With the wide variety of kegerators on the market today choosing the best one can seem difficult at best and almost impossible at worst. A little information and planning can help greatly reduce the chance of making a disappointing purchase. Just knowing a few things will make the choice a much easier one and save possible problems in the future.
A primary consideration would be size as that can have a great impact on convenience and space limitations. The two major options are a mini kegerator or a standard size kegerator. Knowing how much beer you will be serving each month will greatly help in deciding which size will work best for you. As most models can keep a keg of beer fresh for about a month choosing between a 5 liter mini keg design and a full size that can serve up to a 15 gallon keg will be greatly impacted by this factor.
Starting with mini's the first thing you notice is the small convenient size. Most Mini's will easily fit on a counter top and usually use the newer 5 liter keg systems many brewers have begun using. One popular line of mini kegerator is the Beertender line from Krups and Heineken. This system is designed to use only the Heineken Draughtkeg system and will not work with any other brewers kegs. There are also mini kegerator systems from Edgestar, Vinotemp and Avanti and these will work with almost any 5 liter keg system so you have many choices in mini kegerators just be sure your favorite brewers product is able to be used in the one you decide to purchase.
The Larger of the two choices is the standard kegerator design which is based on a mini fridge system and is about the same size as a standard mini fridge. These systems are intended to use the more standard size kegs from a full 15 gallons to the 1/6 and 1/3 pony kegs that are commonly available from most brewers. This system will give you the greatest number of beverage options as it is the most standard keg type on the market today.
Two options in standard size are a Danby Kegerator or a Haier Kegerator both of these manufacturers have many models to choose from and are known for producing good products. The basic parts of a standard Kegerator are the refrigerator body the tap system and the CO2 systems. As most of us are familiar with a refrigerator I will only say these are almost all based on a standard min fridge design and work in the same way. The tap system is also pretty standard and most will work in the same way so taking a little time and learning how to install a tap and the best way to draw draught beer should work the same way for almost any Kegerator you purchase.
The part with the most variations is the CO2 system and it is usually the pressure gauge system that is different as a CO2 tank is pretty basic and most are designed in the same way with the only variation being either steel or aluminum construction. The gauge however is a very important and often overlooked item and can make the difference between a well working system and one that never lives up to expectations.
Of the two types the double gauge is the most accurate and the best choice to be sure you have a well working system. A double gauge system will show not only the pressure supplied to the keg but also the remaining pressure in the tank itself. CO2 pressure is vital to the proper function of a kegerator as too much will cause foamy beer and too little will not produce a good flow. There is not standard pressure that will work for every occasion 12 to 14 pounds pressure is usually recommended for most ales and lagers however conditions such as temperature and altitude can also have an effect and stouts may require more pressure or even specialized gas mixtures with CO2 and Nitrogen. Asking the supplier where you purchase your keg should give you the manufacturers recommendations on pressure.
Using a kegerator primarily outside is another consideration as many are not designed to be used outside and some mini kegerators will not keep the keg cold in higher temperatures found outside. Due to its harsher environment if you plan on using one outside it is usually best to get an outdoor model as they are designed to function properly in this setting.
Once you have decided which type and style will work best for you it is much easier to finally choose a Kegerator that will give you many years of service and provide the best draught beer on tap for your specific needs.
A primary consideration would be size as that can have a great impact on convenience and space limitations. The two major options are a mini kegerator or a standard size kegerator. Knowing how much beer you will be serving each month will greatly help in deciding which size will work best for you. As most models can keep a keg of beer fresh for about a month choosing between a 5 liter mini keg design and a full size that can serve up to a 15 gallon keg will be greatly impacted by this factor.
Starting with mini's the first thing you notice is the small convenient size. Most Mini's will easily fit on a counter top and usually use the newer 5 liter keg systems many brewers have begun using. One popular line of mini kegerator is the Beertender line from Krups and Heineken. This system is designed to use only the Heineken Draughtkeg system and will not work with any other brewers kegs. There are also mini kegerator systems from Edgestar, Vinotemp and Avanti and these will work with almost any 5 liter keg system so you have many choices in mini kegerators just be sure your favorite brewers product is able to be used in the one you decide to purchase.
The Larger of the two choices is the standard kegerator design which is based on a mini fridge system and is about the same size as a standard mini fridge. These systems are intended to use the more standard size kegs from a full 15 gallons to the 1/6 and 1/3 pony kegs that are commonly available from most brewers. This system will give you the greatest number of beverage options as it is the most standard keg type on the market today.
Two options in standard size are a Danby Kegerator or a Haier Kegerator both of these manufacturers have many models to choose from and are known for producing good products. The basic parts of a standard Kegerator are the refrigerator body the tap system and the CO2 systems. As most of us are familiar with a refrigerator I will only say these are almost all based on a standard min fridge design and work in the same way. The tap system is also pretty standard and most will work in the same way so taking a little time and learning how to install a tap and the best way to draw draught beer should work the same way for almost any Kegerator you purchase.
The part with the most variations is the CO2 system and it is usually the pressure gauge system that is different as a CO2 tank is pretty basic and most are designed in the same way with the only variation being either steel or aluminum construction. The gauge however is a very important and often overlooked item and can make the difference between a well working system and one that never lives up to expectations.
Of the two types the double gauge is the most accurate and the best choice to be sure you have a well working system. A double gauge system will show not only the pressure supplied to the keg but also the remaining pressure in the tank itself. CO2 pressure is vital to the proper function of a kegerator as too much will cause foamy beer and too little will not produce a good flow. There is not standard pressure that will work for every occasion 12 to 14 pounds pressure is usually recommended for most ales and lagers however conditions such as temperature and altitude can also have an effect and stouts may require more pressure or even specialized gas mixtures with CO2 and Nitrogen. Asking the supplier where you purchase your keg should give you the manufacturers recommendations on pressure.
Using a kegerator primarily outside is another consideration as many are not designed to be used outside and some mini kegerators will not keep the keg cold in higher temperatures found outside. Due to its harsher environment if you plan on using one outside it is usually best to get an outdoor model as they are designed to function properly in this setting.
Once you have decided which type and style will work best for you it is much easier to finally choose a Kegerator that will give you many years of service and provide the best draught beer on tap for your specific needs.
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