Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Buy A Kegerator
There are many reasons why you need a kegerator in your life. How about not having to pay $12 for a pint of beer at a bar? Now, that's a good reason! Cold, crisp, and refreshing beer doesn't have to cost you a pretty penny, actually, it should only cost you pennies! Plus, you shouldn't have to drive, get a designated driver, or hail a rideshare.
Wouldn't that be a dream? It's no dream! You can have your beer and drink it too! With a freestanding or built-in kegerator, you'll have draft beer at home and on-demand, but this is only one of the benefits of owning a kegerator. If you want to know if a kegerator is right for you, keep reading.
1. It saves you money.
Think about how much beer on tap from the bar is costing you. Typically you can expect to pay anywhere from $7-$12 on a beer depending on the type of beer you're drinking! Goodbye, paycheck! That's not including the tax and the tip you would include for your bartender. Also, does anyone actually go out just to drink one beer? Nope, you can usually expect to drink at least two, which can rack up to being quite a lot of money.
Good news for you and your wallet, once you buy a kegerator, you can expect to spend as low as $2 for a pint of beer, depending on the type of beer you're drinking! You can possibly save even more if you decide to brew your own beer, resulting in an average $.50 for certain types of beer! The initial cost may be high but in the long run as a beer, cold brew coffee, or kombucha connoisseur, you will save big bucks.
The cheapest route to draft beer at home is building your own kegerator. If you already own a refrigeration unit, you can buy a kegerator conversion kit and create your own beer dispenser. This process is actually easy to do but it will take some time, energy, and a few tools to complete.
A standard conversion kit includes a CO2 gas line, shank, a beer line, faucet, and faucet handle but you can also find upgraded versions with a draft tower or multiple tap lines. There are also a few other required parts for completing a conversion, like a CO2 tank, a regulator, and a keg coupler. We also recommend a beer line cleaning kit regardless of which route you choose.
Although this is the cheapest route to a kegerator, it takes a lot of time and energy to make than purchasing a purpose-built kegerator. Also, when you choose to make your own, you need to be sure your refrigeration unit can reach low enough temperatures to maintain the quality of your beverages. Additionally, changing out your keg from your homemade kegerator can be more difficult than from a purpose-built kegerator, which has an easy to access cabinet for your keg.
2. You can use it for drinks other than beer.
If beer isn't your thing, that's ok! It's not just beer that taste better on tap, all drinks taste better on tap. You can upgrade your kitchen or home bar to include cold brew coffee, kombucha, cider, sodas, and even cocktails on draft! Using barrel kegs in a dual or triple faucet kegerator, you can pour a variety of beverages from one kegerator. To learn more about keg sizes, head over to our keg size guide for information on size, capacity, dimensions and most importantly, the number of beers you get out of a keg.
3. Save space and the environment.
Instead of packing your fridge with bottles and cans, taking up space, you can have a separate freestanding kegerator for your beverages with reusable kegs. Now, when you're entertaining you don't have to worry about being able to fill your fridge with food and beverages! You can pick up a keg that will suit your needs and won't take up that precious refrigerator space. Also, it is a classy way to allow your guests to self-serve beverages and keep them from hovering around the kitchen when you're trying to cook.
If you really want to save space in your home, you may want to consider outdoor kegerators. These are great for entertaining large crowds and an impressive upgrade to your outdoor barbecue or patio area. If you throw large parties often, you may even want to consider commercial kegerators that can fit two full size kegs. In that case, invite us over and we'll help you finish those kegs.
4. Quality and consistency.
A big advantage of owning a kegerator is having a fresh beer any time and all the time. When stored in a refrigerated stainless steel keg, beer and other beverages maintain their quality and stay fresh for long periods of time. Every pour from a kegerator is consistent and will always have that fresh taste.
A refrigerated keg in a kegerator that uses CO2 will typically last 6-8 weeks before losing it's fresh taste, depending on the type of beverage that is in the kegerator. When stored at the appropriate temperature, pasteurized beers can last from three to six months. This is why when building your own kegerator, it is very important to ensure your cabinet can reach the necessary low temperatures. If you are unsure, it may be best to purchase a purpose-built kegerator because it will ensure your beverages are maintained at the right temperature and maintain their fresh taste.
5. Your home is the bar.
We've already discussed how much money you'd save drinking from your own kegerator than buying beers at the bar. However, one of the biggest and best reasons for getting a kegerator is convenience. Not only can you avoid driving, traffic, finding parking, and paying for gas but there are no lines at your kegerator and it's always pouring your favorite beer or beverage! Plus, you can be comfortable at your own home bar with the game that you want to watch on the TV. Finally, at the end of the night, you don't need to worry about sobering up and driving home or paying for a ride home, you're already there!
Have we painted a convincing enough picture for you? We hope so! We'd hate for you to be drinking anything less than perfection because life is too short not to enjoy it to the fullest. So cheers to life, love, and the pursuit of great tasting beer!
Are you ready to start shopping for your kegerator? Check out our guide to the types of kegerators available, so you can choose the perfect kegerator for you.
Also in Kegco Blog - Learn from the Beverage Experts
Supporting Sustainability: The Environmental Benefits of Kegs and Kegerators
Everything you need to know about a Kegerator — That you didn’t know you needed to know
