How to Keep a Keg Cold

Ice cold beer on tap. To the American male it's what you look forward to at the end of the day when you wind down with friends. But you don't always feel like heading down to the corner bar. So maybe what you need in your kitchen or your family room is a beer dispenser, also known as a kegerator.

A kegerator is a refrigerator that has been modified to hold one or more beer kegs. This will keep your beer cold down to the last drop. Better yet you can store your beer for up to two months without ever losing the fresh taste of draft beer.

For the man, or woman, who has everything having a kegerator is like bringing the local pub right into your home.

Think about it. No more cans or bottles sitting around your house nagging you to be recycled. No more prying eyes of neighbors counting just how many bottles you're recycling this week. Likewise, you'll save money, as much as 50-70% of the cost of bottles and cans. And for those rare occasions when you don't think you could finish off a whole bottle, you can dispense as little or as much as you'd like.

You can purchase a new kegerator for under $450, or you can spend considerably less for a refrigerator conversion kit. Just about any refrigerator large enough to hold a keg can be converted into a kegerator with taps on the doors. But keep in mind, the assembly requires time, patience and a good bit of skill.

Be realistic when it comes to the size of kegerator you purchase. If you're looking at it for personal use only, you might get by with a mini-fridge large enough to hold a pony keg. If you entertain a lot, or you need it for commercial use, kegerators are available that can hold up to five full-sized kegs.

Kegerators can be purchased with or without tapping kits. Kits are available in single and double configuration. It's a matter of your personal preference.

You can choose from an upright refrigerator style kegerator, or you can find one that fits under the counter. Before you shop, decide where you want the kegerator and how much space you have available. If you want a built in look, you can find a manufacturer to build a custom model. Just be prepared to pay the extra cost. Kegerators come in models that you can plug in, or you can get a model that comes on casters so that you can move it around at your convenience.

Under the counter kegerators are the perfect solution if you want to have it installed right into your existing cabinetry. They work well if you want to have the kegerator installed so that the tap is right on top of your bar. This style vents from the front so that the compressor won't overheat in an enclosed area.

Stand-alone kegerators are typically set to the side of the bar. You'll find that, unless you opt for a commercial grade unit, this option will save you money in the initial purchase cost.

But what if you want to entertain in your outdoor kitchen? The good news is that special outdoor kegerators are designed to withstand the elements. This is an option if you want your kegerator on your deck or patio. They look the same as the inside models, but their exteriors are usually stainless steel and they will be specifically UL listed for outdoor use.

Your final decision is how many beers you want to keep on tap. For home use most people opt for a single tap kegerator which allows you to serve one type of beer.

But if you like to change things up by having a couple of options for your draft beer, multiple tap kegerators will allow you to dispense two or more beers at a time. But keep in mind, that the size of the unit will determine how many beers you can dispense. So, even if you have four taps, but only enough space inside for two kegs, you'll only be able to dispense two different kinds at a time.