Under-counter kegerators

[Varrr6]

Anyone have any suggestions on under-counter kegerators? We're building a bar and I need a 24" single tap that can go next to a base cabinet with granite over top.

My neighbor has a Haier but I can't seem to find any that go UNDER a counter... they're all free-standing.

Can any of the free-standing ones be converted in to under counter?

Thanks!

[GeoffD]

Use Google. You will find lots of Internet retailers and beer snob forums. It pounds the snot out of a compressor to bring a half keg from room temperature to drinking temperature. A cheap one might not last very long. Commercial units that will last are expensive.

[Varrr6]

Gee, I hadn't considered using Google.

I've found a lot of models by Summit. But they're crazy expensive. Maybe you have to pay to play. My neighbor has a $700 Haier that has worked perfectly for 3 years.

[Tornado2dr]

Anyone have any suggestions on under-counter kegerators? We're building a bar and I need a 24" single tap that can go next to a base cabinet with granite over top.

My neighbor has a Haier but I can't seem to find any that go UNDER a counter... they're all free-standing.

Can any of the free-standing ones be converted in to under counter?

Thanks!

I believe my neighbor did this when building his bar. I'll ask.

As for room-temp keg...most people I know with kegerators get the keg from the beverage store...and if it is special ordered they will just ask them to toss it in the cooler and when they pick it up it is cold.

I guess I can see it being an issue if you home-brew and keg it yourself, but even then - most home-bars aren't going thru kegs too often.

[GeoffD]

Gee, I hadn't considered using Google.

I've found a lot of models by Summit. But they're crazy expensive. Maybe you have to pay to play. My neighbor has a $700 Haier that has worked perfectly for 3 years.

http://www.micromatic.com/

[Phrost]

I have a top/bottom kegerator that I made/use for now. Works great and doubles as an extra freezer/fridge, but it also screams "college" and "bachelor" lol. It will probably end up in the garage in the future, there's no reason to sell it since I would only lose money.



In the future (when I grow up ) I am pursuing the same option you are. You could easily convert any of the "free standing ones" to be shoved under the counter like a dishwasher, then just extend the tower through the countertop. The only thing you have to do is design it so the refrigerated air gets circulated up into the tap tower also.

That being said, I think it depends on where you want it and how much counter space you'll need. If it's a small area, why not just get a free-standing unit then build a cabinet/counter next to it? Or get a wide unit and just use the stainless top as a counter?

Otherwise I might just consult a cabinet company and tell them what you want to do. Ask where they buy their "under counter kegerators" or just get a quote for the whole job. It's nothing new so they should have examples of their work too

[Varrr6]

I believe my neighbor did this when building his bar. I'll ask.

As for room-temp keg...most people I know with kegerators get the keg from the beverage store...and if it is special ordered they will just ask them to toss it in the cooler and when they pick it up it is cold.

I guess I can see it being an issue if you home-brew and keg it yourself, but even then - most home-bars aren't going thru kegs too often.

I meant to add that this isn't going to be fully stocked 100% of the time. Mostly for parties. I'm not a huge beer drinker, but my friends are.

Thanks fornthenlink Geoff, I will take a gander.

[Varrr6]

I have a top/bottom kegerator that I made/use for now. Works great and doubles as an extra freezer/fridge, but it also screams "college" and "bachelor" lol. It will probably end up in the garage in the future, there's no reason to sell it since I would only lose

In the future (when I grow up ) I am pursuing the same option you are. You could easily convert any of the "free standing ones" to be shoved under the counter like a dishwasher, then just extend the tower through the countertop. The only thing you have to do is design it so the refrigerated air gets circulated up into the tap tower also.

That being said, I think it depends on where you want it and how much counter space you'll need. If it's a small area, why not just get a free-standing unit then build a cabinet/counter next to it? Or get a wide unit and just use the stainless top as a counter?

Otherwise I might just consult a cabinet company and tell them what you want to do. Ask where they buy their "under counter kegerators" or just get a quote for the whole job. It's nothing new so they should have examples of their work too

I've read that a free standing will not work in a cabinet due to heat.

[GeoffD]

If you browse the forums in the link I posted above, there seems to be all kinds of good advice.

http://www.micromatic.com/forum/us-en/forum.php

[unimogken]

There are many options depending on how your counters are built.
Check out Beverage Factory for some of their under counter units. You could even convert a mini fridge like a dorm sized unit and buy a kit from the above link and make it work.

When I bought my house the previous owner left a fridge in the garage so I bought a kit from the above link and made it into a kegerator. Then a couple months later I added another tap to it for smaller kegs. Then a year later I got into home brewing and converted a chest freezer into a 6 tap kegerator! x6

*No financial interests in the above link.*

[Varrr6]

There are many options depending on how your counters are built.
Check out Beverage Factory for some of their under counter units. You could even convert a mini fridge like a dorm sized unit and buy a kit from the above link and make it work.

When I bought my house the previous owner left a fridge in the garage so I bought a kit from the above link and made it into a kegerator. Then a couple months later I added another tap to it for smaller kegs. Then a year later I got into home brewing and converted a chest freezer into a 6 tap kegerator! x6

*No financial interests in the above link.*

Funny, I was just on my way in here to say I might try making my own. Any drawbacks to making your own?

[Bladecatcher]

Funny, I was just on my way in here to say I might try making my own. Any drawbacks to making your own?

I've done the same as unimogken - manually converted a chest freezer into a fridge. By "manually", I mean I'm not using a separate thermostat; I just monkeyed with the course adjustment on the freezer so that it stays around 40 degrees. The only drawback that I see is that the compressor kicks on a 2 to 3 times per hour, but only stays on for about 20 seconds. I've only had the (used) freezer for about 6 months, but I'm guessing that this isn't real great for the compressor.

Although, tons of people have done this conversion and I haven't read about many failures. The only issue you might have if you go this route is that some people have found that certain freezers just will not allow the course adjustment to be changed enough so that they will work as a fridge.

[MVZOOM]

I've made about 5 kegorators of various sizes and capacities. It's very easy, find the fridge of the size that you need, carefully (avoiding refrigerant lines) cut holes for lines to run. The smallest one I have fits one 20L Cornelious and one 6kg CO2 bottle - perfect for an under bench unit - I think it's about 180L in capacity.

You can also fit a glycol line run too, to keep the tap at nice cool temp, this will help decrease foaming for the first couple of beers that are pulled each session.

Heaps of plans and parts out there, check out homebrewing forums for more assistance. Also, use good quality fittings for gas and liquid. There are a couple of manufacturers which lead the way here, the newer plastic gas T's with inbuilt 'grips' etc are awesome to use.

Cheers - Mike