I know, another one of these. I’ve been getting into home brewing, and my one limiter right now has been a decent kegerator in which to store beer when it’s made. I’ve read a lot and done a fair amount of research so know that the cheaper models just aren’t worth it, but at the same time I want to keep it from going above $1k to save my bank from crying too much. The other limitation is that the space I have available is about 20”W. I’m not in a position to build my own due to lack of tools and time constraints as the other caveat. I’ve read a lot of KegCo models are good, but there are some that really cut corners so I’m hoping you guys can steer me right to avoid making a very costly mistake. And apologies for another kegerator thread!
I'll wait for @billandsuz or @DougC123 to chime in, but I think this could be a decent bare-bones start: https://www.kegco.com/kegerator-keg-beer-cooler-premium-single-faucet-d-system-kit-stainless-door/ You could piece it together here with Perlick faucet, etc. https://www.beveragefactory.com/refrigerators/beer/kegco_k199ss_cabinetonly.shtml https://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/kits/dtk.shtml On the tower kit, pick the stainless options for anything that touches beer, and get the Perlick 630SS faucet. I'd suggest you get a corny keg coupler as a second option since you mention home brew.
The dividing line between good and bad units is a tower cooler. If the manufacturer is astute enough to put a tower cooler in, then they know what they are doing. Without a tower cooler they are just selling dorm fridges with towers on top. You can also buy a dorm fridge conversion (I did!) and add a tower cooler. Not quite as elegant. Also cold plate type cooling systems tend to be of the lower end variety also, but still work. If you are building this into a cabinet you should buy one rated for that. Of course there are also people who do not do that and add supplemental cooling behind the cabinet. Don't skimp on any of the hardware, always get stainless for all beer contact surfaces, and IMO always get a forward closing faucet.
I have two kegerators (KC2000SSTWIN) and they work damn good. I can fit two 5gal corny kegs inside both easily. my only complaint is replacing beer lines is a pain in the ass but that's given with having a tower for taps vs a keezer. Also, the CO2 tanks sit on the outside with only one entry for a gas line so you can either ad a dual manifold on the inside of the kegerator for home or swap the single gas line between two kegs and adjusting the psi per keg when carbing and serving.
So you need to store your beer? or store beer and also dispense keg beer? Reason I ask is because if you just need a cold spot, don't want to or can't do a build out, then a small chest freezer is perfectly fine. New a 5.0 cu ft is maybe $180, but used ones are always coming around*. Add an outboard temp controller and your good to go. 2 or three Corney kegs. When you can build out, also ready to go. 2 faucet 5 cu ft. keezer is really cheap and easy. Otherwise yes you have read well. Look through previous posts on this forum and feel free to ask any obscure question. We have opinions. Plenty of opinions. Cheers Edit. 20" wide? I mean, 20 inches? That is a real limitation. Possible but not ideal. Move furniture. * NEW Chest freezers are rarer then hens teeth at the moment, what with the pandemic, the tariffs, the need to prepare for Armageddon. It's really a thing. If you are in an area where big men hunt animals to put meat on the table (their term not mine), well a lot of these fellas don't quite put the meat on the table and have a big old empty meat freezer that Mom is not thrilled about. Those guys sell cheap to keep the piece. Really, scored a freezer twice this way. Just wait until November and stay on CL. Guaranteed.
Craigslist and an arrogant dude that can't shoot a 300 Win Mag offhand to save his life yet alone put meat on the table...who should have got good at small bore, a 7mm-08 and used a deer blind....I digress. Cheap keezer, yeah...dime a dozen in these parts too soon. Good idea.
