The Best Kegerator
1. EdgeStar KC1000SS Craft Brew Kegerator
The best choice and first on our review list is the EdgeStar KC1000SS Craft Brew Kegerator which is a good looking stainless steel industrial type design. You might like the sleek style which fits into a kitchen corner just as nicely as it can take pride of place in your garage, man cave, or garden shed. This one has a single tap with a chrome-colored faucet, a gauge regulator, NSF approval and comes with a 5lb CO2 tank which you will need to purchase the gas for. At 1/6 barrel size or 5 gallons, this one will hold a maximum of 42 pints before needing to refill and cool again – a perfect home bar for a party of ten! A good tip is to turn down the pressure as much as possible then gradually turn it up so that you waste as little gas as possible. We think that you will like the below average price which is great for a mini kegerator, and super for your pocket.
Pros
Stainless steel
Quiet
Self cooling system
Reversible door
Cons
Instructions hard to follow
Starter size
Some beer not available in 1/6 size
2. Kegco HBK309B-2 Kegerator and Dispenser
The Kegco HBK309B-2 Kegerator and Dispenser will hold 2 kegs, or two sixth-barrel kegs, a quarter barrel, or one full-sized keg and you might like that you can convert it into a typical refrigerator when you’re not using it for dispensing beer. We think having up to 15 gallons of beer available at any one time is quite excessive for home use so this dispenser is ideal for parties or home bars if you want to keep your beer ice cold and right on tap. This Kegco model comes with a typical sized 5lb CO2 gas tank which, if set at a low PSI, won’t need to be refilled too often. You might like that it has a reversible door so you can choose whether it opens to the left or to the right so it can sit perfectly in your chosen spot whether that’s in a man cave or in your kitchen. Its build is of average quality for the price – it is around the average price for a full-size kegerator although there are other versions that are made of a higher quality but function equally as well.
Pros
Digital controls
Black color
Removable guardrail
Reversible door
Simple setup
Cons
Questionable ratings
Poor quality
Parts may need upgrading
3. Kegco K309SS-1 Kegerator and Refrigerator
This is the second Kegco on our review list. The Kegco K309SS-1 Kegerator and Refrigerator is stainless steel so looks attractive whether you have it pride of place in your laundry room, garage, kitchen or shed. It comes with all the features you would expect, including a removable drip tray and castors that allow you to move it around as you need to. You might like that it has a chrome rail/guard up top so you can pop glasses on there while you fill them up without them slipping off and that it is supplied with the standard home-brew kegerator gas canister size of 5lb.
Pros
Isn’t overpriced
Attractively styled
Digital temperature controls
Built-in fan
Cons
Caster wheels not good if full weight inside
No clear instructions (new to kegerator setup?)
Stainless steel front only
4. KITMA Kegerator Beer Cooler and Refrigerator
With the KITMA Kegerator Beer Cooler and Refrigerator, the most expensive on our review list, we didn’t choose this as the premium choice just because of its hefty price. It goes without saying that even at under two thousand dollars your kegerator should not only function perfectly and provide you and your customers with delicious draft beer on tap but at this price it needs to look fab too. The aesthetics on this model are wonderful, it’s black coated with a stainless steel top and chrome faucets which you can use to dispense two barrels or four smaller sized ones. We like that this commercial model has door locks so that you’re not at risk of losing your product. We think this is the best kegerator for sale at the moment if you own a business or if you’re planning on hosting a special event.
Pros
Commercial design
Easy temperature setting
Ideal for parties and small businesses
Superb styling
Supply 1, 2 or 4 different beers
Large casters for transporting/cleaning
Cons
May prefer a smaller model
Unsuitable for home usage
Only recently available so lack of ratings
5. Homecraft Black Stainless Steel Tap Mini Kegerator
This Homecraft Black Stainless Steel Tap Mini Kegerator is the answer to having a small and neat looking kegerator. This model keeps beer on a deep chill as low as 36F, which is colder than the KITMA model (reviewed above as our number 4) although you might not want it so chilled that it’s too cold to drink after dispensing. For up to 30 days you can cool your beers using CO2 cartridges as it doesn’t hold a canister and they work quickly to chill your beer within just 24 hours. Although this isn’t digitally controlled, the dial is easy to use and as a small beer dispenser, it has quite an impressive temperature range.
Pros
No need for large CO2 canister
Reusable growler
Pressurized or non-pressurized kegs
Cons
Questionable 1 star ratings
Some parts made of plastic
6. EdgeStar KC2000TWIN Dual Tap Kegerator
Key Features
Full sized keg or 2x 1/6 kegs
Single faucet / 2 tap dispensing
48.5″ height
20″ width
30-40 °F cooling
You may like that the EdgeStar KC2000TWIN Dual Tap Kegerator comes with a few features that some of our cheaper home kegerators on our review list don’t, and is the reason this is our best value option. There are different keg configurations and the best for providing you with a good quantity of chilled beer is to use a full-sized keg which gives you a half barrel, or 124 pints.
Pros
Single tap dispensing available
Sits on castors
5lb CO2 tank
Superb price
Cons
Some parts appear cheaply made
Can get hot
7. COSTWAY R600a Single-Tap Kegerator
This is the COSTWAY R600a Single-Tap Kegerator, a great option for entertaining or just for having a fresh cold beer on tap at home whenever you want one. You might like that it is mid-priced although we would add that it can be fairly difficult to set up, especially if this is your first kegerator as the instructions are not too clear. The temperature controls are not digital although the medium setting should allow you to cool your beers on a deep chill at a minimum of 34 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros
Can convert into regular refrigerator
Smart design
Casters for easy maneuvering/cleaning
Narrow width
Guardrail and drip tray
Cons
Three cool settings only
Produces lots of foam
8. Danby Dual Tap Kegerator
Key Features
1/2 sized barrel or 2×1/6 kegs
Single faucet / 2 tap dispensing
33″ height
21″ width
34 °F cooling
Another one of the kegerators for sale that we’ve added to our review list. It is just over mid-range price and this Danby Dual Tap Kegerator is a smartly designed kegerator that will keep your beer chilled until you want to pour a glass or two. You might like that this will turn you into a great host and as a freestanding mini kegerator that can fit a full-sized keg, equivalent to a half barrel of beer, and it will sit proudly in any man cave or home bar while keeping your beers ice cold. Some good features are the drip tray, scratch-resistant worktop. and the reversible door. The front looks like quality stainless steel although it isn’t, it’s actually fingerprint and smudge-proof.
Pros
Casters for portability
2 taps beer dispenser
Swivel casters for moving around/cleaning
Left or right handed door opening
Easy assembly
Cons
Manual temperature control
Susceptible to icing up due to temp. dial
9. SPT BD-0538 Mini Kegerator and Dispenser
This is the BD-0538 Mini Kegerator and Dispenser brought to us by Sunpentown and although it isn’t one of the cheapest kegerators on our list, it isn’t too bulky and works off using CO2 canister/cartridges (three are included in the package). It has been specially designed to cool 5 liters of beer and is ideal for home use, looking fab in your wet bar area or sitting on your kitchen worktop. We like that it’s one of the easiest kegerators to set up and that it has a stainless steel sleek finish. Usually, a good cooling rate is around 32 degrees although this model is one of the best kegerator minis giving you a temperature range from 36 down to 39 degrees Fahrenheit to keep your beer ready to drink when you are.
Pros
Non pressurized keg
Don’t need a CO2 tank
Cons
Need a new o-ring (seal) when each cartridge replaced
Cool as much as possible to reduce foam
May prefer to hold/cool more than its 14 pints capacity
Takes a while to dispense a glass of beer
Features To Consider With Best Kegerators
Some of the best kegerators don't have all the features that you might like so researching a little will ensure that you get the best kegerator to suit your needs, whether that's hosting a party or you simply want beer on tap. From things like a standard feature drip tray or tap kits, you'll want to know what to look out for. We've added below some of the things you might want to search for and even if a new kegerator on sale seems appealing you may want to check that you can purchase extra parts, just in case.
Alarm
Some home and commercial kegerators come with audible and visual alarms that monitor their functions. Just like a typical refrigerator, it's a good idea to have one that has a door alarm so it warns you if it has been left ajar. If you don't have one already where you plan to sit your new kegerator, a CO2 detector is a great purchase for monitoring gas leaks. Some might be designed with a digital thermostat to gauge the internal temperature and make sure your beer keg or kegs are being chilled to the appropriate temperature.
Control
You should be able to dispense beer and other refreshments by controlling the pressure at a particular PSI level. You will be able to control the temperature too and some of the best kegerators will allow you to do this digitally so that you can get the temperature to a precise level. Some may simply have a dial with min/medium/max levels so check the manufacturer instructions so that you can achieve the best temperature for the type of beer you are chilling.
Door - Lockable or Reversible
Reversible doors are ideal so that when you first assemble the unit, you can decide whether the door opens to the left or to the right. This is useful if you have a specific space you wish to place the kegerator. A door lock is ideal so that you don't 'lose' any of your products - superb for parties and of course for kegerators used for commercial purposes.
Drip Tray
It goes without saying. A drip tray is a must and typically a kegerator comes supplied with one. They are a simple basic item but will prevent sticky spillages when you have dispensed your beer. The drip tray is easily emptied when it is full and can be rinsed clean with soap warm water.
Gas
Carbon dioxide is the gas used in a kegerator and is always the best to use with a pressurized kegerator. There are some specific beers that need a combination of CO2 and nitrogen which include dark stouts like Guinness. CO2 canisters are generally supplied but you will have to fill it with gas yourself when your kegerator arrives. Smaller or mini versions don't have space and will be supplied with small gas cartridges.
Keg Compatibility
The most common standard kegs are around 23 inches tall and a half-barrel will hold 15.5 gallons. Some kegerators will house one full-sized keg or two or more kegs so that you can dispense more than one flavor of the beer. Great for a bit of taste variety! A typical 5lb CO2 canister should last for at least 6 full kegs before it needs refilling.
Number of Taps
The number of taps depends on the size of your new kegerator. If it has room to house two kegs, then there will be two faucets. It is popular to see two taps on one faucet so that you can dispense two different types of draft beer at once, or you can simply fill two glasses at the same time.
Portability
Freestanding kegerators will usually come with optional rolling casters. They need to take the weight of the appliance when it's at full capacity so need to be sturdy. This of course allows you to move it around from room to room and even outdoors undercover and they are useful when you are cleaning it so you can disassemble it. Portable kegerators are ideal if you don't want a permanent fixture and they are often used for dispensing draft beer at events like festivals and weddings. Those that are designed for outdoor use might look more like a cart and be larger than a home version and will be able to store more kegs along with having extra space for other cold items.
Size
Size is definitely essential and depends on what you're planning to use it for. If you are a seasoned beer drinker you might want a larger size in your home where you can fit more than one keg in it at one time. The same goes for if you are planning to host a party or event so you can have more than one flavor beer to offer your guests. Some of the tiny beer dispensers are great as gifts or if you simply don't have space but remember that a mini keg will only allow you to fill it to around 1.3 gallons. If you opt for a larger size, it will obviously hold more beer but it won't stay fresh for any longer than beer will in a smaller model. In summary, try and work out how much beer will be used over a certain amount of time so you don't waste too much.
Temperature
Temperature is important and you should know not to keep the temperature at more than 40-42 degrees Fahrenheit and no cooler than 31 degrees which is when it can start freezing and ruin your beer. Cooler temperatures will help you to reduce the amount of foam on your beers but remember - you want a nice chilled brew, not an 'ice-cold' one!
Types of Kegerators
Here are the main types of kegerators found for sale for use in the home or for business. Whether your kegerator comes with internal shelves so that you can transform it into a bottle or a can refrigerator, like the Edgestar KC2000 (no. 6 on our review list) or is simply set up for dispensing craft beer, a different style will determine what you can do with it.
Freestanding
A great affordable option, freestanding kegerators will be able to keep draft beer and popular brands on tap. Most mini kegerators will come with handy casters so they're portable and can be moved from room to room, or transported outside for easy cleaning. You will need to leave a few inches behind the unit for ventilation. This type of kegerator should not be used on a countertop.
Countertop or Built-In
Counter or under counter kegerators are useful for serving chilled draft beer. These usually aren't ventilated through the rear of the unit, unlike freestanding appliances, so they can be flush to the wall without an unsightly gap. If you opt for an under the counter you can have it built in so it looks well-fitted and permanent.
Kegerator FAQ
Q: How long does a keg of beer last in a kegerator?
While temperature and pressure are vital to dispensing a perfect cold beer, a perfect beer needs to be maintained and can easily turn in less than a month. Some kegs will be okay for up to 60 days or two months before losing freshness and taste, this is especially true for unpasteurized domestic or imported beers, but pasteurized beers can have a shelf life of up to 3 months provided they are kept at the right temperature. Try chilling first at between 38 and 34 degrees, taste it once it has chilled (usually around 24 hours and it's ready) then be prepared to adjust the temperature accordingly.
Q: How many beers are in a keg?
Kegs come in various sizes so it's good to know the standard sizes available. A keg can be sized in 1/6, 1/4/1/2 of the barrel. A full-sized 1/2 barrel is 15.5 gallons which is about 124 pints. 1/4 keg is half the gallon capacity, providing you with around 62 pints. A good point to make though might seem obvious, but because there is a shelf life which is different for various types of beer make sure that you don't try and overstock your beer otherwise you'll get lots of wastage which will mean dead, flat beer and empty pockets!
Q: How to clean a kegerator?
You will need to disassemble the kegerator and you can do this by removing the faucet/faucets and be prepared to flush through the beer line. It can be messy the first few times while you get used to the cleaning routine so if you have a portable version that sits on casters you could wheel it outside or onto a plastic sheet before you start. To keep your beers tasting great, clean the line each time you replace a keg.