Pages: 1 2
What type and size fridgeor freezer recommended for kegging?
OK, I am at the point where I brew twice a month or so. I am now sick of bottling and I want to move to a keg system.
I looked on craigslist and I see that there are Dorm fridges, chest freezers and full size fridges available within driving distance. So.....would you recommend?
Must have:
4 taps minimum
2 CO2 pressures
$1200 maximum (including kegs, CO2, misc equip, starting from scratch)
NOTE: Funding for upgrading available next year so a phased in system is OK
Nice to have:
6 taps...or more :-)
2 serving temperatures
limited mobility
Dorm fridge:
Pros: Multiple serving temperatures, easier to move around
Cons: Need 2 or 3 units = more $, more CO2 tanks = more $, more equipment to maintain = more time, compressor power to stay at lower serving temperatures could be an issue.
Full size fridge:
Pros: Probably cheapest way to get to 6 taps, can store equipment on top
Cons: Single serving temperature, wasted freezer space, compressor power to stay at lower serving temperatures could be an issue.
Chest freezer:
Pros: Could get up to 16 kegs into it (according to other links), compressor power to stay at serving temperature is not an issue
Cons: Single serving temperature, big (non-movable), can't store anything on top
Other miscellaneous details:
Space: no issue, within reason of course (This is going in a big laundry room off of the kitchen)
Money : $1000 to $1200 earmarked for the project.
Power: Unknown if refrigerators can maintain cold temps. (probably OK if door opening freqency low)
Mobility: Future renovations planned in that room so system will need to be located somewhere else for 6 months to a year.
I have one of these, http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-SR-3770S-Co … B000260JRG that will fit two kegs and a CO2 tank. As your needs grow you could add on more fridges, and as they shrink you can use them as a fermentation fridge.
A kit to convert it is around $200 I think. I got my fridge for $75 on Craig's list.
Thats my experience. Good luck.
I vote chest freezer. I have 4 kegs jammed into an upright w/ both gas tanks outside. Maxxed out the capacity. Chest freezer Would be the way to go if I were to do it again, if you put a collar around the top you can upgrade as many taps as you want down the road. Make sure you just start off w/ a multi valve manifold or an add on line type manifold.
Although I serve my beer relatively cold (35 deg) I keep my glasses outside, but do use the freezer for icing some mugs and shotglasses. So not completely a waste.
Good luck you will absolutely be glad you made the move!
I use a standard stand up fridge, with the freezer compartment above it.
I drilled out 4 taps on it, but it can hold 6 kegs, so I could drill in two more.
I have used this fridge for several years. I plan to upgrade to a cheast freezer just for more space in the near future.
Here is a pic of my kego-fridge:
Inside I removed the door shelving and the foam insulation. I replaced it with pink foam board. Thats how I got the extra capacity to fit 6 kegs.
There are more pics like that on my web blog site, just click in my signature. But those two cover it pretty well.
Chest freezer wins!!!................but there is more. Here is my thinking at the moment.
Thirsty's upright set-up is in different threads on this site and is the main reason for my upright envy. The chalk paint and the antlers were a touch of class. So hearing you say that you would still rather have a chest freezer is a very convincing argument.
Brewchez's set-up looks fantastic. And anybody who can come up with a recipe like the Holiday Ale that was posted last fall must know what they are talking about. So again very convincing.
8dot3's set up has the convenience of the small refridgerator. I was hoping to put it out on the screen porch for parties and good weather. My wife, an engineer, reminded me that walking to the tap won't kill me. And, the extra excercise would probably do me good. She also pointed out that during some planned upcoming rennovations, space in the house will be at a premium soI need to look for the most space efficient option.
I will still hold out for future upgrades and additional "auxilliary" kegerators.
OK...next posting will be practical questions....
Next, How do I do this?
I have found the following site from other threads here which gives excruciatingly detailed information on converting an upright.
http://sdcollins.home.mindspring.com/BeerFridge.html
I also found this one which gives a good description for a chest freezer set up that runs lines to taps mounted in walls.
http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6839
But,
I need to have the taps on the unit.
Here are some questions. I was hoping to get some more input.
1. Thirsty mentioned a collar. What is a collar?
2. Is it better for the CO2 tank and manifold to go inside or outside?
3. Can I drill holes in the side of a typical chest freezer, or is that where the lines run?
First of all thanks for the kind words. I love these projects and like to maximize what is available.
If you are definately doing it, I would recommend the ventmatic faucets. Shirron who makes them is supposedly going out of business and these faucets will soon be hard to get. Perlicks are the same but are cast pieces not forged and I think the quality in the action is not quite as nice (my buddy has both). I got mine here and the shanks which are pre-set up w/ the tailpiece all in one. http://morebeer.com/search/102244 http://morebeer.com/search/102246 The manifold I would recommend as many lines as possible, if you are doing 8 taps you could use 2 bamks of these http://www.northernbrewer.com/gas-handling.html The other thing to consider is putting your CO2 tank outside to save you more room inside use one of these http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_i … s_id=10234 You may also want to consider a dual guage regulator devoting a seperate gas line.This will give you the ease of hooking up a gas line just for quick carbing, a beer gun, or bottle purging.
The collar in which I speak of is a finished edge that goes along the perimeter of the freezer and the freezer lid kind of fits into it flush. You mount your taps to the main body of the freezer, through the collar, allowing the lid to still lift.. Another huge advantage of the freezer is your tap handles can be any height, not worrying about the freezer door opening and knocking them forward.
They are awesome to have and you have the best part- the wife's endorsement, nice work! Feel free to ask more questions as you go along.
Yahoo!.......Not a website endorsement, just a feeling.
Thirsty, thanks for the information. I have already purchased:
2 gas manifolds 4 ports, 5/16" barbed
2 in-line shut off valves
2 quick disconnect units
1 dual gas regulator
8 ventmatic faucets
8 faucet shanks
Tommorrow, I am going to stop by a local beverage supplier who is also known to be a pack-rat. I lhope to pick up some soda kegs from him. If not, I will buy on-line and pay the shipping. Here is what I think I need next:
1 chest freezer
10 or 12 soda kegs
8 soda keg gas fittings
8 soda keg liquid fittings
50 ft 5/16" gas tubing
2 gas bulkheads (optional at this point)
3 pieces of finished wood (for the collar)
CO2 tank
???drip trays
SanStar
PBW (for bottling I have only used bleach)
Long thin wire brush (to clean the tube in the soda tank)
I was planning to put the CO2 tank inside the unit to keep it out of the way of my very curious 4 year old boy. He wanders into the laundry room (planned location of kegging system) and he tends to get into things. I am sure some day I will have spilled beer running from a faucet. I worry about having an exposed CO2 tank. I read someplace on a different sight that someone expected to get 16 kegs in a 25 cu ft freezer. I do not need that many so I was hoping I could run all the lines inside and have a nice, self contained, unit.
I hope the regulator can handle the cold temperatures.
Well, that is all for now.
Let me know how it turns out. My roommate and I are currently looking into options for a kegging system here. I may very well be buying a new fridge soon, so the old one would become out kegging system. I imagine we would be doing something similar to what mike has going on up above. Things are subject to change, however.
Brew&I wrote:
I hope the regulator can handle the cold temperatures.
Well, that is all for now.
The regulator will definately withstand the temp, but you will get a false reading. The cold will lower the internal tank pressure and you will show 450-500 psi instead of 700psi and your regulator will always be in the red zone, no worries.
You did forget a few nice little gadgets on your shopping list that you will eventually be glad you got. one is http://morebeer.com/view_product/6715/102296 this allows you to hook up a sanke tap to one of the lines and QD it over to a corny if you want to run both. I keep a commercial sanke always there just to have but can yank it and set up the corny if need be. The other is http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/fullsize/bleeder.jpg this is great for when you are carbing it lets you know what your internal keg pressure is. You will probably also want to add keg lube and gasket repair kits to your list.
A couple more conveniences but not necessities are a 7/8" stepped bit to do all your shank holes w/ you want them to be real snug not sloppy (you will need this bit later to drill all your keggle holes if you have not gotten there yet).
The other is w/ the amount of clamps you are using you really should use oetiker style clamps and buy the tool. Worm clamps can cut your tubing if overtightened and give you gas leaks you may never find.
And if you go w/ ball locks I would recommend using the threaded QD's not the barbed. If you put a http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/full … l-nuts.jpg on to each end of the line you can spin off the QD's for easier cleaning and future maintenance.
The only other thing your list is forgetting is bev-line. You will want 3/16" and 4-6' per tap depending on your height to tap ratio (may need some research on system balancing) for correct foam control. Mine are 4' and I have no issues.
Good luck, keep us updated!
Pages: 1 2