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Hopworks Draft Beer Bike: Oregon Bike Culture

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Hopworks Draft Beer Bike

Hopworks is a brewpub based in Portland, Oregon. Oregon is known for good beer and bikes, and Christian Ettinger, Owner & Brewmaster of Hopworks urban brewery, has combined those along with a determined commitment to sustainable brewing in all of his business endeavors with Hopworks. The Hopworks draft beer bike is a prime example of this commitment, a mobile, pedal-powered bar used to promote this business at beer festivals, street fairs, and other special events.

From the state of Oregon comes some of the most highly rated commercially available microbrews in the world. Rogue Brewery is well known as well as scores of smaller operations, such as Deschutes Brewery, Full Sail Brewing, and Captured! by Porches. Perhaps it has something to do with the great amount of fine hops that grow throughout the Cascadia region.

Oregon is also host to quite a few bicycle enthusiasts. Many clubs are operational in Oregon, including mutant bicycle clubs such as a chapter of the Black Label Bike Club, C.H.V.C.K.E.N. 666, and old-school club from Portland, Chunk 666 bike club. These bike clubs build all sorts of mutant bicycles such as tall bikes (made from two bike frames welded together vertically), flame-throwing bikes, and lawn-mower bikes. Here, you can see a mutant tricycle built by Dingo Dizmal, formerly of the Alberta Street Clown House (now gentrified out of existence in Portland, OR):

With such an inspiring beer and bike scene, it is no wonder that Hopworks’ sustainable choice for promoting their beer was a custom bicycle bar. Hopworks Urban Brewery incorporates many aspects of thoughtful, efficient sustainability in their operation, including composting and rain barrels for rain water catchment. According to the Hopworks website, “Hopworks is 100% renewably powered and “cradle to gate” carbon neutral.” Although CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) emissions may contribute to climate change (used to be called global warming, but you must use the current terminology), additional CO2 definitely helps the hops and barley grow. Still, the Hopworks commitment to an ecologically clean operation is admirable as they pump out roughly 6,000 gallons of beer each year.

The Hopworks Beer Bike is a modified cargo bike that holds two kegs, two custom taps, a flat bar, sound system, and a rack that can hold three large pizzas! The bike itself was built by Portland, Oregon based Metrofiets. Mertofiets specializes in the building of custom cargo bikes, based upon Danish and Dutch cargo bikes with aesthetics melded from 1940s through 1960s American Bicycle designs. Their work is artisan quality, and Metrofiets has made more than one brew serving cargo bike – they also made the mobile coffee bike for Trailhead coffee roasters.

The Hopworks Beer Bike has appeared at many festivals and beer events in Portland, and always gets a lot of attention wherever it goes. This can be attested to by this discovery channel link  And from Make Online:

Celebrate a Veteran This Veterans Day With A Mini Kegerator

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Veterans Day, celebrated each year in the United States on November 11th, is a day to honor our nation’s military veterans. While it is not necessarily a gift-giving holiday, like Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day maybe, there is no reason why you can’t make this year’s Veteran’s Day something extra-special by getting a gift for that special veteran in your life.

Celebrate a Veteran with a mini kegerator
Show a veteran how much you appreciate their dedication and sacrifice for our great nation with an unexpected kegerator gift.

Gift giving on Veteran’s Day is not the norm, and is probably not something you plan on doing every year, but if you want to let a special veteran know how much you appreciate their service and the sacrifice they have made for our country, think about getting them a mini kegerator as a gift. It’s a one-time gift that they can enjoy for years to come.

The nice thing about getting someone a mini kegerator as a gift is that almost everyone can use one, or at least anyone that likes to drink beer. Mini kegerators are basically small, table-top models that are similar in function to full size kegerators, except that they are designed to fit mini kegs. Some models only fit Heineken 5 liter draught kegs, but other models will accept any type of mini beer keg, so check the features of the mini kegerator you are considering buying before you make your purchase. In fact, there are even some models of mini kegerators that will also dispense wine, although this is not the norm, and it is generally not recommended that you buy a mini kegerator for a wine drinker.

A mini kegerator is a great gift for those that like to get together with their buddies to toss down a few cold ones, whether they do that at home or somewhere else. Unlike an under the counter kegerator or another type of large kegerator that needs to stay in one location, mini kegerators are small and portable. This means that your favorite veteran can take their mini beer dispenser with them, whether they are on a boat, going on a camping trip, getting together at a local hangout with their friends, or even tailgating at a ball game. Of course, they’ll have to make sure that they only bring their mini keg with them where it is legal to drink its contents, but having a portable kegerator to take along wherever the party may be is a great way to show your appreciation while ensuring that they have a good time, or at least a few cold, fresh glasses of beer.

Mini kegerator prices are generally in the range of $100 – $300, with most models falling right between the two numbers. Although this can be a somewhat pricy gift for a holiday that is not even one in which gifts are expected, the unexpected gesture is sure to be one that is appreciated and remembered for a long time to come. In addition to the opportunity for the gift recipient to have a beer dispenser that provides, cold, fresh and good tasting beer at the touch of a tap, the mini kegerator will also wind up saving your favorite veteran money, since it is less expensive to buy mini kegs than it is to buy the equivalent amount of beer in cans or bottles. This is just another benefit to this thoughtful and unique gift.

So, as you plan to celebrate the importance of Veteran’s Day, be sure to show your appreciation for your favorite veteran and remember how great it is to be an American thanks to all that veterans have done to make our lives what they are today. Then, head to a local store or go online to buy a mini kegerator to let a veteran know how much you honor their service.

10 Weird Things to Convert into a Kegerator

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Kegerators come in all shapes and sizes, and many beer fans are showing a great degree of creativity in their manufacture and decoration. Here are the top ten weirdest chassis that I have seen for home beer dispensing recently:

The GameratorArcade Game
Available from thegamerator.com for a mere $3,499, the Gamerator comes loaded with approximately 100 classic arcade titles such as Space Invaders, Operation Wolf, Mrs. Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, and many more. Too bad they don’t include a keg of beer for that price tag.

 

Lake KegeratorLake
A primitive, yet functional solution for a “redneck” kegerator is simply throwing the keg in the lake to keep the beer cooler than “hot summer day”.  Also handy for determining the level of beer in the keg – the higher it starts to float, the closer to empty it is.

 

Steampunk "Brewery" Computer Computer  
I highly doubt this unit dispenses beer, but it is being heralded as such.  Perhaps there is an attachment for a beer in line somewhere around back… from Russia or Poland, I hear.

 

BikeratorBike
This mobile draught beer system looks like a fun ride.  Two taps of high quality beer staged in a very mobile beer cooler.  Looks like it might hold full regulation-sized kegs, too.

 

Butt Crack KegeratorButt Crack
This kegerator is a little more creative and a lot scarier – Butt crack kegerator.  Not sure how much beer this ass can hold, but it sure is hilarious.

 

 

 

VW TrunkVW 
This kegerator brings new meaning to a “tailgate party”.  Sure to be a hit in the stadium parking lot.  I hope the owner made the tower modular, or else he might find his trunk has been jimmied while he was in the stadium watching the game.

 

Trash Can KegeratorTrash Can 
This kegerator idea is a perfect mod for trash cans of all types.  The bigger, the better, and more taps available.  Foam board insulation can be easily cut and installed for this style of mobile beer cooler.

 

Wine or Whisky barrelWine or Whisky barrel
Your local wine or whisky maker usually sells used barrels and half barrels to the public.  One of these can then be converted into an antique looking kegerator… and they’re great for renaissance fairs!

 

 

 

Vintage Gas Pump Vintage Gas Pump
For gear heads or race fans, an antique fuel pump makes an awesome kegerator conversion.  I’ve actually never seen one of these in person, but have heard stories that it has been done before. Just make sure that you get rid of that gasoline smell.

 

 

 

Antique RefrigeratorAntique Refrigerator
Although this may not seem that strange, it is one of the harder kegerator projects.  Older units, with the streamlined look usually don’t work – this requires rebuilding or replacing the whole refrigeration machine – running new coolant lines, fixing rusted out spots of the chassis, most likely getting a new compressor, rebuilding the weather-stripping, and a whole laundry list of other potential problems.  The result is fabulous, though.

Columbus Day Revisited: Imagine if Columbus Sailed The Ocean Blue With a Kegerator Onboard

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Columbus Day Revisited

Imagine this. The time is 1492. The place is onboard the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria, sailing across a vast ocean. The person, of course, is Christopher Columbus, one of the most famous explorers of all time, as well as his crew. The journey, a trip from Spain that ultimately resulted in the “official” discovery of the Americas. Imagine the difficult journey it must’ve been – one wrought with disease, doubt, and disbelief.

Now close your eyes and imagine this same journey with a couple of kegerators on board the ships. Rather than there being long grueling days filled with hardship and doubt about where the journey would ultimately land these brave men, there might’ve been relaxation and rejoicing at the end of a hard day’s work. And rather than there being disease and illness, such as scurvy caused by a lack of vitamin C since there were limited fresh fruits and vegetables available, the explorer and his sailors could have been enjoying the benefits of something like Bud Light Lime, spewing from draft beer dispensers and filling their guts. Maybe even supplying enough of the needed vitamin to keep them from developing such a debilitating condition.

Okay, you might say. That’s a bit ridiculous to think of kegerators on board Columbus’s ships. Or Bud Light Lime. But we’re not reinventing history here, we’re just imagining how things might have been different. What if each and every ship had its own kegerator, or even two, onboard? It doesn’t matter what type it was – it could’ve been a single tap kegerator, a double tap kegerator, or even a mini kegerator. The point is that there was a way for the crew to enjoy fresh, cold beer while out on the lonely, dark sea each and every night during a journey that took them far from home.

So, the stage is set. We’ve got three ships filled with weary men that don’t know where they are headed and that are tired, lonely, anxious and bored. Now we turn on the taps of our modern day kegerators transported back to the 1400’s and the whole demeanor of the journey changes. No longer are our men miserable and weary at the end of the day. Instead, they can sit down and relax with a cold, refreshing brew or two. They can have a few laughs, make a few friends, and instead of worrying about where they are headed, they can rejoice in the incredible journey that they have embarked upon. Maybe there will even be a bit of mischief and rowdiness on board the ship. That’s possible, but who cares? It’s not like their ship is going to sail into another one out there. Or that they’re going to miss their intended destination (wait, didn’t that happen even without the kegerators and the beer?).

During Columbus’s actual journey, his crew became apprehensive about the longer than expected route and the fact that a land filled with spices, gold and jewels was nowhere to be found. Despite Columbus trying to ease their fears by forging the ship’s travel logs, things got to a point of near mutiny. Luckily for ol’ Chris, he spotted land just a day before he promised that he would turn the ships around and head home. So, do you think that his crew would’ve gotten to the point of near mutiny if they were enjoying their kegerator-equipped ships filled with delicious, refreshing beer each day? We think not!

….So, this year, when the second Monday in October rolls around and we remember the man and the journey that made Columbus Day a holiday, be sure to grab a glass, pour a cold, frosty one from your in home kegerator, and think about what might have been if kegerators were onboard the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria back in 1492.

It don't matter if you're black or white

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MJ said it best and now it’s your turn to choose! Tap Boards, Inc. already has their patented write/erase tap handles in Chalkboard. Coming soon in mid-October there will be a new White board version added to the line. So, now it really doesn’t matter if you’re black or white. Just make sure you keep the moon walking to a minimum. We know how excited you all get about new beer gadgets.

The (dry erase) White board Tap Boards will be available mid-October (just in time for the holidays) on their website TapBoards.com and we will have them on Kegerators.com too. The new White board version comes with one standard black dry erase pen, but the new white surface will allow you to get a little more creative with colored pens.

Tap Boards

Deal Alert: Summer Mini Kegerator Sale

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Temperatures are heating up this weekend and we have been notified of a brand new summer mini kegerator sale starting today and for one day only!

EDGESTAR HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED

Get 64% OFF + FREE Ground Shipping on the EdgeStar Mini Kegerator TBC50S. Thru Friday, 8/20/2010 at 11:59 pm CST use code BEERHUM to take $90 OFF!

Kegerator Modifications: Splitting CO2 Lines

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Splitting CO2 Gas LinesOne of the great benefits of owning a kegerator is tinkering with and modifying it.  One of the most popular modifications is to add an additional tap or two.  To modify your kegerator to dispense additional beers, you will need to split your CO2 lines.  You will probably want more than one tap on hand, so your kegerator can dispense from sanke kegs, soda or Cornelius kegs, or whatever keg may appear at your doorstep.  Splitting your CO2 lines can be as simple as a t-joint or as complicated as a multi-tap regulator for dispensing different beers at different pressures.  We will look here at the kits and equipment currently available on the market and processes for modifying you kegerator for dispensing any kind of beer from commercial to home and craft brew.
Co2 Splitter
For adding a quick extra beer tap onto your kegerator, a stainless steel or plastic t- or cross joint will do the job of splitting the CO2 to the different kegs – but gas leakage may occur if your keg tap isn’t maintained properly.  This is the most inexpensive way of splitting your CO2 line, and all you will need is the appropriate taps for the beer you want to dispense, surgical tubing, hose clamps, and of course the kegs of beer.  Adding an inline valve will even make it so that you can minimize gas wastage when changing kegs.  The T-splitter will cost you less than $5 and the inline valve probably less, and you can find for these items online or at your local hardware store in the plumbing section.  Aquarium supply stores may also have the fittings.  You will still need beer taps – more on that later

A more refined approach to splitting CO2 lines is the use of a gas distributor.  These units have one gas in and multiple gas outs to facilitate multi tap kegerator modifications.  The gas distributor has valves for each of the line-outs, and you can use a gas distributor to split your gas out in multiple directions.  Gas distributors are available in a number of configurations.  Two way gas distributors cost roughly $40, while the larger multi tap distributors with 6-8 line-outs can cost $120 or more.

For a draft beer system that requires dedicated individual pressures for different beers, a secondary regulator panel or a dual body CO2 regulator is necessary.  This is very advanced stuff most people need not go into this much detail, but these units will cost upwards of $150 just for the regulator panel, the price depending on how many regulators you need, or $120 and up for a dual body CO2 regulator.  If you want to force carbonate your beer while dispensing beer from the same unit, a secondary regulator panel or dual body CO2 regulator may be the modification you want to make to your kegerator.

One factor to keep in mind when splitting your kegerator’s CO2 line is that your operating pressure will decrease depending on the length of tubing you use.  When long lengths of tubing are used, the tubing expands and makes it difficult to keep the CO2 pressure at a constant rate.  The same also goes for beer lines.  If you cannot avoid having a long-draw system, you will need to use certain materials for the majority of the draw in order to ensure optimum beer quality and cleanliness.  You should strive to have no longer than six feet of regular surgical tubing from CO2 canister to keg, or 12 feet of beer lines all together from between keg and faucet.

Although there are some exceptions, long-draw systems still push beer from the keg via CO2.  The standard flexible surgical tubing is used, but coupled with a special “barrier tubing” soon after leaving the keg.  Barrier tubing is thicker than regular surgical tubing and has a mesh cover, which keeps the vinyl tubing from expanding and causing CO2 pressure irregularities.  With the use of a tubing flare tool, you can create your own stainless steel tubing for your beer lines as well, which are by far the most durable and cleanest options, although they are harder to build and modify.

See related:
Modification Project: Adding Double or Triple Tap Tower
Placing CO2 Disconnect Couplers
Installing Co2 Lines Efficiently
CO2 Tank, Pressure and Regulator Questions
CO2 Tank Guide

The Mini Kegerator Craze

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Mini kegerators are a convenient way to enjoy draft beer at home, and many beer fans are joining the bandwagon. In our world of gadgets and gizmos, this invention is quite sellable. Most mini kegerators are designed to dispense from a new kind of five-liter beer keg, available at most supermarkets. While these mini kegs are easy to find, I have only seen them from Heiniken, although I hear that many other companies produce them. Mini kegerators are very portable, making them the perfect choice for weekend camping or boat trip, and also fit into any RV with little work, as some brands run on 12-volt power. Mini kegerators are about the size and weight of a microwave. They make a good gift idea for any die-hard beer fan.

Some mini kegs require the use of electricity to keep the beer cold, and others you simply place in your fridge. This is where the mini kegerator comes in. Many companies are making these gadgets these days. Here is a brief revue of some of the more competitive models:

EDGESTAR HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED

EdgeStar Mini Kegerator

EdgeStar Mini Kegerator 
Under $200.00
The EdgeStar Mini Kegerators are good multi-purpose mini kegerators. Heineken 5 liter Draughtkegs can be used in them, and they feature quiet operating noise. These mini kegerators light up with a blue LED light to illuminate your mini keg beer choice. Includes cleaning kit (a must), and is capable of running off of AC or DC power. All this for only $200.00 or so. See Mini Kegerator Details

Avanti Mini Kegerator

Avanti Mini Kegerator
Around $200.00
The Avanti Mini Kegerator MBD5L is another multi-purpose kegerator in which either gravity flow or CO2 can be used for operation. This unit can also be used with AC or DC power, making it a good choice for RVs, camping, or boating. It features a digital display and both tapping and cleaning kits are included, a real bonus! This model can be had for around $250.00. Icy Cold Mini Kegerator works with CO2 mini kegs and gravity feed mini kegs, and can hold even 6-liter mini kegs. A fan inside the kegerator ensures even cooling of the keg, and it is hand washable. These are found for around $200. See Mini Kegerator Details

Krups BeerTender Mini Kegerator

Krups BeerTender Mini Kegerator
From $99.00 to $200.00
Krups BeerTender is powered by a CO2 pressure system, and features three temperature presets (36°, 39° or 42°F), a beer volume gauge, and keeps track of how long your mini keg has been opened. A good multi-function mini kegerator – these run about $200.00. See Mini Kegerator Details

Vinotemp Mini Kegerator

Vinotemp Mini Kegerator
Around $300.00
Vinotemp Mini Kegerator VT-BEER. Beer flow is powered with CO2. This unit comes with a digital display and push button temperature settings, and the cooling system operates efficiently. It also comes with 3 CO2 cartridges to get you going. Prices run from around $300. See Mini Kegerator Details

Nostalgia Electrics Mini Kegerator

Nostalgia Electrics Mini Kegerator
Around $175.00
Nostalgia Electrics Mini Kegerator BC4600 is a mini kegerator designed for use with gravity flow mini-kegs. This model is self-cooling, and runs about $175.00. See Mini Kegerator Details

As you can see, there are many variations on the theme of mini kegerators. Some models focus on efficiency, some on multi-functionality. Take the time to consider what qualities will make the mini kegerator useful to you – it is a good idea to shop around to ensure you best value if you plan on buying one. Some questions you should ask before buying are:

Is this mini kegerator energy efficient? With the current economic and environmental situations we are facing in the world, this is an important issue. We see, smell, and hear pollution from our cars and trucks, but we often don’t see, smell, or hear the pollution coming from our power plants – but the effects of such pollution are drastic and frightening. The environmental destruction from coal and nuclear power plants is hard to measure now – future generations will be more familiar with the real costs of utilizing such techniques to power our gadgets and gizmos. Therefore, it is wise to conserve energy.

Does this model accept the mini kegs of my favorite beers? This is the most important question. What good will a mini kegerator be if you can only drink swill form it? Double check that the model you buy will fit the keg you drink from – or that an adapter is available for it.

Will this mini kegerator work with CO2 powered mini kegs? This question is related to the previous one. If the mini kegerator utilizes CO2, and your favorite beer mini keg utilizes CO2, it will probably work. If it does, you will also need some CO2 cartridges – know what you will need to operate your mini kegerator.

Is this model noisy or quiet? For some, noise pollution is as bad as smog. If you or the person you are buying for has sensitive ears, look for a mini kegerator that features quiet operation. If the user does not have sensitive ears, then go for the value on the louder mini kegerator.

Will this model function on DC power? And does it come with an adapter for such use? Especially if giving a mini kegerator as a gift, you will want to make sure it comes with everything it needs for operation. DC power is nice to have, and some models with DC power come with the adapter, but just in case, make sure that the model you are buying has the adapter – it may be hard to find otherwise.

If you are buying a mini keg as a gift, you should make sure to give them beer with it. Like giving a flask, it is bad luck to deliver the gift empty of alcohol. Some models use a gravity feed system, while others use a CO2 system for dispensing the beer. It is a good idea to check in with the mini keg receiver about what beer they like and suit the mini keg accordingly.

What's so Special About Kegerator Beer?

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Ah, to enjoy a cold draught beer after a long day of work or play – and in the comfort of your own home.  Kegerators can make any gathering more special, whether it is a night of music, movies, gaming, or football.  Finding the tight kegerator for your home can make all the difference, and they are essential appliances for the home bar, whether it be in the den or a speakeasy-style basement bar.  For home brewers, kegerators are the perfect choice for serving your kegged home brew.

Canned and bottled beers are great – but they run out so quickly.  They also take up a lot of space in the fridge.  This is why kegerators make such great additions to any beer fan’s home, whether you are a home brew hobbyist, a craft beer enthusiast, or just a fan of beer.  Draft beer just tastes better, especially at home.

Kegerator Beer

The best thing about having a kegerator around is when company comes over.  To be able to say to friends,

“Help yourself to as much beer as you want – the kegerator is right over there!”

That is a beautiful moment.  I remember my first night of kegerator drinking.  I believe it was Austin, TX micro brewery Live Oak’s Big Bark Amber Ale.  My host was generous, and the beer cold and tasty – thanks to his kegerator.  It certainly made that visit “just to say hi” much more special.

Buying a kegerator doesn’t have to be expensive, either.  Kegerator conversion kits can turn that old fridge that you don’t know what to do with into a useful appliance.  They are available for $50 to $250, depending on what design elements you wish to incorporate.  You can even put that top compartment freezer to use keeping pint glasses and mugs nice and frosty.

If you are looking for something pre-packaged, you can still get a mini kegerator for as little as $100.  These mini kegerators dispense store bought mini kegs of the five and six liter variety with optimum ease.  Some even dispense the beer with CO2, supplied via cartridge, to ensure that your mini keg beer keeps for up to 30 days.  But one party and that mini keg is toast, trust me.  If the beer has not been drank after 30 days, you are doin’ it wrong!

Most kegerators have the capacity to serve at least one 15 1/2  gallon keg of beer at time.  With pony kegs or soda kegs, and multi-taps, you can even have more than one beer on tap at one time.  Some kegerators come with four or more beer taps.  That’s better than a lot of bars! 

Kegerators are also highly customizable.  If you want more taps, you can always add them later.  Tap handles are another way to customize your kegerator.  Put tap handles of your favorite beers on your kegerator, or make custom ones out of a gear shifter or a My Little Pony.  I have even seen someone take a wooden wine barrel and use it to build a façade around their kegerator to make a most convincing and entertaining illusion that the beer flowed up right from a wooden keg.  You can equip your kegerator with a nitrogen system for smoother draughts or add a filtration system for clearer pints.  Spice up your kegerator with custom skins or beer decals.

Whether mini or full sized kegerator is for you, the benefits of having draft beer at home remain the same: make your home more hospitable, have better parties, and never be short of beer, even on Sunday.  A kegerator in your home bar is a definite plus, whether on game day or for a great birthday party.  All of this is what makes kegerator beer so special.