Show us your Kegerator

[WesBrew]

What refrigerator model did you use for this? I'm looking to do something similar.

just noticed this. Its an old Summit kegerator I got for $30. I can't believe it still runs.

 

[Rich72]

Hi,some great set ups here.I’m fairly new to kegging and built my kegerator around 6 months ago.cheers

 

[chessking]

Hi,some great set ups here.I’m fairly new to kegging and built my kegerator around 6 months ago.cheers

Nice. That thing looks tall enough to put in a shelf to squeeze a couple more kegs on top

 

[Elric]

Hi,some great set ups here.I’m fairly new to kegging and built my kegerator around 6 months ago.cheers

Great tap handle choice for an imperial ale

 

[Brownyard]

 

[Litchbrew]

My intro to homebrewtalk

 

[day_trippr]

Greetings, @Litchbrew, and welcome to HBT!
Love the tap handles!

Cheers!

 

[AnttiLeh]

Mine keginator holds two 20l and mayby with little squeeze one 10l keg. At the moment temp control going on with new pc fan.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

@Litchbrew very nice! Do this yourself? If so, many want to post/explain here at HBT to help fellow homebrewers to do the same.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

@AnttiLeh this is nice! Wish I had kept my keezer wood collar natural instead of painting. BTW, you need a drip tray.

 

[Litchbrew]

Greetings, @Litchbrew, and welcome to HBT!
Love the tap handles!

Cheers!

Thanks mate

 

[jlb307]

Thanks mate

indeed! where did you get them?

 

[Dusan Kovacevic]

Boom

What model is that fridge? I had the same idea but cant find suitable fridge

 

[Litchbrew]

indeed! where did you get them?

They were sitting in a local bottle shop, in landsdale, PA. I have no idea who made them haha

 

[OkanaganMike]

Shout out to quarantine for giving me the time and energy to wrap this up!

View attachment 683002

View attachment 683003

View attachment 683004

Write up on my build: Quarantine Keezer Build

Great job! I'm researching/designing my first keezer and have a question regarding the beer lines. Although I love the neatness and how you've managed to keep them tucked out of the way, I've read somewhere its best to keep the majority of your lines lower in the unit as the air is cooler vs near the top. What is your experience with this and do you get foamy first pours?

 

[#1Vman]

Some good looking kegerators mines generic, I added a double tower and sold the single tower. Set up with 2 D-couplers right now but I'm changing one side to ball lock as I'm getting ready for first batch in a long time and first time not bottling my beer.

 

[mjc999]

From this:

to this:

Wish I had started with the second “this”. Similar cost and much easier to assemble and run the lines. I think it looks better too. Whole thing is lined with standard copper pipe inulation.View attachment 711926

 

[OkanaganMike]

From this:

View attachment 711928View attachment 711929
to this:


View attachment 711930View attachment 711931

Wish I had started with the second “this”. Similar cost and much easier to assemble and run the lines. I think it looks better too. Whole thing is lined with standard copper pipe inulation.View attachment 711926

Like the tri-clamp idea!

 

[franknbeans]

Don't mind all the junk on top!
I made this early this past summer. It's a 7.1 Insignia chesty from Best Buy (I wanted black, but had to drive two hours away to even get this one). The boards are pine I took a torch to and put three coats of grey stain on, followed by about five coats of gloss poly. I opted for the cheap foam insulation and quickly found out why the solid stuff is better.. it made a huge mess and looked like grated cheese on the parts I trimmed to fit inside. Thank god the aluminum tape covered it! Taps are Intertap with stainless handles. It really needs a drip tray and I'm digging those ones I've seen on here that hang off the collar with pipe. That'll be my next addition.

 

[pruitt68]

I just finished my Keezer build last week. I used a 10.1 insignia freezer I purchased from best buy. I have room for 6 corny kegs, so I have 4 on tap and I can keep two ready to go! Still would like to add a logo to the front, but wanted to share what I've done so far. I am really pleased with the way it turned out and could not have done it without all of the resources I found from this site.

 

[jlb307]

Even little changes can make a big difderence. Repaint and dent removal this spring so SWMBO stops making me hide it behind the bar.

 

[apache_brew]

I got lucky and picked up my kegerator up for free from a generous homebrewer who hung up his mash paddle. The only thing I did was swap out the lines and brass shanks for new stainless ones. Beer in the fridge, and hops/ice in the freezer. Can't beat it.

 

[AnttiLeh]

@AnttiLeh this is nice! Wish I had kept my keezer wood collar natural instead of painting. BTW, you need a drip tray.

True, I have ordered one. Hope it arrives soon that i dont have to vipe beer from the floor xD

 

[javalin]

Just got mine set up. Pretty basic for now, might add a different top later on.

 

[Erik the Anglophile]

How many of you guys still bottle some? I can't keg and have a keezer/kegerator right now since we simply don't have the room for it, but we will likely move further out on the country side within a couple of years, and I am very interested in making a 3-4 tap system for my normal strenght everyday beers atleast, and probably bottle stronger beers for keeping like belgians, old ales, imp stouts etc...
Is it difficult to build a one from a fridge or chest freezer? I work as a construction carpenter and am a pretty technical guy, so the DIY is no problem, rather the opposite. I am mostly worried about advanced plumbing etc that I might F up.

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

I do both. Often, I will keg 5 gallons and bottle the other 5 gallons. Really depends on the planned use.

 

[NeoBrew]

How many of you guys still bottle some? I can't keg and have a keezer/kegerator right now since we simply don't have the room for it, but we will likely move further out on the country side within a couple of years, and I am very interested in making a 3-4 tap system for my normal strenght everyday beers atleast, and probably bottle stronger beers for keeping like belgians, old ales, imp stouts etc...
Is it difficult to build a one from a fridge or chest freezer? I work as a construction carpenter and am a pretty technical guy, so the DIY is no problem, rather the opposite. I am mostly worried about advanced plumbing etc that I might F up.

If you can build things you can build a kegerator or keezer.

I would suggest anything that doesn't work out on the pluming is something you can tweak and fix. There are only some basic design questions you will want to wrestle with before you start. Do you want the CO2 inside the unit or run lines to the outside? How many kegs and what type do you want to fit? That will have an affect not only on what refrigerator or freezer you get, but how you modify it. Most chest freezers have a "hump" for the compressor which impacts their capacity for kegs. In some cases you can add a taller collar to them to fit a keg or two up on the hump.

Temperatures inside the unit are also something to be aware of. Most refrigerators handle stratification pretty well and don't create much of a problem. With keezers it is smart to install some circulation fans to mix up the air inside. It can lead to foaming problem if the beer at the bottom of the keg is really cold and it raises a few degrees as it hits the tubing and taps at the top. Cold liquids are able to hold onto their CO2 better than warmer ones, and this causes it to start foaming, at least for the first pour. I have never had a tower tap, but I understand some of those folks add fans or glycol lines to cool the tower to help with this problem.

I think you will find a lot of people encouraging you to go to kegging. For me it was probably the biggest single time saver in my brewing process. I dreaded bottling day with all the washing, sanitizing, filling, cleaning up, storing, etc. It was great to always have portable beer, but I would never want to go back to that. You might even find yourself buying more kegs to store your high gravity beers. You can always put some in a bottle or a growler when you want to take it somewhere.

If the plumbing worries you, you could always start with a kegging system kit like this one... Or just look at what parts are in there as a guide and source your own. If you are going to do 3-4 taps you will need a manifold or splitters for the CO2. Obviously you will need more taps and tubing. Other than that the basic system is all the same stuff.

Good luck!

 

[uSlackr]

Been reading this thread for years and finally had the chance to build my keezer. I ordered a 9cu. ft. model in August and it took two months to get it in. At that point, my friend and I were replacing the mahogany flooring on part of our 100 yr old porch. When we were done, I showed him the freezer and explained what I wanted to do and he invited me to come to his shop to build it.

A few day later, I was looking at the scrap mahogany and had an idea. We used the old mahogany to sheath the keezer. I spent 4-5 hours planning the used wood, but we used pieces that show the character of the old wood.

We built a dual hinged lid with a inner & outer collar.

I used duo-tight for everything.

Each keg has it's own regulator so I can adjust pressure as needed and force-carb on any line.
The lid is heavy, but surprisingly, the original hinged will hold the entire thing up. I don't have a good solution the top lid, so for now bungie cords hold it up.
You'll see it isn't insulated yet. I'm trying to figure out a good way to mount the temp controller. And I still have circulating fan to add

My friend refinishes antique furniture so the hard ware is antique to join thee mahogany. More build pics attached.
And - Thanks for all the great ideas!

 

[NeoBrew]

That is beautiful!

Just curious, did you leave an air gap behind the wood? Those freezers usually shed their heat through the side walls.

 

[uSlackr]

We drilled a couple hundred holes over the grill.

 

[NeoBrew]

We drilled a couple hundred holes over the grill.

That will probably work. I assume you meant over the compressor compartment? Most of those units have coils within the outer shell that dissipates heat through the metal skin.

 

[Erik the Anglophile]

If you can build things you can build a kegerator or keezer.

I would suggest anything that doesn't work out on the pluming is something you can tweak and fix. There are only some basic design questions you will want to wrestle with before you start. Do you want the CO2 inside the unit or run lines to the outside? How many kegs and what type do you want to fit? That will have an affect not only on what refrigerator or freezer you get, but how you modify it. Most chest freezers have a "hump" for the compressor which impacts their capacity for kegs. In some cases you can add a taller collar to them to fit a keg or two up on the hump.

Temperatures inside the unit are also something to be aware of. Most refrigerators handle stratification pretty well and don't create much of a problem. With keezers it is smart to install some circulation fans to mix up the air inside. It can lead to foaming problem if the beer at the bottom of the keg is really cold and it raises a few degrees as it hits the tubing and taps at the top. Cold liquids are able to hold onto their CO2 better than warmer ones, and this causes it to start foaming, at least for the first pour. I have never had a tower tap, but I understand some of those folks add fans or glycol lines to cool the tower to help with this problem.

I think you will find a lot of people encouraging you to go to kegging. For me it was probably the biggest single time saver in my brewing process. I dreaded bottling day with all the washing, sanitizing, filling, cleaning up, storing, etc. It was great to always have portable beer, but I would never want to go back to that. You might even find yourself buying more kegs to store your high gravity beers. You can always put some in a bottle or a growler when you want to take it somewhere.

If the plumbing worries you, you could always start with a kegging system kit like this one... Or just look at what parts are in there as a guide and source your own. If you are going to do 3-4 taps you will need a manifold or splitters for the CO2. Obviously you will need more taps and tubing. Other than that the basic system is all the same stuff.

Good luck!

Been looking around a little, and when the time comes I,ll probably buy a new chest freezer. I brew 10l batches and will probably use the small Corny kegs, and a new small size freezer I can get for 200-300 bucks. Should be good for 3 small kegs to be kept at 10-13c somewhere if I have the co2 tube outside.
But, I prefer porter and stouts at room temp, would it be possible to build basically a wooden box with room for one or two kegs and taps for beer I don't want chilled, and have the kegs and system at room temp?

 

[Scotty Ward]

Been reading this thread for years and finally had the chance to build my keezer. I ordered a 9cu. ft. model in August and it took two months to get it in. At that point, my friend and I were replacing the mahogany flooring on part of our 100 yr old porch. When we were done, I showed him the freezer and explained what I wanted to do and he invited me to come to his shop to build it.

A few day later, I was looking at the scrap mahogany and had an idea. We used the old mahogany to sheath the keezer. I spent 4-5 hours planning the used wood, but we used pieces that show the character of the old wood.
View attachment 718599
We built a dual hinged lid with a inner & outer collar.
View attachment 718600
View attachment 718601
I used duo-tight for everything.
View attachment 718602
Each keg has it's own regulator so I can adjust pressure as needed and force-carb on any line.
The lid is heavy, but surprisingly, the original hinged will hold the entire thing up. I don't have a good solution the top lid, so for now bungie cords hold it up.
You'll see it isn't insulated yet. I'm trying to figure out a good way to mount the temp controller. And I still have circulating fan to add

My friend refinishes antique furniture so the hard ware is antique to join thee mahogany. More build pics attached.
And - Thanks for all the great ideas!
View attachment 718603View attachment 718604View attachment 718605View attachment 718606View attachment 718607View attachment 718608

Sweet set up. Hats Off!!

 

[Electric Brewer]

Very simple. Reused the girlfriend's fridge that was sitting in the garage for two years since we loved together. It was almost new.

 

[Kerednai]

I just finished my Keezer build last week. I used a 10.1 insignia freezer I purchased from best buy. I have room for 6 corny kegs, so I have 4 on tap and I can keep two ready to go! Still would like to add a logo to the front, but wanted to share what I've done so far. I am really pleased with the way it turned out and could not have done it without all of the resources I found from this site.

Looks great. How hard is it to change out a keg with the tops on the top?

 

[pruitt68]

Looks great. How hard is it to change out a keg with the tops on the top?

The wooden collar is removable, it was just so heavy with the tile and what not! So when I need to change out a keg, I remove the collar and then I have a couple of black pipe handles under it that I can use to lift the lid. It's not an elegant solution, but I think it looks nice and it works. I've got two fans inside that circulate the air up through the pipe from the bottom of the keezer to try and keep the temperatures constant throughout. I use an Inkbird ITC 308 to regulate the temperature around 35-38 degrees inside the keezer. All in all, I'm very happy with it!

 

[wscywabbit]

Finally got mine all put together. It's a 7 cubic foot Hisense, and holds 3 cornies

 

[LD-Ordie]

A True kegerator. I usually use 5 gallon Cornys, but I can also barely squeeze a 10 gallon in there too

if needed.

 

[AnttiLeh]

Plaaah, broke my keezer (dont ask me how ) so now going to build kegenator. Good start and few things still to do.

If you guys have good tips how to build the inside stands for kegs and space for cold crashing a fermenter, please tell&show. Co2 bottle and co2 distribution placing advices are welcome too

 

[NeoBrew]

Plaaah, broke my keezer (dont ask me how ) so now going to build kegenator. Good start and few things still to do.

If you guys have good tips how to build the inside stands for kegs and space for cold crashing a fermenter, please tell&show. Co2 bottle and co2 distribution placing advices are welcome too

What the heck is that? A giant dorm fridge?

Pictures of the inside might yield some more helpful advice.

Given what looks to be a fairly small footprint I'd suggest you bite the bullet and drill your CO2 through to the outside.