Keezer vs Kegerator

[JonBrew]

I'm hoping to move into kegging later this year and also hope to build either a kegerator or keezer for dispensing. Just looking to get views on what is better to adapt, a refrigerator or a chest freezer?

I'd be looking to have minimum 2 taps but ideally 3 and I think this could be the biggest stumbling block for the kegerator as most under-counter style fridges I suspect would struggle to hold three kegs. Am I right?

I like the idea of having a dispensing tower coming out of the top of the fridge/freezer. Are these a bugger to fit? I know the freezer seems to be commonly adapted for use by building a collar to mount the taps on. Presumably because this is less invasive than drilling a big hole through the top of the freezer. Also, as chest freezers' doors are on the top, opening and gaining access may be an issue with a tap tower sticking out the top...?

Any other considerations?

Much appreciated...

 

[Wilfy]

I've got a keezer which holds 2 kegs and is literally a few mm too small to accomodate 3. I am currently looking at larder fridges as I suspect some of them will be able to accomodate 4 kegs. If you haven't bought anything yet, I would suggest buying as big as possible as kegs seem to multiply when you start collecting them.

 

[-Bezza-]

I've got a keezer which holds 2 kegs and is literally a few mm too small to accomodate 3

Given kegs are round and the inside of the freezer is likely to be plastic, a few mm could probably be solved with a blowtorch...

@OP - I've been researching this quite a lot myself and concluded that a chest freezer would be better. By having an opening at the top, it would be easier to remove individual barrels vs. with a fridge, you might have to remove them all. The collar appears to deal with issues if the freezer is not tall enough vs can't see much option to change size of a fridge.

I don't see a tap on top being an issue for access, unless the freezer was right against a wall and couldn't be moved forward. You'd just leave your lines longer to allow for opening and closing.

I'd want to mount a freezer on casters too so that it was easier to move around or could go in the garden when having a BBQ.

 

[BeerCat]

My tall fridge easily holds 4 but i could get 2 more in. First i have to get some flexible gas line. My under counter fridge would only hold 2.

 

[Wilfy]

Given kegs are round and the inside of the freezer is likely to be plastic, a few mm could probably be solved with a blowtorch...

@OP - I've been researching this quite a lot myself and concluded that a chest freezer would be better. By having an opening at the top, it would be easier to remove individual barrels vs. with a fridge, you might have to remove them all. The collar appears to deal with issues if the freezer is not tall enough vs can't see much option to change size of a fridge.

I don't see a tap on top being an issue for access, unless the freezer was right against a wall and couldn't be moved forward. You'd just leave your lines longer to allow for opening and closing.

I'd want to mount a freezer on casters too so that it was easier to move around or could go in the garden when having a BBQ.

I'm just thinking about keeping the keezer for two kegs and tall larder fridge for another 4 kegs so I can have 6 beers on at once if I so wish. I already have 5 kegs and they are bound to produce a 6th sometime soon!

 

[F00b4r]

I've got a keezer which holds 2 kegs and is literally a few mm too small to accomodate 3. I am currently looking at larder fridges as I suspect some of them will be able to accomodate 4 kegs. If you haven't bought anything yet, I would suggest buying as big as possible as kegs seem to multiply when you start collecting them.

Are you using second hand corny kegs? The new AEB ones are 2cm less in diameter

 

[Wilfy]

Are you using second hand corny kegs? The new AEB ones are 2cm less in diameter

Aye, got them all from the home brew company. Will have a measure of them all at the weekend.

 

[F00b4r]

Aye, got them all from the home brew company. Will have a measure of them all at the weekend.

Check the Malt Miller website for statistics to see what I mean between used and new ones.
I can easily fit four new ones on one level in my kegerator but not four refurbished or Sankey kegs without removing the shelf supports, something I don't wish to do for sanitation reasons.

 

[JonBrew]

Cheers for all the contributions and comments guys. Think it'll be a keezer then. I prefer the idea of a fridge but dont have the space for one big enough to hold three kegs.

 

[xozzx]

Im also looking to build a Keezer. I want a black chest freezer as it will go in the kitchen and think black would look better. Has anyone tried the Logik L200CFB (currys own brand one)? I have 2 kegs at the moment but plan to get alot more and want to have minimum 4 but preferably 5 on the go at once... not sure how many will fit in this freezer.

 

[-Bezza-]

Im also looking to build a Keezer. I want a black chest freezer as it will go in the kitchen and think black would look better. Has anyone tried the Logik L200CFB (currys own brand one)? I have 2 kegs at the moment but plan to get alot more and want to have minimum 4 but preferably 5 on the go at once... not sure how many will fit in this freezer.

Or, as the Rolling Stones told us, paint it black.