Upright Keezer, 8 taps, 11 kegs

[ryanhope]

Has anyone thought about using Disconnects for their lines, so when not in use they can be removed? It would also make it easier to hook up their kegs outside, and than put them in? The come in valved and nonvalved, if you wish to prevent leaking.

I ran the numbers and I can outfit my 11 tap (beer lines are valved, gas is nonvalved) with everything it needs for $110...

http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=84241&catid=743

I noticed that some homebrew shops sell these for about $20/set, might as well cut out the middle man, they are around $7 a set from USPlastics...

I've been thinking about getting a few of these but for the purpose of removing my co2 tank easily for when I need to attach it to my jockey box.

 

[automobiliben]

I've been thinking about getting a few of these but for the purpose of removing my co2 tank easily for when I need to attach it to my jockey box.

Yeah, I will definitely use a set to make my CO2 and Beer Gas tanks detachable from the outside.

Ben

 

[SavoryChef]

So which wires did you cut to kill the defrost? I just bought this freezer for a score of $150.

 

[JonW]

So which wires did you cut to kill the defrost? I just bought this freezer for a score of $150.

You just need to determine which wire feeds the defrost timer and unplug it. If the timer is not running, it will never activate the defrost cycle.

 

[Dawai]

Most beautiful keezer yet.. I vote...

 

[rcs226]

JonW,

Where did you source the beverage line at $0.36/foot? (From your original price summary)

 

[SavoryChef]

JonW,

Where did you source the beverage line at $0.36/foot? (From your original price summary)

I get mine by the 100' for $35 from my lhbs. You can try there

 

[slarkin712]

JonW,

Where did you source the beverage line at $0.36/foot? (From your original price summary)

Try Midwest Beverage. With shipping it will be more than .36/foot, but still a good deal.

 

[hoppedup75]

How well do taller tap handles work? Any issues with clearance?

 

[JonW]

How well do taller tap handles work? Any issues with clearance?

I don't use taller tap handles, but I don't see why they wouldn't work. Personally, I don't like the weight and size of large tap handles, especially with faucets like the 425SS I have that open VERY easily.

 

[hoppedup75]

Got it, Thanks! This is on the build list.
SWMBO likes this better than a chest setup.

 

[ryanhope]

How well do taller tap handles work? Any issues with clearance?

You might need to get those little angled adapters to tilts the handles out away from the freezer.

http://www.kegworks.com/angle-bonnet-for-draft-beer-faucet-774-p174031

 

[hoppedup75]

Thanks for the tip!

 

[JonW]

You might need to get those little angled adapters to tilts the handles out away from the freezer.

http://www.kegworks.com/angle-bonnet-for-draft-beer-faucet-774-p174031

I don't trust those - but it really comes down to the handles. Look at the tap picture in the kegworks link, that is a 425SS just like I have. They take incredibly little force to open. I've seen guys post about losing a whole keg due to a tap opening. If your taps take good effort to open, then I wouldn't worry about it.

If you really want big handles, just get longer shanks when you build your system and use a collar ferrule to get the shank to protrude further from the wall. It looks better and you'll maintain the rearward slant. Something like this: http://www.kegman.net/shank-extension-8646/

 

[ryanhope]

I don't trust those - but it really comes down to the handles. Look at the tap picture in the kegworks link, that is a 425SS just like I have. They take incredibly little force to open. I've seen guys post about losing a whole keg due to a tap opening. If your taps take good effort to open, then I wouldn't worry about it.

If you really want big handles, just get longer shanks when you build your system and use a collar ferrule to get the shank to protrude further from the wall. It looks better and you'll maintain the rearward slant. Something like this: http://www.kegman.net/shank-extension-8646/

Nice, never saw those before. Definitely a better solution.

 

[m3n00b]

Man...I want to come by your house and try the American IPA on nitro. Sounds interesting!

 

[ryanhope]

Man...I want to come by your house and try the American IPA on nitro. Sounds interesting!

IPAs on nitro are awesome.

 

[SPR-GRN]

That's a pretty keezer - I've got a 15cf chest freezer I'm going to collar next year, but for now it does the trick. Really impressed with your build, it's clean.

 

[PacificNWBrewer]

Im so excited! i scored a freezer just like this last nigh on CL for $175!!! now I have a question. I may have missed this and if so, sorry but how did you do your drainage tray? How is it attached and does it drain from the bottom or is it removable?

 

[ryanhope]

Im so excited! i scored a freezer just like this last nigh on CL for $175!!! now I have a question. I may have missed this and if so, sorry but how did you do your drainage tray? How is it attached and does it drain from the bottom or is it removable?

I went with a nice wall mounted drip tray. Hardest part is drilling the holes perfectly so that things line up but if you are going upright freezer, I think this is the way you really need to go.

I am putting in 3 more taps in a few weeks. Already have the shanks just need to decided on the faucets.

 

[SPR-GRN]

I went with a nice wall mounted drip tray. Hardest part is drilling the holes perfectly so that things line up but if you are going upright freezer, I think this is the way you really need to go.

I am putting in 3 more taps in a few weeks. Already have the shanks just need to decided on the faucets.

isn't the go to faucet the Perlick 525-SS?

whatever you decide i like the setup

 

[ryanhope]

isn't the go to faucet the Perlick 525-SS?

whatever you decide i like the setup

I am really deciding if I want to get 3 more flow controls or if I want some stout/nitro faucets.

 

[automobiliben]

Im so excited! i scored a freezer just like this last nigh on CL for $175!!! now I have a question. I may have missed this and if so, sorry but how did you do your drainage tray? How is it attached and does it drain from the bottom or is it removable?

Here is a pic of mine. I used threaded inserts in the wooden blocks I made to attach it to the door. It than rests on top of the block with set screws threaded into the wooden blocks and wrung butts for easy cleaning/removal.

 

[sikkingj]

Wow, are you able to get eleven kegs on tap at once or are the two stout taps only used when you have a nitrous beer on tap?

 

[automobiliben]

Wow, are you able to get eleven kegs on tap at once or are the two stout taps only used when you have a nitrous beer on tap?

I will be able to serve all 11 at once. I better get brewing!

Ben

 

[ryanhope]

I am going to revisit a comment I made a few pages back. I think the fan needs to be on more than its off for these upright setups. I have my temp controller set to 1.5C which is about 35F. The carboys that I have fermenting and cold crashing are reading 44F on their sticker thermometers. My IR later thermo shows that the out side of my kegs range from 38-42 (+-2). This is actually great for me since I don't need ferm wraps to raise the temp of my fermenters but its probably causing issues with carb levels in my beer. I now see that I shouldn't set my regulators higher than 11 for normal ale styles. For those that have kegs on the top and bottom this will be more of an issue, especially if you are blocking the air vent in the back top of the unit... Just food for thought.

 

[JonW]

I am going to revisit a comment I made a few pages back. I think the fan needs to be on more than its off for these upright setups. I have my temp controller set to 1.5C which is about 35F. The carboys that I have fermenting and cold crashing are reading 44F on their sticker thermometers. My IR later thermo shows that the out side of my kegs range from 38-42 (+-2).

If you're fermenting in there, then yes, I completely agree with needing the fan running all the time. For just kegs though, I (and several friends with these setups) have no issues with maintaining temps.

 

[ryanhope]

If you're fermenting in there, then yes, I completely agree with needing the fan running all the time. For just kegs though, I (and several friends with these setups) have no issues with maintaining temps.

The issue is not about maintaining temps, its about the temperature gradient between the top and bottom of the unit. Maybe the more kegs you have the less of gradient there is due to the thermal mass of beer inside the kegs.

 

[JonW]

The issue is not about maintaining temps, its about the temperature gradient between the top and bottom of the unit. Maybe the more kegs you have the less of gradient there is due to the thermal mass of beer inside the kegs.

Yeah, I think with a full set of kegs in there the thermal mass is the key to not getting a differential. I usually keep mine pretty full.

 

[Frazeart]

Hi all. I am sourcing a freezer now for this build (genius). Are these freezers all 20 cubic feet? Are people getting away with the 17 cf model?

Thanks!