Best Outdoor Kegerator 2023

A kegerator keeps your preferred kegged beverage refrigerated in the convenience of your own home for beer, wine, kombucha, and other beverages. The better ones can carry two or three kegs and easily deliver cool brews and beverages with just the right amount of pressure.

These systems are much better than the hand-pump home kegs you used during your college years, which resulted in cups full of foam and bland beverages. Kegerators eliminate the need for hand pumping by pressurizing a keg and circulating the suds through a draft line into the tap (and ultimately, your waiting glass). Additionally, because many kegerators are around the size of a mini-fridge, they blend in well with the decor of most homes and bars.

Kegerators are a practical appliance, whether you’re searching for a portable choice for outdoor partying or a straightforward way to keep your favorite craft brews chilled. The Kegco K309 Keg Dispenser, which can handle a variety of keg sizes and includes all the parts you might need, is our top pick.

Our Top Picks

Review

Best Overall: Kegco K309 Keg Dispenser

Pros

• Accommodates full-sized kegs
• Easy to adjust temperature
• All-parts included
• Durable

Cons

• Expensive

For several weeks, the full-service kegerator kit from Kegco (which includes a full keg tapping setup) will keep beer at the right temperature. Any full-sized keg will fit in the small refrigerator (33 x 24 x 25 inches).

It has useful features including a removable drip tray that is simple to clean, rolling wheels that let you move it around your room, and a chrome guard rail that lets you set mugs and glasses on top of the unit without worrying about them falling off.

The best part is that you can quickly alter the temperature using a digital panel on the front of the appliance rather than removing the kegerator from the wall to do so. Additionally, the K309 offers a deep chill option that rapidly lowers temperature if you need to fast chill a heated drink.

Important Information: Many keg systems are available with individual pieces. This is perfect for the home brewer who wants to customize their keg; however, if you’re looking for a kegerator that comes fully assembled, make sure you buy one.

The Kegco K309 comes with a single faucet dispensing system and all necessary components, including as an easy-tap D system keg coupler, a dual gauge CO2 regulator, and a 5-pound aluminum CO2 tank with a glossy red epoxy finish. (Keep in mind that the CO2 tank is shipped empty and can be filled locally.)

Best Value: EdgeStar Craft Brew Kegerator KC1000SS

Pros

• Accommodates 1/6 barrel and Cornelius kegs
• Centralized location for all lines
• Has a temperature display

Cons

• Temperature display can get stuck
• Temperature control on back of unit

EdgeStar’s KC1000SS kegerator offers exceptional value if you’re seeking for a kegerator without a prohibitively high price tag.Its dimensions are 33 x 17 x 18, thus it can hold a Cornelius keg, a sixth barrel, or a home brew keg if you also buy a home brew conversion kit. The unit has plenty of room for all lines, couplers, and gas even with a keg inside. A computerized thermostat and blue LED illumination in the interior make it simple to control the temperature.

The unit comes with extra parts in case something goes wrong, and setup is not too difficult. It’s a great, economical option, especially when you consider its price.

a stainless steel D coupler, a stainless steel beer tower with a stainless steel faucet, a beer line, a gas line, a 2.5 pound CO2 tank, and

Best Compact: Insignia 1-Tap Beverage Cooler Kegerator

Pros

• Generous temperature range
• Easy to move around
• Can function as a normal fridge

Cons

• Doesn’t have a temperature display

Look no farther than this Insignia model if you want a kegerator that won’t break the bank. Consider it an entry-level kegerator for people just getting their feet wet in the world of kegerators. A slim half-keg or a quarter of a tall keg can fit in this little kegerator (33 x 23 inches) (though note that it cannot hold a Miller or Coors keg).

From 32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, it can cool kegs in an astonishing range of temperatures. The keg refrigerator may be rolled to whatever location you like or kept in place by locking wheels. Pull out the keg, slide the shelves in, and store groceries if beer isn’t on the agenda. This keg can also be converted into a standard refrigerator with two removable wire shelves.

What’s included: fridge, tap, C02 tank, hose, and reversible door opening

Best Countertop: HomeCraft Black Stainless Steel Tap Beer Growler Cooling System CBD5BS

Pros

• Ideal for small spaces
• Generous temperature range
• Includes a reusable growler

Cons

• Can be loud

This small kegerator converts beer from standard 5-liter growlers into foamy, ice-cold draft beer, keeping beverages refrigerated up to 36 degrees, making it ideal for people who don’t want to commit to a whole keg. A pressurized or non-pressurized keg can also be connected to the HomeCraft and its beer can be run through a miniature keg system. The kegerator can keep beer fresh for up to 30 days after tapping.

Unlike most of the kegerators that are now available, this keg system is perfect for compact situations (think tiny bars or studio apartments). The 17 x 18 x 13-inch system is small enough to fit on a counter but powerful enough to operate a complete bar system. Add three glasses of water to the system and attach one of the little CO2 tanks to the kegs to chill them down (the kit comes with three). The system will consistently pour a pint that is pub-perfect from your kitchen when you visit your neighborhood craft brewery, fill up the reusable growler with your preferred brew, and leave.

Three 16g CO2 cartridges, a drip tray, a kegerator machine, a squeeze bottle cleaning kit, and a reusable clear plastic growler keg are all included.

Best Triple Tap: Kegco 3-Keg Dispenser

Pros

• Accommodates three Cornelius kegs
• Can function as a normal fridge
• Easy to adjust temperature
• Easy to move around

Cons

• Not compatible with commercial D system kegs

If you enjoy homebrewing and require access to a variety of beers, choose Kegco’s three-keg dispenser (33 x 24 x 25 inches). This kegerator, which also contains the faucet and tap equipment (such as ball lock keg couplers, washers, and fittings) and can even be transformed into a refrigerator for additional storage, can accommodate three Cornelius (or “Pepsi”) kegs. A clever external tank mount allows you to store the CO2 on the back of the appliance to conserve space if you intend to fill the fridge with all three kegs.

A top-notch dual-gauge regulator, a stainless steel draft beer tower with three taps, and a corrosion-resistant CO2 tank are all included in this upgraded version of Kegco’s classic dispenser. This model uses 25% less energy and is therefore more environmentally friendly. A button on the rear of the device allows you to adjust the temperature between 35 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit for greater flexibility. The stainless steel plate at the dispenser’s base evenly distributes the weight of the kegs to prevent damage to the lining, and locking caster wheels let you move the kegerator to the location of the party.

A refrigerator, a polished stainless steel draft tower, three chrome standard beer faucets, three sets of full ball locks for homebrew kegs, a dual gauge CO2 regulator, and an aluminum CO2 tank weighing five pounds are all included.

Best for Outdoors: EdgeStar 15-Inch Built-In Outdoor Kegerator KC1500SSOD

Pros

• Durable
• Easy to adjust temperature
• Accommodates 1/4 and 1/6 barrel kegs
• Interior light

Cons

• Expensive

This EdgeStar built-in kegerator looks great as a component of a backyard bar and is perfect for sipping a cold beverage outside. The cabinet is made of durable stainless steel and completely surrounds the beer dispenser, making it resistant to rain, sleet, and other weather conditions. To keep the suds flowing all year long, the kegerator is electrically certified and safety-approved for outdoor usage.

One of the few kegerators of this EdgeStar kind that can hold one-fourth and one-sixth of a thin barrel-sized keg and is 15 inches wide (26 inches deep x 33 inches high) (the keg of choice for most craft breweries). Thanks to forced-air refrigeration technology and an electronic control panel, this kegerator guarantees that even on sunny days or during heat waves, your favorite beverage will stay cool (down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit) from the keg to the glass. The panel also makes it simple to change the temperatures as the weather changes.

Kegerator, stainless steel surface-mount drip tray, four casters, reinforced stainless steel exterior, expert door handle, low-profile “D coupler, and draft components are all included.

Best for Home Brewers: NutriChef Homebrew Mini Keg

Pros

• Portable
• Keeps beer vacuum pressured for two months
• Compatible with CO2 cartridges by any brand

Cons

• Does not include any CO2 cartridges

If you enjoy home brewing, NutriChef’s portable kegerator kit enables the best possible carbonation from your homebrew keg. In contrast to a traditional growler, which soon loses its bubbles, this dispensing mechanism keeps the beer under vacuum pressure for up to two months. After inserting the growler or homebrew keg into the barrel and fastening the tubing, you may begin dispensing. A top screws on for simple transportation if you want to drink while moving. Any brand of disposable threaded 16-gram Co2 cartridges will operate with the device.

If you are not a home brewer but like the notion of a simple design and compact orientation, fill the growler at your favorite neighborhood brewery and enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor rather than your own.

A 64-ounce stainless steel keg, a brass tap, assembly materials, and a neoprene koozie are all included.

What To Look For

Any version of a home keg system must, above all, do one crucial thing: keep your beer cool! The dimensions (will it fit in your space? ), the location of the temperature control, and the kinds of keg coupler systems it supports are other factors to take into account.

Final Verdict

What kegerator would be ideal for you? The greatest all-around kegerator, featuring a single faucet dispensing mechanism and the capacity to hold any size keg, is the K309 from Kegco. EdgeStar’s KC1500SSOD unit is smaller and equipped with weather-resistant details for use outdoors if you’re short on room.

FAQs

How do you clean a kegerator? 

You should wipe out your lines after each and every keg, according to experts.If you don’t, the leftover yeast and malt will eventually build up and give your lines a slightly stale taste. After thoroughly cleaning the kegerator’s interior and exterior, run cleaner via the beer lines. Disassemble the appliance and clean the faucets and couplers for a thorough deep clean.

How long does a keg last in a kegerator? 

A beer must be consumed in its entirety shortly after being opened. A pasteurized beer stored in a kegerator, however, must be consumed within eight weeks. But bear in mind that every brewery will have a different waiting period. Smaller craft breweries have a shelf life of roughly six weeks, but larger breweries have a shelf life of up to four months. Speak with your go-to beer seller for further details. You have to drink a beer all the way through in a few hours after opening it. But you have around eight weeks to consume a pasteurized beer in a kegerator. However, keep in mind that the period will vary from brewery to brewery. The shelf life of smaller artisan brewers is about six weeks, while that of larger-scale breweries is up to four months. For further information, speak with your go-to brew seller.

Where do I fill a Co2 tank for a kegerator?

Although it may appear difficult to fill a CO2 tank, many businesses sell refills. Your CO2 can be refilled at the majority of sports goods stores, welding shops, dive or snorkeling businesses, and ordinary home hardware stores.

Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API