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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Brewing Discussion --> if starting kegging... freezer or fridge?

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homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Let's say that Santa might be bringing me some kegging related gear. I'm thinking that I should be looking into a freezer... but is that true, or is a fridge basically the same?

Also, I'm figuring that I'll start small - one keg - but I'd like room to add taps as I go. Any advice on what is worth the expense up front (buy once, cry once) and what is okay to be cheap on?




Posted 34 days ago.

rayfound
Charter Member
Riverside, CA
313 Posts


Keezer are nicer. Bottom freezer fridges are pretty solid for up to 4 kegs, and can leave you with a functional freezer below.

Top freezers and side by side don't make good kegorator , IMO.

A 15cuft freezer isn't all that much more footprint, but holds 7-8 kegs with room to spare vs. 4, tight as hell, in a 7.2cuft.





Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


I think my keezer is a 12 cu ft? I'd have to look at my autocad drawing and calculate it out to be sure. Pretty sure its 12, though. I mean, ill be able to fit 7 kegs easily.


Im not sure how your home situation is exactly (other than fucking crowded...you stud), but living in the south i'd imagine that garage space might be a bit more viable than up here in the north? Im thinking that would factor into your decision.

If you can put a keezer in the garage, i dont see a reason not to do that. Im pretty sure chest freezers are cheaper than a fridge, and frankly theyre just...well, designed better for kegging, imo. Easier to convert, easier to keep the cold air into, and kegs fit so damn perfectly.






Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


This is precisely the sort of feedback I was looking for. Thanks!




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I was thinking chest freezer would be nice. I ought to be able to put one in the basement.




Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


TBH, the other thing to think about is what youre going to be able to find on CL.

I think i bought mine for 60 or 80? Originally it was for fermenting/lagering lagers, but either way....even though its an older freezer, it was a fucking great price.

If you could get a fridge for 20 bucks, start with that. You can always upgrade, and if nothing else, you'll have an extra fridge to keep stuff in.




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


That's very fair. If it was big enough to hold one keg... hey, that's all I plan to start with. Four kegs is probably as many as I would ever need.




Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


I mean, a side by side would hold at least 2 kegs i would think, and you wouldnt need a controller.

But if it were me and i had to choose between a fridge for 20 bucks, and a freezer for 60, i'd take the freezer i think (unless i wanted a second fridge, which is super useful btw. Weve had a second fridge since we got our new basement in...99?)

If nothing else, extra refrigerators are great for yeast storage ;) thats a fair amount of whats in ours :)




Posted 34 days ago.

testingapril
Charter Member
Atlanta, GA
595 Posts


Freezers are cheaper per cu. Ft. And from personal experience, it seems I always want to have more taps, even now that I have 6.

Remember that you like to have a couple different beers available at any given time for variety's sake? That won't change with kegging, but what will change, is your willingness to bottle those batches.

Chest freezers are cheaper to operate as well, but this is not a huge $ difference.

I think chest freezer kegerators are better looking than fridge kegerators, and therefore the wife is more likely to allow it in the house should you so desire that.

I bought my 12 cu ft. Freezer on Craigslist for $50. Great deal. I had to stalk the search page and turn on IFTTT alerts for certain searches, but it took me maybe a month to find a great deal.

Overall, my advice is, buy a bigger chest freezer than you think you need so you can upgrade later.

Use Bev-Seal Ultra tubing with John guest fittings.

Use perlick or ventmatic faucets.

Don't be afraid to go with pin lock kegs, but also consider that more accessories are available for ball lock kegs. Ball are more expensive than pin, so you pay for that privilege.

Overall, you're gonna love it.





Posted 34 days ago.

Matt
Charter Member
Normal, IL
341 Posts


For what it's worth, I use pin locks and it has never been a problem, I love them.





Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


Havent been kegging for long, but i like my pin locks. Harder to fuck things up after youve had a couple too many - Oh wait, this is Olan were talking about.

:)




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I'm talented!




Posted 34 days ago.

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