Show me your chest freezer keggers. Please?

[D2T]

Is there aHOWTO or a Wiki for these? THis is fantastic. Would LOVE to do something like this and Kegerators are WAY too expensive.

The DIY'ers can easily get more expensive too. I was originally going to use a much smaller freezer, but I figured why not do it right the first time.

...Then I decided why not just start off with Perlick's...

...Then, why not put some nice oak around the color to give it some style...

Good thing SWMBO wasn't keeping a tally of all the receipts

 

[Bobby_M]

You're not kidding. I'm really wrestling with the decision on how large of a freezer I want and how many kegs I want tapped at one time while aging others.

I've already decided not to go with the Sanyo two-keg setup because I won't be trying to tuck it into my living space anyway. I'd just end up wanting more I think.

I currently have an IPA and Marzen tapped but I'm also going to have a Stout and easy drinker like a wheat or Pils to keg before the first two are kicked.

I'm thinking about getting a freezer that can support 5-6 kegs where I'll tap 4 at a time. I can either do some lagering on the extras or upgrade to a 5th tap. The trouble is, I don't want to monkey around subpar faucets and will be going to Perlick or Shirrons right from the start (OUCH $$$).

One of my biggest concerns is keeping the freezer small enough that I can wheel it into the yard for BBQs. Probably need some bigassed castors.

 

[BierMuncher]

You're not kidding. I'm really wrestling with the decision on how large of a freezer I want and how many kegs I want tapped at one time while aging others.

I've already decided not to go with the Sanyo two-keg setup because I won't be trying to tuck it into my living space anyway. I'd just end up wanting more I think.

I currently have an IPA and Marzen tapped but I'm also going to have a Stout and easy drinker like a wheat or Pils to keg before the first two are kicked.

I'm thinking about getting a freezer that can support 5-6 kegs where I'll tap 4 at a time. I can either do some lagering on the extras or upgrade to a 5th tap. The trouble is, I don't want to monkey around subpar faucets and will be going to Perlick or Shirrons right from the start (OUCH $$$).

One of my biggest concerns is keeping the freezer small enough that I can wheel it into the yard for BBQs. Probably need some bigassed castors.

I have the Sanyo and love it...but I'm going to get a freezer too. I'll use the freezer for conditioning and eventually serving and rely on the sanyo for dispensing for the time being. I have the Sanyo on castors and it makes a good port-a-keg server. I figure with two, I can have different temps...one for lagering and one for serving. Now I just need to find a free freezer.

Bobby, if you want a nice session beer that is light and crisp for the summer, this Belgian Wit is an easy all grain.

Oh yeah Bobby, I hope to see some pics of that controller you outbid me for on Ebay...

 

[Bobby_M]

You sure it was me?

 

[BierMuncher]

You sure it was me?

Oops...it wasn't you it was Ryan

Ack, your the guy that cost me the additional 15 bucks. I thought I was really going to get it for $5

 

[Bobby_M]

So far I've been to Lowes, HD, Bestbuy and Sears and the selection is horrible. They all have either 5cuft or 15cuft and nothing in between. I'd go by online specs and such but the dimension data is always the outside and of course they never give you the dimension of the compressor hump which plays substantially in the number of kegs you can jam in.

While at sears I noticed a couple of closeout floor model kenmore elite 4.4cuft fridges for $150 each. Now I'm thinking crazy... maybe I'll get two of those for the portability. Ugh. Decisions.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

So far I've been to Lowes, HD, Bestbuy and Sears and the selection is horrible. They all have either 5cuft or 15cuft and nothing in between. I'd go by online specs and such but the dimension data is always the outside and of course they never give you the dimension of the compressor hump which plays substantially in the number of kegs you can jam in.

While at sears I noticed a couple of closeout floor model kenmore elite 4.4cuft fridges for $150 each. Now I'm thinking crazy... maybe I'll get two of those for the portability. Ugh. Decisions.

Don't you have a little Mom-and-Pop place that you could go to? They'd prolly have better selection, and definitely better service, though they prolly couldn't compete on price..........If they don't have what you're looking for, maybe they would go the extra mile to find it for you.

 

[Bobby_M]

I tried the two local joints I know of and they had zero chest freezers on the floor.

 

[D2T]

I think eBay/craigslist are the ways to go for freezers. I was watching them both and found my freezer on eBay for about half price brand new and never used. I had to drive to PA, but it was worth it since I could use a friend's van for free. The guy I bought it from had planned on making a kegerator himself but a new baby threw those plans out the window. I'm half tempted to email him a pic of my kegerator but I figure that might be too cruel

 

[Bobby_M]

I had been watching ebay and craigs for way too long. Any newer ones I came across were either 5cuft or 20. I guess I'm being really picky, but I want the kegs to fit like a glove without wasted space.

I responded to two craigslist ads where the pics looked like freezers that would work, no dimensions or cu ft listed. I politely asked for the interior dimensions including the hump, and keep getting vague answers like "it will hold a LOT of food" or "it's like 5-10 feet". Huh? Please measure, I need a very specific size for my homebrew kegs. Answer: "The keg will fit but this is a freezer, it will freeze the beer". Ugh, shoot me now.

Anyway. On to the good news. I found that the Whirlpool 8.9cuft freezers that Lowes sells is PERFECT for 5 kegs. I use pinlocks which is a tight fit but it would still be great for ball locks, it would just have a little more space between kegs.

The freezer is 18" deep (the exact width of two pinlock kegs) and 27" wide in front of the hump (the exact width of 3 pinlocks wide). It's almost like they built it for kegger use. $268.

Now I just have to place my order for 4 shirrons. My credit card is about to melt.

I now wish I picked up a 10lb Co2 bottle instead of 20. I know I can plumb it outside, but it would be nice to have it completely contained so I could put wheels on it and make it somewhat mobil.

 

[EdWort]

You'll be happy with it too. It won't cost you an arm & a leg in electricity that some old POS freezer on Craigslist would, plus you have the added benefit of a warranty. If you use American Express, they double the warranty up to 1 year when you use the card to purchase it.

 

[Bobby_M]

Even better yet, the local Lowes has a floor model version on clearance. It has a forklift scrape in the front but I don't care. They had the nerve to only take the price down 10% but I'll fix that up with a talk with the manager. If I understand retail correctly, floor model purchases are written off as business expense right from the start. I'm sure they don't need to make their typical stock margin on this one. Even if they did, they best do 25%. Otherize I'll grab a fresh new one using a 10% off Home Depot coupon.

 

[Cookiebaggs]

The guy I bought it from had planned on making a kegerator himself but a new baby threw those plans out the window. I'm half tempted to email him a pic of my kegerator but I figure that might be too cruel

I would consider that to be a flagrant foul for piling on!

 

[krispy d]

first time I glanced at this thread I thought it was titled "show me your chest" needless to say I was mildly dissapointed

 

[BierMuncher]

My SWMBO finally saw the importance of proper lagering and cold aging for good beer. Most important to her is that her favorite...Kolsch, really would be smoother and crisper if cold conditioned.

That information presented in logical terms along with a lot of whining finally convinced her.

So I'm off to begin my shopping. I'll prolly burn $20.00 in gas to save $5.00 on price.

Now...who here knows the best place to buy a thermostat on line (other than Ebay...I'm checking there daily)?

 

[Bobby_M]

Has anyone ever mounted the collar to the lid of the chest freezer or used some kind of split hybrid so that the shanks and faucets actually raise up out of your way? I can imagine screwing up and turning a faucet or two on, or worse yet breaking a faucet, when heaving a full corny up over the side. I might try to have the back half of the collar mounted to the chest so that the hinges get raised up like they should. Mid way down the sides, I'd cut the collar on a 45 degree bevel. Then the forward sides and the front of the collar would be attached to the lid. The only think I think I'd have to solve for is the seal. I probably wouldn't get away with using the stock seal and I'll have to use some weather stripping.

Something like this:

 

[Bobby_M]

Here are some pics of the one I ended up with. Whirlpool 8.9cuft.

Like a glove!

 

[Spyk'd]

Looks like that will fit five cornies and a CO2 bottle. How much was it and what are the external dimensions, if I may ask?

 

[Bobby_M]

$268 is the new price at Lowes, I paid $200 on clearance (floor model with slight cosmetic damage).

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=155204-53913-EHL090FXRQ&lpage=none

 

[seyahmit]

That is the size I am going to have to get. It is the perfect width to get it down the basement stairs. Do you think it will hold 2-3 kegs and the occasional carboy?

 

[BierMuncher]

That is the size I am going to have to get. It is the perfect width to get it down the basement stairs. Do you think it will hold 2-3 kegs and the occasional carboy?

My guess is two cornies and a carboy for sure. A third corny? might be tight.

 

[Bobby_M]

It will hold 3 cornies and one ale pale bucket or better bottle. I don't have any glass carboys but I think one would fit. You could just secondary in a corny though so you'll get 5 total in there.

 

[EdWort]

Mine is a an Amana 10 cu. ft. I have my three cornies carbing and a fermenter crash cooling. On the compressor hump I have my Damp Rid and my temp probe in water.

I love my blue masking tape for tagging kegs and fermenters. It works great. On kegs, wrap it around the lid arm and tape it back to itself and it makes a nice keg tag that won't come off in a chilled refrigerator.

 

[sirsloop]

I also use blue painters tape for labelling. No messy pull off!!

 

[jdoiv]

I want a list of directions on how to make one like BP's. That thing is AWESOME!

I'm about to clear out a large patch of space in my garage and that would fit perfectly. I'm thinking maybe a 15 cu freezer with enough space for 8 to 10 cornies. I could tap 5 or six and have the others lagering.

So how 'bout it BP. Give us a breakdown on the build or at least some good pics or the inside.

 

[JnJ]

On the compressor hump I have my Damp Rid

Where do you get damp rid?

 

[EdWort]

Where do you get damp rid?

My local grocery store sells it as well as Lowe's & Home Depot. It does a great job of keeping condensation at bay.

 

[JnJ]

I need to find some, my kegerator is getting a lot of condensation in it.

 

[seyahmit]

Thanks for the size info. I'm going to take some circle cut outs of carboys and kegs to see what kind of configuration I can get.

 

[Bobby_M]

I personally suspect I'll never put a carboy in mine. It fits cornies so well that I'll probably lager/age directly in the cornies. You can easily airlock it by putting a gas-in connector on there and running a hose into a jar of sanitizer.