jockey box and 3 gallon kegs? Thats what people in my club use. Or are you looking for something even smaller?

Most meetings there are a few people who bring a keg/jockey box setup. At our christmas party, there were about 20 beers on jockey boxes. One guy even had big rolling trash can converted into a mobile kegerator.

 

[nostalgia]

How about a MICRO kegerator? Little cooler, two 2 liter bottles, tiny CO2 rig, picnic tap. About 11 beers.

How funny, I was just thinking on this before falling asleep last night.

I have the Carbonator caps for the 2L bottles for applying CO2, but I'm still trying to come up with a good way to get the beer out. I could put a valve on the bottom, but that would be prone to leaking. I'm trying to come up with a cap modification so it has a diptube of sorts.

-Joe

 

[nostalgia]

Oh and for tiny CO2 rig:

From Kegconnection.

-Joe

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

What about a jockey box and 3 gallon kegs? Thats what people in my club use. Or are you looking for something even smaller?

Most meetings there are a few people who bring a keg/jockey box setup. At our christmas party, there were about 20 beers on jockey boxes. One guy even had big rolling trash can converted into a mobile kegerator.

I have a 70qt cooler that holds 2 three gallon kegs. I'm looking for something tiny now.

 

[Guntr]

How funny, I was just thinking on this before falling asleep last night.

I have the Carbonator caps for the 2L bottles for applying CO2, but I'm still trying to come up with a good way to get the beer out. I could put a valve on the bottom, but that would be prone to leaking. I'm trying to come up with a cap modification so it has a diptube of sorts.

-Joe

I love this idea!

Got a couple of suggestions. Would air quick disconnects like those on compressor work for the gas in & beer out? Quite a bit smaller and cheaper than the ball or pin locks on cornies.

What about creating a whole new cap? I'm thinking a standard cap extend up to a y fitting that has a gas in and beer out that runs down a dip tube?

 

[nostalgia]

What about creating a whole new cap? I'm thinking a standard cap extend up to a y fitting that has a gas in and beer out that runs down a dip tube?

That's what I was thinking. I'll talk to Mike over at Centerline Machining. Maybe he can build us something bad-ass and stainless

-Joe

 

[Guntr]

Oops......

 

[ScubaSteve]

Put your beer in 20 oz. bottles. Bring 3 to a party.

Or, take 1 of your 3 gallon corny's and add a 12G CO2 adapter and tap. It's about the same size as a 12 pack.

It seems like a waste to create a micro kegerator when you're dealing in such small quantities, don't you think?

 

[nostalgia]

I don't know. I think being able to take 3-4 plastic 2L soda bottles to a party or tailgate would be totally bad-ass. And one HELL of a lot cheaper than 3-4, 3-gallon Cornies.

Also, there's the "because I can" argument

-Joe

 

[Guntr]

I don't know. I think being able to take 3-4 plastic 2L soda bottles to a party or tailgate would be totally bad-ass. And one HELL of a lot cheaper than 3-4, 3-gallon Cornies.

Especially for those of use who don't yet own any 3-gallon cornies. I could totally see myself filling one or two 2L bottles out of every batch and kegging the rest.

Do you anticipate any issues force carbing in the 2L bottles or was your plan to just add priming sugar?

 

[ScubaSteve]

Sure....2L bottles are way cheaper....not sure if it qualifies as bad-ass, though . But seriously, if 2 3 gal kegs is too big for the OP, then there's not too many options for draft beer other than 2L bottles. The party pig works pretty well, but you have to buy the pressure packs.

 

[ScubaSteve]

There's a tutorial for pressurizing a 2L bottle somewhere. I think they used a tire pressure valve...but there is something called a carbonator cap that allows a ball lock gas-in to be attached. Seems like a growler would be just as easy.....if you keep it cold and transfer at low pressure there should be minimal foaming.

 

[Cheaton]

Tap-a-draft + Ice jacket.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/tap-a-draft-starter-kit.html
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/insulated-tap-a-draft-tote.html

 

[nostalgia]

There's a tutorial for pressurizing a 2L bottle somewhere. I think they used a tire pressure valve...but there is something called a carbonator cap that allows a ball lock gas-in to be attached. Seems like a growler would be just as easy.....if you keep it cold and transfer at low pressure there should be minimal foaming.

Yeah, I have the carbonator caps, but that still leaves the problem of getting the beer out. I was considering growlers this morning because I have a ton of them and the cap is larger than a 2L bottle, giving me more room to putz with fittings.

-Joe

 

[JesseRC]

Yeah, I have the carbonator caps, but that still leaves the problem of getting the beer out. I was considering growlers this morning because I have a ton of them and the cap is larger than a 2L bottle, giving me more room to putz with fittings.

-Joe

Well you could put a gas quick disconnect on a party tap and attach to carbonator cap, and invert bottle to get the beer out. Maybe add epoxy mixer tube in the line to prevent foam. I've been debating this idea for a year now, I want to take 2L bottles on the boat. I'm thinking if the 2L bottle runs out of gas, I can just attach a quick gas charger with a portable co2 cartridge , then be back in business..

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

I found this page: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/brewing/Kegerator.htm

He has done the engineering work to make taps for 5 liter kegs and 2 liter bottles.

 

[DKershner]

I found this page: http://www.angelfire.com/planet/brewing/Kegerator.htm

He has done the engineering work to make taps for 5 liter kegs and 2 liter bottles.

Isn't copper plus CO2 a bad thing? I was looking for a post or a page, but can't find one at the moment.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Isn't copper plus CO2 a bad thing? I was looking for a post or a page, but can't find one at the moment.

It it CO2, beer, or both that shouldn't touch copper?

 

[DKershner]

It it CO2, beer, or both that shouldn't touch copper?

Wort is OK, CO2 is the bad part. Leeches poisons of some sort over time. (I said it this way because beer inherently has CO2 in it).

 

[nostalgia]

It it CO2, beer, or both that shouldn't touch copper?

I think just beer. I run my CO2 through copper in my kegerator and haven't noticed any issues over the last 2 years.

-Joe

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Wort is OK, CO2 is the bad part. Leeches poisons of some sort over time. (I said it this way because beer inherently has CO2 in it).

IIRC, CO2 mixed with water = carbonic acid.

Copper + Acid = BAD.

Dry CO2 might not be an issue.

 

[DKershner]

I think just beer. I run my CO2 through copper in my kegerator and haven't noticed any issues over the last 2 years.

-Joe

I really think its the CO2, but it may have something to do with gas vs liquid solution.

Also, make sure you aren't talking about brass, brass is perfectly fine.

It is the reason you are supposed to use stainless steel coils or cold plates in jockey boxes, or else they would all be copper. (Note that some are copper, but I think those are for constant pour jockey boxes where the beer barely touches)

The beer (wort) itself has to be OK, or no one would use copper wort chillers.

Hopefully someone can chime in that knows more than me.

 

[DKershner]

IIRC, CO2 mixed with water = carbonic acid.

Copper + Acid = BAD.

Dry CO2 might not be an issue.

I think you are onto something.