Fresh Beer on Tap

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

I just finished part 1 of my kegerator earlier this week.

Previously I bottled my homebrew. This process is probably one of the most busy parts of brewing, because if you brew 5 gal batches which is pretty standard, you'll fill anywhere from 45-55 bottles depending on size and your efficiency. I tried 2.5 gallon batches as a friend of mine brews 2.5 gallon batches frequently (couple times a week sometimes!), but found that my biggest gripe was still bottling.

What is 'part 1' of the kegerator you ask? Well, I found a working fridge on craigslist for free! (score!) - so I clearly needed to get started with kegging first and foremost!

The next day after getting my free fridge involved heading to the local homebrew store and picking up a couple kegs, a dual gauge regulator, tubing and such.

Then came the part that was probably the most expensive - Co2. After doing a bunch of research I decided to buy my own 20lb Co2 tank - I figure I'll get around 1 year or so worth of use out of it before it needs a refill ($40).

After that it was just matter of getting the brew from the fermentor into the keg (like bottling, except only having to do 1 giant 5 gallon bottle!) Luckily I had a Newcastle clone in a fermentor ready to bottle - so instead of bottling, I kegged it in a new keg!

Had a buddy come over to help, and we hooked it all up.

Now in my kegerator I have a big Co2 tank, and a full keg of my Newcastle clone (darker than new castle, with a touch more 'sweetness' than newcastle, very good!)

Part 2? Will be drilling through the sides of my fridge to install stainless steel taps and hooking them up so I can fill my glass without ever opening the fridge - I suspect that part will probably take some time to get around to as I've got a lot of other stuff going on right now.

Part 3 will be filling my 2nd keg with beer, building a shelf for my Co2 tank and getting it all hooked up. Ultimately I'm going to try and have 3 kegs 'on tap' in my fridge at all times with 3 various flavors of homebrew.

As for now? My newcastle clone needs to get drank, so stop on by if you're in the windy city!

I'll add pictures later (of the kegerator, and the wonderful liquid it dispenses!)

Oh, and on a positive... with bottling it takes 3 weeks to properly carbonate in the bottles... with kegging it only took me 36 hours to have perfectly carbonated delicious brew!

[Yamagata 1st MRB]

Now you just need this to dispense your beer

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

While I would love that, I don't think my wallet would!

I think that is so cool.

[Linvill]

hey goodwin where do u live again man?

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

hey goodwin where do u live again man?

Chicago burbs - Bloomingdale to be specific.

North of Naperville, south of Schaumburg.

[Linvill]

when i come baq up to chicago ill def hit u up lol

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

when i come baq up to chicago ill def hit u up lol

Please do! We should have plenty of beer!

[Gooderham 1st MRB]

That is sweet. You aren't a Blackhawks fan though are you...

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

That is sweet. You aren't a Blackhawks fan though are you...

Why? Are you bitter about us getting into the playoffs by the skin of our teeth?! :-D

However, I will openly admit, I can't even call myself a fan. I'm a casual fan if anything - I can't name more than 2 or 3 of their players, have no idea who or when they play, but I do very loosely keep tabs on them.

I've always 'kept tabs' on them since I was a boy. I'm a chicago fan except the white sox... Bears, Cubs, Hawks, Bulls. <3

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

So, pictures are worth a thousand words, and all that...

So here is the freebie (which runs amazingly well!) - I haven't drilled it or put the taps on the outside (yet), and that's my 5 gal. mashtun sitting on top.

Here's the inside - so far just 1 keg, and 1 Co2 canister...

Out of that keg, will come around 50+ of these little fellas...

[Pangilinan 1st MRB]

...I want one. Now would be good.

It's 5 o'clock somewhere. (Heck, I could buy a beer on the campus bar by now.)

[McKenzie 1st MRB]

Why? Are you bitter about us getting into the playoffs by the skin of our teeth?! :-D

However, I will openly admit, I can't even call myself a fan. I'm a casual fan if anything - I can't name more than 2 or 3 of their players, have no idea who or when they play, but I do very loosely keep tabs on them.

I've always 'kept tabs' on them since I was a boy. I'm a chicago fan except the white sox... Bears, Cubs, Hawks, Bulls. <3

Are you sure about that Goodwin? I seem to recall you admitting you are a Green Bay Packers fan deep down .

[Goodwin 1st MRB]

Are you sure about that Goodwin? I seem to recall you admitting you are a Green Bay Packers fan deep down .

Whoops! Forgot to include the fine print Thanks for remembering McKenzie :-D haha I can always count on my bromantic partner.

[McKenzie 1st MRB]

Whoops! Forgot to include the fine print Thanks for remembering McKenzie :-D haha I can always count on my bromantic partner.

Always like to make sure ya got your facts straight Broski! .