vonZwicky's keezer build

[vonZwicky]

Some of you may have been wondering what the oak dowel rod was for in a previous photo:

I cut it up up to make some of these "runners" or "guy line runners:"

 

[vonZwicky]

I first saw these used used on an old army tent I helped set up. They are invaluable for adjusting the length of a rope without untying and retying knots. I've been using them for years since to set up tents and tarps and such on camping trips. So, with a couple of eye hooks installed on the back of the facade, and a length of rope looped around the back of the freezer, I have this:

 

[vonZwicky]

Slide the runners to tighten the rope, and I have this:

 

[philrose]

either you start pouring beer out of that thing or I will. Lookin great!

 

[vonZwicky]

The black fields are chalkboard. I had a piece of glass cut for the space under the faucets and framed up something timely from the local paper:

 

[vonZwicky]

That's pretty much it for the build. And yes, philrose, the next step is to install the draft system and get 'er flowin. Since I won't even be home tomorrow for the Big Game, that'll probably have to wait until Monday when I, and most everyone else in the state, have taken the day off of work. I will supply pics then. Thanks!

 

[Handle]

Looks really great, and is quite a unique design.

I can't believe I'm complimenting the work of a Saints fan (Panthers fan here).

 

[vonZwicky]

Thanks Handle. I'm willing to sweep the bitter Saints-Panthers rivalry under the rug until next season. I was pulling for Jake and the Panthers when they made it to the Super Bowl several years ago.

 

[vonZwicky]

Alright, now I just need to rescue my draft system from my old keg hot rod and install it in the keezer:

 

[vonZwicky]

Ok... She's all cleaned up, hooked up, and ready to serve!

 

[vonZwicky]

Let the celebration continue!

 

[vonZwicky]

I've got her working and the beer is GOOD. Aside from obvious goals of adding more taps, there are some other improvements I may tackle in the future. A cypress lid and cypress panels to cover the sides of the freezer perhaps. None of these are projects that will force me to take the keezer out of operation. For the moment, I'm very pleased with her, so I'm happy to take a break from the tinkering and enjoy some beer for a while.

 

[vonZwicky]

I'll revisit this thread in the event that I do anything new with it. At some point soon, I'll also post a list of pros & cons of the design, but the jury's still out on some of those. I'm planning on herding some of these pics over to the "Show us Your Keezer" thread in the next couple of days.

 

[vonZwicky]

This one is for all of you guys out there in the homebrewtalk community. I couldn't have done it without you all. I'll be glad to answer any questions or help out however I can if any of you want to pursue a similar keezer build design. Thanks again, and Cheers!

 

[android]

man, that's the nicest keezer i've seen, fantastic woodwork on it... really cool idea with the facade. can't wait to see some of your beer in it!

 

[vonZwicky]

Thanks android. I can't wait to get some of my brews in it either. Right now I just need to take a break, quit hemoraging money on brew projects, pay my taxes, and sip on some brew in the mean time. I want to jump into all grain brewing, but I may settle for some extract batches to get started. I feel like I have a big jump on the game with this keezer build. Not only do I have a draft system to accomidate kegs, but this keezer will also serve as a fermentation chamber for brewing lager beers.

 

[coachburke14]

Congratulations, that is some awesome craftsmanship! Enjoy

 

[vonZwicky]

Thanks Coach!