KEGERATOR BUYERS GUIDE | 5 things to consider

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Full shed brewery build playlist kzbin.info/aero/PLC62TC7NnpJObuoqlSErVQVrDMhWI7qVu&si=w4xsozlILAXr3ylG

[@jonathanwilliams1974]

You left off the God-tier option...building a walk-in and having your taps come out of the wall :). I've just started planning my new brewery/pool room hang out build in my backyard and am doing a walk-in with the Cool-Bot. Can't wait to get this thing done!! Your channel is a very cool resource for planning out the brewery part. Cheers!

[@HopsANDgnarly]

This guy brews! Sounds like party at your place this summer!

[@jonathanwilliams1974]

@@HopsANDgnarly Yesir!! Putting in golf sim too!

[@HopsANDgnarly]

@@jonathanwilliams1974 You gotta! I hope it’s a Brewtools brewery

[@jonathanwilliams1974]

@@HopsANDgnarly I already have most/all of my brewery gear. 65L Brewzilla (220V) (can't beat the price/performance) and went with BrewBuilt X1 unitanks with the BrewBuilt IceMaster2 chiller. MoreBeer was closing out the X1 for the X2 and they were 50% off! For $350 they were just too good to pass up.

[@petergibson7287]

Wow; That's true commitment.

[@RiggerBrew]

Absolutely agree with forward sealing Faucets.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Much cleaner 🍻

[@scottcarr9985]

Informative. I have two flow control taps. A perlick and a nukatap with the different tips. But no forward sealing taps. I guess I should give one a try. Also I like the Olympia tap handle and the strohs. Two of my pre homebrewer favorites. My kegorator is over 22 years old. It's got to crap out soon doesn't it?

[@kaiser_sose]

RE: Keezers biggest drawback is the temperature disparity between bottom and top - Why not just put your temp control probe in the bottom? That's where the kegs draw from, right? Does it matter that the temp 2' higher is a little higher?

[@brewing8094]

I have both Keezer and fridge set ups, one thing I would like to point out with both these options are timeless pieces of equipment, they never really age compared to the Kegerators. Kegerators have a lot of faults as well, new models coming out every two years and one has to think about replacement parts availability. A chest freezer has thicker walls then a fridge , better insolation makes it more power efficient, the beer stays colder traveling all the way to stainless taps so no foaming issues from warm tower/ taps. And looks great with stickers from great breweries.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

I agree with a couple points there. But any kegerator is great imo

[@RavconRecords]

Speaking of FAIL, hope you have better luck with your Komos Kegerator than I did. Mine died 1 month past warranty, and Morebeer did nothing to help me. 13 months of use, and now I use it as a stand for a cheaper model (Ivation) I bought at the local hardware store, that runs great. Needless to say, I'm no longer a Morebeer customer.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Sorry to hear this! It’s interesting because someone else commented with the exact opposite experience and there’s is still going strong years later. Hoping mine lasts a long time but I will of course report back if anything happens to it

[@deargrindy]

"A freezer will never ourfridge a frige". Have a like.

[@Jango1989]

This is the kegerator video I didn't know I needed! Thanks very much. This was really insightful and really worth watching after you think you know about kegerators.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Glad it was helpful! Cheers!

[@KOMOSDraft]

Awesome advice. Enjoy your new KOMOS. Your home brewery just got even more epic 🙌

[@HopsANDgnarly]

🙌🏼🤘🏼🍻

[@FermentationAdventures]

One huge advantage of a keezer is that if a keg decides to spring a leak, at least the beer is contained in the freezer. Having experienced a leak in both a Komos kegerator and a keezer, the keezer was an easier cleanup!

[@HopsANDgnarly]

That’s a great point!

[@FermentationAdventures]

@@HopsANDgnarlytrue. One that I wish I never learned the hard way. Cheers!

[@tylerhjensen4783]

Do you have a tutorial or video on your fridge conversion? I like how all the tap handles are inside the fridge and you are still using other areas of it for storage.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Unfortunately no but what I did was just sandwich a wooden box between two shelves. The lines went up the side of the fridge through a gap in the shelf and then into that wooden box. Only took maybe 45 min to slap it together

[@mikeATgrowintheglass]

Excellent video. My other channel just started brewing our own beer (to go along with our reviews) and I'm trying to convince my co-host to start kegging. I already have a home-built kegerator (using a dorm fridge), but you've given me a lot of ideas for upgrades. I've only got a single tap, but I'd like to go with a trio when I upgrade the who thing. Most importantly, however, where did you get the can tap handle? Very cool.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Nice man what’s the channel called? I’m always on the hunt for old tap handles! Mostly find them at antique stores, estate sales, and stuff like that 🍻

[@mikeATgrowintheglass]

@@HopsANDgnarly youtube.com/@growintheglass We're both 911 dispatchers just having some fun on the side.

[@dalesizemore6044]

Question, have you or anyone else had problems with the red o-rings in the Nuka taps cracking into pieces? Any ideas on where to buy a multi pack of just those red rings?

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Yes! I took apart 4 taps to clean and 3 had broken red o rings. They sell a maintenance kit with all the replacement parts but I haven’t seen just the red o rings.

[@dalesizemore6044]

All 3 of my Nuka taps on my new Komos kegerator had broken red rings. I contacted MoreBeer customer service and their response was I needed to purchase 3 kits at 4.99 each. Frustrating since don't need any of the parts other than the red rings. Put a regular black o-ring instead recently and so far seems to work 🤞

[@MATTW3R]

What's the recommended line length for the EVA barrier tubing? I'm serving Ipas and stouts, and does the line length matter if I want to do seltzers in the future?

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Line length is super important but it depends on the ID. I use 12ft of 4mm ID. You can fine tune it over time if you cut your lines long. In my experience you need the regulator set at 12psi or higher to keep kegs carbonated. If lines are like 13ft and you’re not getting a two finger head then you can cut a little off until it’s just right. Just don’t jump the gun and cut lines shorter for an under carbed keg. Seltzer should probably served at higher pressure but if it’s worth anything I keep hop water on tap and serve at my normal pressure. Fine for me

[@MATTW3R]

@@HopsANDgnarly thank you for the reply. I will take your info into account when I’m building my sleeper fridge.

[@ELRORRITO1]

"A Freezer will Never out fridge a fridge". Ouch 😢. Pretty sure that's how an "I don't love you anymore, I want a divorce" feels like. Felt like Homer Simpson when he had a heart attack. Lol.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Hahaha Any kegerator is great! But after having all three types I’d go with a fridge over a freezer

[@ELRORRITO1]

@@HopsANDgnarly All your fault that I'm on More Beer adding Duotight fittings and tubing to my cart... Using 6.3 mm for CO2 and unsure for liquid line either 4 or 5mm. I'm currently using Bevlex 3/16 in on 10ft lengths @12 psi and like the pours, not too fast or slow and nice head on top. I have 7 taps and don't mind having 10-12 ft lines in my Keezer. Which one would you recommend. 4mm on 5-5 ft lengths or 5mm at 10-12 ft lengths for my 7 kegs @ 12psi. Thx in advance.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

I take full responsibility haha I’m using 4mm ID on both the gas and liquid side. I used to use the bigger lines on the gas side too. Having one size Duotight makes it a little easier

[@ElementaryBrewingCo]

Love duotight fittings!!! I just got some maybe four months ago and serious game changer. I have no idea why I didn’t just get them to start with. Cheers 🍻

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Man I wish everything was as easy as duotight

[@platinumrespect]

Great video. I love my Komos v2 kegerator and adore Duotight fittings! However, it’s well known from the Kegland boys that both sides of the kegerator should have ample space to dissipate heat to keep the kegerator condenser from being overworked. Thus, extending the life of the kegerator all together. In your brew shed, it looks pretty tight. Surely the kegerator will work, but the life of it will be significantly diminished due to this. I forget the exact measurement on either side that is recommended but I’m pretty sure it’s like 1’ on either side. Oli on the KL faceboook group has talked about this before if you’re curious and want to convert his mm into inches. Cheers! 🍻

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Thanks for the tip! I definitely want it to last as long as possible 🍻

[@slugger777]

Nice, I ended up getting a 3 tap KegLand Series X kegorator for a few reasons. It takes up a lot less space for the amount of kegs you can fit in it considering I live in quite a tight space. It also looks really nice and would be in my living room. The Nuka Taps are freaking great and DuoTight is also awesome. I did mess up and did not secure my connections to the shanks properly soo there was half a keg on the floor unfortunately. Ended up dismanteling the entire tubing setup and checking everything as I was reassembling it.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Nice! I think that’s the same as mine but branded differently here. So far so good! 🍻

[@MrBrianmuz]

Great video. Agree with everything you've said. I've been using a very similar kegerator for a few years now and these are my top tips (apart from what you mentioned): 1) flow control taps are a great idea but cause foaming issues. Controlling your pour via line length is much better 2) EVAbarrier line comes in 3mm ID. This is GOLD as you only need 80-100cm to get the same resistance as 2m of 4mm ID. 3) larger shanks are better than smaller as they have more thermal mass and when chilled they also chill more of the tap outside the fridge. This can be hard with tight tower setups 4) rinse your glass with cold (tap) water before pouring. This chills the glass a little and prevents excess foaming 5) Pour ~40ml of beer before you pour your first glass and let this sit for 2 mins. This chills everything further.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Thanks man! Gold

[@beattyj8]

Very well done as always! The only thing I found myself wanting is a quick synopsis of line length/diameter to combat foaming. I think flow control, line/tap temp, and tower temp control seem to do more to stop foaming than line length in my experience, but would love to hear your take on it.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Thanks! I have another video on the channel where I cover that in some detail but here’s a detailed reply I sent in another thread. There are also line length calculators online Line length is super important but it depends on the ID. I use 12ft of 4mm ID. You can fine tune it over time if you cut your lines long. In my experience you need the regulator set at 12psi or higher to keep kegs carbonated. If lines are like 13ft and you’re not getting a two finger head then you can cut a little off until it’s just right. Just don’t jump the gun and cut lines shorter for an under carbed keg.

[@BrewabitRick]

Definitely some great advice, great video again cheers 👍🍻

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Thanks Rick! Cheers 🍻

[@BobhulioONLINE]

What kind of full size refrigerator did you use for your "sleeper build" @HopsANDgnarly?

[@HopsANDgnarly]

It’s a refrigerator only unit from Samsung. Got it for free from work one time when we moved into a new office building. It was a great kegerator and I could still use about half of it as a fridge. That wooden box was just sandwiched between two shelves and the lines fit through the gap perfectly

[@BobhulioONLINE]

@@HopsANDgnarly Awesome thanks> Ill look for refrigerator only units and compare!

[@demcastles7493]

Love this one! Had mine for almost 4 years and still going strong.

[@HopsANDgnarly]

That’s killer! Hope mine lasts that long!

[@theulsterexpat]

Shots fired😂

[@HopsANDgnarly]

Hahaha like I said having any kegerator at home is great!

[@theulsterexpat]

@HopsANDgnarly btw your production quality is 2nd to none. Really enjoying this series of videos on your journey