Need help purchasing first kegerator

Good to see you are being realistic about the cost.

You can certainly save a few hundred dollars, but you probably won't be happy when the thing doesn't work right, the parts are crap, you are pouring foam yadda yadda yadda.

Let me be the first to tell you to consider a keezer. Or even a fridge conversion if you want. How handy are you? Doesn't take too much really.

I think you can a 2 faucet home unit for about 1k, but remember you'll need 2 of everything so the cost goes up quick. Feel free to post some links and all of us have opinions. Naturally.

You should look into a dual gauge CO2 regulator. Soda is highly carbonated. Ask your intended supplier how they package soda. You will need something like this


so you can maintain 2 separate pressures. That gauge is bulky as hell and wants to fall over, but that's the one.

Cheers.

 

Mate of mine got one and while it fitted into the gap he had, a bit of wall blocked him from swapping out kegs, kinda disrupted the party a little. So, my advice is make sure it fits the space and you can easily swap kegs

 

This is a fantastic set up. Extremely competitive prices. I checked against my wholesale, you are doing very well.

BM-23. Best price is Webstaraunt $1,484 at the moment, and that is real and truly as low as you will see. So that is a steal.

An economy 3" 2 shank s/s tower is about $88 wholesale. The premium is $180. Remember the BM-23 comes with a single faucet tower, so you should be seeing a bit of a credit and a reduced price on the tower. And s/s shanks are great. Cheaper units do not use s/s shanks and most people never know. But they are better than chrome.

Perlick flow controls, s/s at $55 is fair. You can really do without the flow control and just get Perls. Again, S/S is very nice to have.

Couplers are good. Perlicks are top quality.

Your regulator is in 2 pieces, which is one way to do it, and the price is fine. I figure it's not a no name but can't tell.

You don't need to buy a new aluminum CO2 tank. Your gas supplier most certainly swaps tanks. Like propane. You won't be using that tank ever. You'll pay for one the first time, then just pay for gas each time and swap the tank. Perpetual supply, rotating tank.

Freight is always a killer. If you pick up at the terminal in Binghamton confirm they will load it for you. It will come on a small pallet and the terminal is not going to unpack and help you get it into your Honda but they will fork lift it into the bed of a pick up. Otherwise you will likely need liftgate delivery to your home and that is expensive.

I would quote you a price offline to be honest, if you are 2.5 from Binghamton you are not far from us. But we could match the price, maybe save a hundred max. And we are not really the type who bids against someone else's parts list.

Cheers.

 

Before you commit on a tank learn how it will be filled in your area. Most likely it will be a swap out, but some fire extinguisher outlets will fill on the spot. Prices on swap vs. fill are all over the map. So decide when route you will take and review prices of each. If your area does swaps, it's usually possible to "buy in" to their program. Remember, you'll probably be going home with a 30 year old tank (which isn't a problem). I have two tanks I swap-out and one I refill . . . guess that makes be Bi-tankual.

A five pound tank is a poor setup. Cost to fill/swap is only slightly less than a 20 pound'er, again depends on your area. If you decide to buy and refill, search this forum for "hydro dates" . . . not a show stopper but something that has to be managed. You can usually do good on Craigslist looking for old tanks, just be aware of the hydro date.

I would get more details on the regulator being offered. This is a potential source of problems that can be prevented with a good quality reg.

As you get closer to putting your system together give a good search here for "leaks" (CO2 and beer). . . you want to solve these type problems before any precious beer is at risk. Can talk about "balancing" at a later date.

 

The foot print for a standard front door kegerator is about enough for a half barrel, usually.
Once you get into multiple draft lines the appliance gets bigger, and much more expensive, very quickly.

Most all kegerators that can hold more than 1 half barrel are designed to hold 2 half barrels. These are commercial units. Big. Loud. Expensive. With two doors. This is not really a homeowner appliance. In fact I don't recall any kegerator that is designed for a half +. It will be for 2 half bbl, and you can opt to use the space for any config you like. But space for 2 half bbls.

It is typically more practical anyway for a homeowner to have 2 quarters, 2 sixths or a quarter and a sixth. Keep in mind that a half barrel is really a lot of beer. Even for those of us who hit the handle hard, it's a lot of beer. Like loaves and fishes. And you can get exhausted seeing the same draft for weeks.

Cheers.

 

To be fair to the brewer. the market for homeowner sales is really not something they need to worry about.
For every keg out in the market figure there are 2 additional. One more at the brewery being cleaned and filled and one more at the bar/restaurant waiting to be picked up or in transit. So for the brewery to commit to sixtels they would need to invest thousands of dollars in cooperage (that's the fancy word for a keg). Sixtels are getting more popular, more so than 1/4 bbls even, but only for certain beers. A pallet of 50 sixtels is over $4,000. One account typically requires 3 kegs. And craft brewers are notoriously strapped for cash. And time too. Anyway...

Even with all that, it is hard to believe you can't get sixtels in your area. If you do some research, call the distributors and speak with the sales people, they will be able to send you to the right retail outlet. Unless you are in Pigs Knuckle, Arkansas there is a sixtel available within 200 miles.

Keep at it.

Cheers.

 

Central NY is my back yard. This place is in Ithaca, my front yard.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5465/?view=ratings

They will have 5 to 15 sixtels in the cooler at anytime and will gladly order what you need. If it is available they can get it. Just ask.

You need to know that distributors can only sell product within their territory, and they only sell wholesale, not to individuals. They can point you to their retailer. But if you don't live within their territory you are not a sale and therefore not very important.

Finger Lakes Beverage is a unique retailer and can usually get anything if there is enough demand. More to it than that, but basically this is your store.

If you are serious and intend to enjoy good beer develop a relationship with the owners. They are great people. Even if you don't live next door do yourself a favor and visit. You will not be disappointed.
Cheers.

 

Schofferhofer is imported from Germany in 50 Litre kegs and in bottles. The closest thing you will find to an American 1/6 bbl is a 20 L keg.

That said, importers bring the beer into the country and send it off to distributors. The distributors then sell the kegs and bottles to retail accounts...which is where you purchase it.

It is against the law in most states (if not all) for distribs to repackage kegs into smaller containers.

In other words, you are looking for something which doesn't exist...and I can't believe the importer didn't tell you that straight up.

 

Line length for a Keezer is the same as a keg box. My recommendation with 3/16 ID line is 6.5' at 12 psi where the liquid temp is 36*.

I'd buy extra line so that when the Root Beer drinker finally tires of that beverage, you can just install a brand new line instead of attempting to remove the root beer staining from the existing line.

One last thing...and don't shoot the messenger; Do you have a plan for lifting a 50 Liter keg into a keezer? Regular 1/2 bbls weight in at just over 160 lbs...a 50L will most likely come in around 138 (26 lbs for the empty keg and 112.25lbs for the beer).