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by Denny Deaton
Tired of that bulky upright refrigerator sitting in your basement that only holds a couple kegs? Is the hassle of bottling your homebrew getting old? Want an economical, fun, and stylish way to serve up those premium homemade brewskis? Well here is how!
Total project budget = $250.00, you deserve it!!
Shopping for the Chest Freezer:
So I was approved by the wife, no looking back now! The next step was to start shopping for deals on chest freezers. I knew that I wanted to be able to house at least 4 Ball-Lock soda kegs, and I was on a budget of $200 or less. I measured a ball-lock soda keg in diameter (approx. 5 1/2 “) and height (approx. 17-21”) and kept these measurements handy while shopping. I finally found a 9.0 cubic ft. GE model that would hold 4 kegs and a CO2 tank at Home Depot for $177.00, so I snagged it.
Why did I choose to use a chest freezer?
I did a good bit of research and consulted with some local homebrew buddies before beginning my project and I decided to go with the chest freezer for several reasons. First of all, the chest freezer is fairly compact (depending on the size you get) and roughly half the height of a refrigerator, which will allow you to put it about anywhere. We live in a condo and are very limited on space when it comes to something like this. Second, it is very easy to add and remove kegs with a chest freezer because the kegs will fit neatly side-by-side; nothing is stacked. I also like the fact that you can position your taps at about waist level for an easy pour (with the help of a homemade collar).
What is the purpose of the collar?
If you know anything about the entrails of a chest freezer (or any refrigerator for that matter), then you already know that it is packed with coolant lines. DANGER: I definitely would not recommend that anyone to attempt drill a hole through the freezer wall. There is a very good chance that you will hit a coolant line, and in the process ruin your freezer. So as an alternative I am going to tell you how to build a collar for your freezer to house your taps.
Click here for Part II - How I Built It!
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RESOURCES
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IMPORTANT: Married brewers please read this first.
First off before you start this project you are probably going to need some type of approval or consent from your spouse… no worries, I will tell you how to get around that (assuming they like beer).
My wife and I just got married in May and summer was approaching fast. We were talking one day before the wedding about plans this coming summer and the perfect approach/sales pitch occurred to me. I turned to her and said, “Honey, how would you like cold beer on tap on the porch all summer long?”. First of all, who wouldn’t want this? And you have to admit, it sounds much better than “Honey, can I build a Kegerator for my beer?”. Well, her reply was “Of course, that would be great, but how?”. And that is how my home-built Kegerator project came alive…
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Don't know what to put in your new kegorator? Ask the Brew-Swami!
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HBA Brews for your new Kegorator: |
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 Ludwig's German Pilsner::
Not as alcoholic as its Czech neighbor. Golden in color with a light to medium body and floral nose. The perfect beer for the dog days of summer. |
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Tea Party Lager:
Copy of a famous "revolutionary" lager...crisp, yet malty, with a strong hop aroma and flavor. Soldiers and statesmen, brewers and patriots alike will enjoy this complex and refreshing brew. |
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Volstead Pre-Prohibition Lager:
The creation of Classic American Pilsner is the result of an influx of German immigrants to this country at the turn of the 19th century who longed for the pale lagers of their homeland. The German brewers met this demand by adapting to domestic ingredients. By adding approximately 20% to 30% corn grits to their grain bill, they could smooth out some of the rougher edges from the American 6 row malt intended for Ales. This also lightened the body and imparted a distinct sweet grainy flavor. Cluster was by far the most common hop and was used for bittering. More expensive imported noble hops were used for finishing. Unlike the American light lagers of today the Pre-Prohibition lagers had a noticeable malt/hop profile, more body, and a higher alcohol content. (Starting Gravity: 1.050 – 1.056) (Finishing Gravity: 1.008 – 1.014) (30 IBU) |
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Bav' Haus Bock:
A prime example of a German Bock. A malty sweet character predominates in aroma and flavor with some toasted chocolate. Full bodied and dark with a nice rocky head. The addition of 1 pound of DME will change this recipe into a dopplebock.
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Billy Goat American Bock:
Similar to an American Pilsner but with a darker color. A light to medium body with low bitterness makes this beer easy to drink even on hot summer days. |
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Repeats Wicked Brown Ale:
Copy of the beer most folks think of when they think of the American Brown Ale style. Hoppy, but well-balanced by malt...a fine example. Kudos to that "wicked" guy...hope you enjoy this! |
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