Beergoodness Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 Ok guys I am looking at taking the plunge into kegging my own beer, I have a really tight budget of $1000 and would love some advice. Checked out most of the online stuff but for a complete package it looks like my budget may not work. Looking to hopefully get a dual tap system and just a couple of 19l kegs to get me started. Any help is greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylon Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 300 litre chest freeza $400 eurotag, make a keeza with 6x 19 litre kegs +2x 9 litre kegs, google keezers... rating 5 star you can extend beer lines to a bar bench...or out the front by making timber frame... Ive also got 2 kegking series 4 kegerators that hold three kegs in each with three taps... rating five star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beergoodness Posted August 29, 2016 Author Share Posted August 29, 2016 300 litre chest freeza $400 eurotag' date=' make a keeza with 6x 19 litre kegs +2x 9 litre kegs, google keezers... rating 5 star you can extend beer lines to a bar bench...or out the front by making timber frame... Ive also got 2 kegking series 4 kegerators that hold three kegs in each with three taps... rating five star [/quote'] Love the idea of making a keezer but with the cost of the kegs and then all the parts (font, co2 tank etc) it would push past my bugget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 You will need a CO2 tank regardless, otherwise you won't be able to serve your beers. They can of course be naturally carbonated like in bottles, but you still need dispensing pressure. If you build a keezer like Waylon has suggested, you don't need a font. You can build a collar that sits around the top between the top of the freezer and the lid, and the taps are attached to this collar. I would go this way personally if I was converting a chest freezer, saves drilling holes in the lid and makes it a lot easier to keep more of the beer line cold. If you can afford to get more than 2 kegs, do it. Or gradually accumulate them at least, you will need them. I run a 3 tap kegerator and currently have 7 kegs in rotation. This allows me to have 3 on tap while I fill the next 3 so they're ready to go in when the last of the previous 3 is emptied. The 7th one is either used for soft drinks when a beer keg empties or for ageing beers like stouts and porters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beers Gone Wild Posted August 29, 2016 Share Posted August 29, 2016 I setup a few months ago, cost me about $1100, it all depends on supply vs demand. I brew 46 litres a fortnight. About 4 1/2 Cartons. To make a very good beer cheaply and easily needs a few things. Temp Control of fermenting beer is the Key. Keep it simple and it makes it easy and rewarding. What I bought: 1 x Fridge for fermenting (Temp Control) 1 x Fridge or Freezer - Dispensing 1 or 2 x Temp Controllers. Only about $30 each. 2 x Fermentors Beer Line 2-5 metres 3 metres CO2 line 1 x Beer Tap 3 x 19 Litre Kegs. Hop strainers I bottle whats left over from kegs. I am time poor so use cans, liquid malt extract, steep some grains and hops and end up with nice beers at a great price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc2 Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 At bit late, but I just did this and I was searching earlier if any one else has done such a thing. I just got one of those Westinghouse 145 litre chest freezers ($300) and rigged up a temperature controller to turn the power on and off at the plug at the right temperature. The Westinghouse can fit two kegs. I didn't actually modify the freezer. I have to open the freezer up to get to the beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancy a Cheeky Pint? Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Take a look at http://www.cheekypeakbrewery.com.au/index.php/kegerator-bar-fridges I have the 3 tap fridge that I purchased from them about 18 months ago and it has been fantastic. I've never looked back. I got great service and I don't recall paying for delivery either although I did purchase nearly two grands worth of kit from them so maybe I got free delivery because of that. I recommend the Perlick Taps as the plastic ones are cheap and the Perlick ones are very easy to clean and no drips! A little over your price but not much! TOTALS: -5 Double Tap Kegerator - STD Base Font & Perlick 630SS Tap $705.00 2.6kg Gas Bottle $150 19ltr Ball Lock kegs New $129.95 each Complete set up $1,109.90 plus gas and beers connectors to suit. 1. SS font and SS taps 2. Now includes font fan as standard 3. Includes improved circuit board and temperature control buttons 4. Improved guard rail 5. Onboard temperature memory included 6. 304 Stainless Steel 630 Perlick Forward sealing taps included 7. More powerful compressor. Approximately 20% more electrically efficient. 8. Improved drip tray 9. Improved cylinder bracket holder 10. Included glass holder 11. More space inside the kegerator MKIII regulator CO2 Cylinder Bracket Holder Beer and Gas Line Hose Clamps Tap Tool Castor Wheels The only additional parts you require are the gas cylinder, kegs and connectors to attach to your kegs (depending on which kegs you are using). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 I'm always amused at how they advertise the kegerators as 1 or 2 or 3 tap kegerators. They all fit 3 kegs in them, it just depends on the font how many taps there are. My set up cost me a little more, ok maybe a fair bit more at about $2000, but I bought everything separately and also went with a 6.8kg gas bottle rather than 2.6kg. Also went with a Micromatic regulator instead of the crappy Keg King ones. Then I got the shits with the crappy performance of the original font and the font fan and bought a 3 tap flooded font from Cheeky Peak which has been much better and a lot less beer wasted from foaming on the first pour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancy a Cheeky Pint? Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Then I got the shits with the crappy performance of the original font and the font fan and bought a 3 tap flooded font from Cheeky Peak which has been much better and a lot less beer wasted from foaming on the first pour. Cheeky Peak are certainly worth a look not just for the Kegarators. Also can't see the pictures I uploaded so I'll try again with this post. (Moderator help was need on an earlier post so maybe I'm doing something wrong?) Good luck Beergoodness with whatever you get and mainly enjoy the beer that you poor from it. **ADMIN ASSIST** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 You need to upload it to another site somewhere and then copy the direct link and post it in between img tags, or just click the picture button in the edit bar and paste it there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beers Gone Wild Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 You can dispense easily and cheaply, bit of timber. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gag Halfrunt Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 Wow, nice set up BGW. Although im a bit worried about 45 degree temp on display. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 I think it actually says 4.5, not 45. The decimal is hard to see but it looks like it's there. Agreed though, nice set up! All you need now is two more taps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc2 Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 I use to have a converted bar fridge (I used a demolition saw to make the fine adjustments), but it was on half the time and no doubt adding to my electricity bill. I maybe have one or two beers in a session, so having my setup works out quite well. Maybe my setup is best for people that are into brewing to save a bit of money. My beers also tend to be quite gassy so I really only need to top up the gas once every 5-10 pours. The freezer seems super efficient and not running much. The controller is set to trigger between 2 and 5 degrees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beers Gone Wild Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 Hahah yes 4.5c, think I had the lid up for a while in that pic, usually sits on about 3c. And yes Kelsey I do need more taps :) I am hoping to get some goodies for Christmas, already put my order in with "Santa" I think it cost me about $50 in materials to build it. I can run three kegs and a party keg, and bottles on the hump. I usually have one tapped and two slow carbonating. One thing I could do with some help with is when I am getting to the bottom of the keg it starts pouring a bit frothy giving a large head... Yet all other times pours really good.. Carbonated at 12 psi and pouring at 12psi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 3, 2016 Share Posted November 3, 2016 I've had the same thing happen to my kegs when they start getting low. On occasions where I've been having a few on a Sat arvo or whatever, I will simply bleed the pressure in the keg, then hit it with gas for a half a second or so and then open up the tap's flow control fully and pour. It does tend to splutter a bit at the beginning of the pour, but you get a lot less foaming and the carbonation is unaffected. If the pour starts to slow down a bit then just another quick hit of gas sorts it out. Then I simply turn the gas back on properly to keep it where I want it when I'm finished. Through the week I don't bother doing this, but with the flow control on my taps it makes it a bit easier to control the foam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beers Gone Wild Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 That sounds like the way to go mate, I like that method Kelsey, thanks for the help. Now to add a flow control tap to the list Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylon Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Ive got the Kegking series 4 kegerator with three taps, It has a few improvements on the older series 3 kegerator, The only adjustment that it needs is a three way gas splitter, this I still havnt fitted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylon Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 My Keeza had a problem 2 days ago! not sure what was going on with the thermostat but it went crazy and read -9 degrees Opened the lid to find smashed 750ml bottles and frozen fermenters that had been set to crash chill @2-4 degrees Be carefull with your thermostats or buy quality Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 I used to have splitters on my gas line... now I use a manifold mounted on the outside with the three gas lines going in through the back of the kegerator. Way easier. I have a 4 way manifold, the spare line is used to purge kegs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waylon Posted November 5, 2016 Share Posted November 5, 2016 Sounds perfect! My splitter is a manifold as you mention with on off levers, just avoided refitting from inside...For some dumb reason I never thought of running it from the outside and simple running the three gas lines through the back gas line hole, Brilliant & simple Idea Kelsey as it frees up the other outlet for charging kegs from outside! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Yeah all you need to do is remove the plastic tubing thingy from the gas hole and the three lines all fit easily through it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hairy Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 I have a two tap kegerator from Keg King with Intertap SS taps. It works fine for what I need. I thought three taps may have been better but I have enough trouble keeping supply up for two taps. I have a mate that just keeps his kegs and gas in a fridge and uses picnic taps. Not much work required and works perfectly well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancy a Cheeky Pint? Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 I used to have splitters on my gas line... now I use a manifold mounted on the outside with the three gas lines going in through the back of the kegerator. Way easier. I have a 4 way manifold' date=' the spare line is used to purge kegs.[/quote'] I like it! This has to be my next purchase as long as the Mrs doesn't spot me buying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrewedBYleigh Posted November 6, 2016 Share Posted November 6, 2016 Hi beeraholics what temperature controls are everybody using eg mangrove jacks or the MKII????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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