The best kegerator dispenses delicious, cold draft beer in the comfort of your home. They’re not just designed for homebrewers, in fact, they’re a great addition to any home if you love drinking beer after work or on special occasions. If you normally host family dinners, throw parties, or enjoy barbeques on the weekend, then a kegerator is a perfect choice. Not only can you save serious cash otherwise spent on overpriced bottled beer, but you can also purchase a model that features a double or triple tap, so you can enjoy a variety of beers that you and your family love, at the same time.
But finding the right kegerator can be difficult, especially considering there are dozens of leading models on the market to choose from. So, how do you narrow down your choices and find the best home kegerator?
Fortunately, we’ve done all of the hard work for you. We’ve reviewed many of the leading models and have narrowed it down to the top five.
How We Chose the Best of the Best
Finding the leading five models wasn’t easy. First, we looked for models that were portable and versatile. Most buyers want a kegerator that’s equipped with casters, so it can be rolled outdoors for a family get together and rolled back inside once the party is over. In terms of versatility, a model should be able to accommodate a variety of keg sizes, giving you more options in terms of how much or how little beer you want to store.
Of course, the price is also important, which is why we have included models in a variety of price points.
We’re confident that you’ll find the perfect kegerator in our top five line-up.
Now, let’s start off with some brief summaries for each of our leading models, beginning with the highest rated model, the Kegco homebrew kegerator.
Comparison Chart
Last update on 2020-03-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Kegerator-Kegco Homebrew Kegerator Triple Faucet Ball Lock Keg Dispenser
Our Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The Kegco homebrew kegerator is the perfect model for the beer lover or homebrewer. This massive kegerator is incredibly versatile, featuring a triple faucet design that allows you to dispense up to three different types of beer at once. It can also hold a wide variety of keg sizes, which is a huge bonus for anyone who throws parties, or barbeques.
Most Versatile-EdgeStar KC2000SS Full-Size Kegerator and Keg Beer Cooler
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars
This kegerator by EdgeStar is a full-size model that allows the user to expertly control the temperature in order to get the best flavor out of their brew. This model is designed to keep your beer fresh for up to three months, which is pretty impressive. The kegerator is also equipped with locking casters, so you can easily bring this model out for a party and roll it back to its usual spot. It also features a lightweight design and comes loaded with some nice extras that make cleanup a breeze.
Best Value-Nostalgia KRS2100 Full-Size Kegerator Draft Beer Dispenser
Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
This full-size kegerator by Nostalgia is a double meter regulator model that features the popular American Sankey system that allows you to store a keg of any size, with the exception of Coors. Versatile, easy to use and able to keep your beer fresh for several months, this model scored well in many areas. It’s also reasonably priced, so it’s a great option for the homebrewer on a budget.
Best Single Tap-Keggermeister Kegerator Single-Tap Beer Refrigerator and Dispenser
Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
This single tap kegerator by Keggermeister features an innovative design and a digital thermostat that will give you more control over the temperature setting. The model itself has a simple setup that makes it a great choice for newbies. Additionally, the kegerator is low maintenance, features intuitive controls, and built-in casters for ultimate portability.
Top Compact Kegerator-Midea WHS-199BB1 Compact Single Door Kegerator
Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
This Midea kegerator features a single tap design, removable wire shelves that allow you to turn this kegerator into a mini fridge when you’re not storing a keg, and built-in casters. This basic model is perfect if you’re looking for a reliable, durable kegerator that’s designed to last and one that’s not going to take a big chunk out of your wallet. The kegerator’s intuitive design, low maintenance needs, and reasonable pricing make this model one of Midea’s top-selling kegerators.
Kegerator Buyer’s Guide
The best kegerator is a beer dispensing system specifically designed for people who enjoy drinking an icy cold beer at home after work. Can you imagine how nice it would be to have your favorite keg of icy-cold beer on tap in your man cave?
Enter the kegerator.
The kegerator allows you to purchase a keg of your favorite brew, tap it, and keep it stored in a compact machine designed to keep your beer cold and tasting fresh for several months. It really doesn’t get much better than that. This involves a fully functional cooling system that’s combined with a carbonation and dispensing system.
But did you know there are a few major styles of kegerators to choose from?
Regardless of what type of space you have to work with, there’s a kegerator out there that will fit your needs, your budget, and one that can work with the space you have.
Under the Counter Kegerators
This type of kegerator will securely fit inside a cabinet or under a counter. With this style, the kegerator won’t be the focal point of the room and allows you to discreetly place it out of sight, away from the kids. However, the drawback here is the fact that it’s not as flexible as other types of kegerators. In fact, it’s basically stationary.
Standalone
A standalone model is highly portable, so you can basically set it up anywhere in a room. Thi type is perfect for someone who wants a kegerator they can place in the front room for a party and store it in the pantry or kitchen the rest of the time. The kegerator’s portability is obviously its biggest selling point.
Outdoor
An outdoor kegerator is perfect if you want a model you can use during a house party or barbeque, or a kegerator you can take on your next camping trip. Typically, this type of kegerator features innovative housing that’s designed to protect the kegerator’s inner components from moisture.
What Are the Benefits of Owning a Kegerator?
Owning a kegerator isn’t only about drinking fresh tasting beer, it can actually save you a lot of money every month. In fact, kegerator owners have reported saving as much as seventy percent off their average beer costs per month.
Kegs are sold at a discounted price that can save you big, especially when you compare the cost of buying a twelve pack every week. A keg can hold about fifteen gallons which is the equivalent of six cases of beer.
They also allow you to choose the quantity. If you only want to drink half a beer before dinner, the kegerator makes that possible, eliminating waste
Care and Maintenance
Just like most appliances in your home, a kegerator should be cleaned out regularly. The best time is when you’re changing out the keg. During this time, you can clean out the keg lines, which is what’s used to deliver the beer.
When unhooked, beer lines drop in temperature, making them the ideal environment for mold and bacteria growth. Because of this, it’s very important that you take the time to properly clean out the lines in order to prevent contamination.
Sustainability
Most people who are interested in buying a kegerator want to know how long is a keg good in a kegerator? This can depend on a variety of factors such as the type of kegerator, where it’s stored, and the type of beer. To learn more about how long is a keg good in a kegerator, click here.
Taste
Hands down, beer stored in a kegerator simply tastes better. In fact, most beer enthusiasts can agree that it tastes much better than bottled or canned beer. Unlike pumps and coolers, the kegerator can maintain the perfect temperature. An ideal environment will preserve the taste and crispness of the beer, which won’t go flat in a matter of hours like it can with a standard hand pump outdoor setup.
Space and Size
Before you hit that buy now button, make sure you have the space to accommodate one. You should also determine if you want a single or double kegerator.
Features
When you’re shopping for a kegerator you might not care about the little details, such as the handle style or the type of door finish a particular model has, but there are some features you should look for that can make a big difference in terms of beer taste, quality, and beer longevity.
Door Style
The door on a kegerator is considered the gateway to the chilled beer that’s waiting inside. The door can either add a nice touch of color to a room or it can blend into the room’s décor. Check out the extra features such as the handle style or finish so you can get the look you’re going for.
Finish options include a painted or black wrapped door. Stainless steel doors offer a classic look that will match most types of standard stainless-steel appliances. Brass doors offer a bolder look that can add some elegance to a room.
A diamond plated door with a tough texture is usually found in workshops and garages.
Other Door Features
Reversible: Some models will feature a reversible door for a right-handed or left-handed swing.
Lock: An integrated lock on the door provides a nice level of security that can be essential if you have young kids or teens in the home.
Alarm: An alarm will remind you to shut the door if the door has been left ajar for more than five minutes.
Rounded: A contoured door that’s designed to fit the shape of a full sized keg is a popular style option.
Handle Styles
Many kegerators that are designed for home use come equipped with molded pull handles located either on the side or the top of the door. If you’re searching for a high-priced model, you’ll come across a variety of choices including vertical or horizontal pull bars. A commercial model will feature table style pulls that are located on top of the unit for faster access.
What is a Panel-Ready Door?
A panel-ready door is a type of door that will allow you to mount a cabinet panel to the face of the kegerator’s door in order to match surrounding cabinetry. Most types are made out of stainless steel and will allow you to mount the panel over the front in order to achieve a custom look that will pull the whole room together.
Top
A kegerator designed for home use is often topped with painted HDF or MDF wood. While this is fine for home use, if you’re searching for a kegerator for your business you’ll want a model that has a top made out of stainless-steel. Stainless-steel can handle plenty of use and abuse.
Drip Tray
Drip trays are made from solid stainless steel or plastic. The stainless-steel drip trays will obviously last much longer and can be washed in a dishwasher, without having to worry about warping like you would with a plastic drip tray.
Some styles of drip trays can be drained into a special bottle that collects spills and can be dumped and washed.
An integrated tray will sit flush with the kegerator’s worktop. Some trays feature drains for added convenience.
Kegerator Ratings
You’ll come across many different types of rating scales that each manufacturer will use to showcase how energy efficient or safe their kegerators are. The following includes the most common ratings used and what they mean.
Outdoor rated: This rating means that the kegerator is able to maintain stable temperatures when outdoors. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s fully weatherproof. However, it does mean that the manufacturer has paid special attention to seal off electrical components, protecting them from moisture, minimizing the risk of electrocution. Most models of outdoor kegerators are made out of stainless steel, a material that’s able to resist rust when kept in wet environments. However, even stainless steel can rust in intense weather conditions.
Energy star rated: A model that’s energy star rated means it has met certain energy efficiency standards. The energy star program currently doesn’t certify kegerators as energy star efficient, so if you see a model with this rating this only applies to the refrigeration unit and not the other components in the kegerator.
UL rated: Models that have this type of rating simply means they have been tested by the Underwriters Laboratories and have passed specific safety requirements.
ETL listed: This is similar to UL ratings. This type of rating means the model was tested at the EL lab and was found to meet safety standards.
CE rated: This rating shows that a kegerator has passed testing and is in compliance with the European Health, Safety, and Environmental protection legislation.
NSF rated: The NSF is a non-profit organization that has developed national standards for food safety. Models with this type of certification ensure that the kegerator has been tested and met organization standards.
Tap and Tower Configurations
A kegerator draft tower usually comes in a quadruple, triple, double, or single configuration. Most models feature a max capacity of four slim homebrew kegs. You can use a large commercial style keg refrigerator, or you can purchase draft towers with more taps.
Tower Elbow Shank
An elbow shank comes in a few style options. Some elbow shanks are made as a single solid piece while others will use multiple gaskets and parts that need to be replaced every year or two. Plated brass is the most common type of material used in the elbow shank due to its low cost for manufacturers. However, for longevity, a solid stainless-steel elbow shank is preferred.
Tower Mount
Some models of draft towers come equipped with a quick twist mount, so no tools are required for installation. Usually, draft towers are mounted to the kegerator’s worktop and installed with a gasket placed between the worktop and tower.
Tap Types
The most common type of tap used consists of brass that’s chrome plated. Models with chrome plating are more affordable than stainless-steel, however, they tend to rust and chip over time.
Stainless-steel will last much longer than brass since it’s corrosion-resistant. They’re also less likely to chip.
Cooling System
A kegerator’s cooling system plays a major role in beer taste, quality, and sustainability. Both commercial and home kegerators offer a wide variety of cooling features that are designed to improve the flavor of your favorite beer.
Temperature Controls
Typically, when it comes to this feature you’ll have a couple of options. The basic manual thermostat controls are available in knob form and allow you to tweak the kegerator’s internal temp to the desired level. However, the temperature settings are usually presented in a one to ten format, one being the coldest. This means you won’t be able to set an exact temperature.
Now, with digital controls, you’ll have a large LCD display that you can use to set the precise temperature.
Temperature Range
The temperature range tends to vary from model to model. The wall metal thickness, insulation, and cooling technology will determine how well a model can maintain a steady temperature. Most kegerators will cool down to the low thirties, while others feature dual temperature zones designed to maintain separate temperatures when more than one beverage is being dispensed.
Your DIY Kegerator
You can buy a kegerator that’s ready to go, or you can turn a freezer into a kegerator. But before you get started on your DIY project, make sure you think about the type of keg couplers you need to install. Different types of kegs will require different accessories.
Many homebrewers have tried to build their own kegerator at some point. While many styles of homebrew kegerators are fairly easy to make, they don’t allow you to control the kegerator’s temperature as precisely as a manufactured model. Additionally, if you don’t have any experience, ruining a new freezer during the building process is fairly common. So, if you do decide to give it a shot, make sure you have the right tools and supplies and freezer style.
If you’d like to give it a try, we have some great tips on how to build a four-tap setup. If you’d like to learn how to turn freezer into a kegerator, click here.
As you can see, there are plenty of factors to consider before you make your final choice regarding which type of kegerator would be the perfect fit for your home. Of course, you don’t have to go all out on your kegerator homebrew setup right away. Many of these models are upgradable, allowing you to slowly expand your setup over time.
If the keg is for personal use only, then you can purchase a simple one-keg style model at a reasonable price.
Kegerators offer many benefits, but the best by far is the ability to enjoy icy cold beer, anytime you want, in the comfort of your own home.
We hope our reviews of the best kegerators and our buyer’s guide has helped you to find the perfect model for your man cave, kitchen, basement, or homebrew setup. These innovative units are the ultimate in luxury for the beer enthusiast and the homebrewer alike. Our goal is to give you an in-depth look regarding what you can expect in terms of both quality and performance.
