Kegerator vs Keezer - Which is better?

Many homebrewers after diving into the world of kegging begin looking at building their own customised 'kegerator' or 'keezer'. The terms are derived from adding kegs into a refrigerator (kegerator) or into a chest style freezer (keezer). The customisation requires adding fonts/taps to the fridge by drilling holes, which are then connected to the kegs which are stored inside. Additional holes are often required for gas lines as well.

An example of a Kegerator with taps fitted to the door

Both options work well and have been done many times before - there are some pros and cons to both options though which I'll outline below. Based on these you can make your own informed decision on which way you want to go

Kegerator

Pros

• Refrigerators have a smaller footprint as they are taller rather than wider/deeper
• Generally more readily available on the second hand market
• Compressors for fridges are designed for keeping the contents at around beer serving temperature (generally 1-5C)
• No font required - taps can be installed directly into the door
• Fridge/freezer combinations allow the freezer section to still be used
• Other items can still be stored in the fridge on shelves or between kegs and are easily accessible

Cons

• Cannot hold as many kegs as a large chest freezer
• Leaks are not well contained and will spill out of the fridge onto the floor

Keezer

Pros

• Can hold more kegs (depending on the size of the chest freezer)
• Leaks are more contained
• More versatile - taps can be installed onto a wooden collar or using a font fitted on top of the lid

Cons

• Lifting kegs in and out can be difficult
• A wooden 'collar' is often required to raise the height of the lid
• If using a font on top of the lid, this may be problematic or need to be removed when opening the lid (or otherwise plenty of clearance is required behind the keezer when opening)
• Other items can still be stored in the freezer however will not be as easy to access (if they're small you may need to bend over into the freezer to reach them)
• Larger footprint than a fridge
• Freezer compressors are generally designed for maintaining freezing temperatures lower than what would be used for serving beer

So which one should you choose? My advice would be go with whatever you have more readily available or accessible. If you have an old fridge lying around, or can get one cheaply and easily, then it makes sense to go with that. And same for an old chest freezer.

Depending on where it will be stored, and how heavily you value the pros and cons above will really determine what option is best for you.

Related Articles

Other Brewing How-To Guides, Tips & Tricks