Tracking How Many Beers You Drank Just Got (Scary) Awesome

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Chief Kegerator Officer — No Comments ↓

I know that I drank four homemade IPAs last night from my home kegerator. I also know how many ounces were poured, who poured them, what time they poured them, how much beer is left in the keg and I received a badge (I think Edward Forty Hands) in the app for being awesome. This is how drinking beer with the Brewskey kegerator monitor works. It’s scary awesome.

“It tracks EVERYTHING. You can’t hide from it. You can only revel in the data.”

– said that guy by the office kegerator.

Kegerator level monitors and gadgets to track how much beer is left in your keg have been around for awhile. If you wanted to install a tracking systems in the past you had to be fairly knowledgeable with open source Arduino programming and install specialized equipment. Systems like KegBot were popular (but required a dedicated tablet and a lot of programming know-how). Those days are over. All you need now is a basic smartphone (with app), some flow sensors and a control box.

Two companies are working hard to make tracking your kegerator pours on any home kegerator a breeze. KegTron and Brewskey both make installation very simple and have some cool features that set them apart from each other. I got a first-look at both the systems to find out for myself.

KEGTRON

First up is the Kegtron wireless monitor. It is a small box with integrated flow sensors and controller board. I like that everything is self contained and if you needed to get inside you could with a few screws removed. Setup only took a few minutes after downloading the app, naming the local Kegtron and choosing the keg size. They have various keg sizes to choose from and you can also enter in a custom size.

I spliced the kegtron into my kegerator beer tube and poured a brew. It was that simple. The app tells you how many drinks you have left in the keg. It doesn’t try to do too much. It is like having a fuel gauge for your kegerator. They have single and double tap models available, but you can pair multiple together if you have a large tap wall.

The Kegtron box is waterproof and can be mounted on the interior wall of the kegerator. Simply plug in the power adapter and it lives inside your kegerator and out of the way. The iOS and Android apps easily accommodate the home beer lover and the tap room. It’s ready to track on a single tap kegerator or a wall of twenty taps.

Available at Kegtron.com

BREWSKEY

The brewskey system is anything but simple and I’m not saying this in a negative way. Brewskey is a cloud based, feature-rich kegerator monitoring system that has the ability to monitor keg levels, track pours and show a leaderboard of the current imbibers and their usage. The Brewskey can add a level of security to home kegerators or a commercial bar tap wall. Permissions can be set to only allow pouring for approved users. This would come in handy to keep kegerator thieves in check or keep your kids out of the kegerator.

You earn badges and reach new kegerator levels of awesome as you try new beer styles or tap a new keg. It also has a leaderboard with user tracking so you and your friends know who is putting the largest dent in the keg.

Brewskey updates automatically over wifi with the latest enhancements and fixes. When you pour a beer the Brewskey lights up green and the pour tracking begins. The number of ounces being poured is viewable on the control box that sits on the counter next to the tap.

Brewskey is in beta testing and should be ready for purchase very soon. You can see the packages they offer over at Brewskey.com or watch their video below for more info on how it works.

5 New Foam Control Products to Help You Pour Better Beer From Your Kegerator

Posted on March 23, 2018 by Chief Kegerator Officer — No Comments ↓

If you have a draft beer dispenser (kegerator) in your home or business you probably have experienced moments where the beer foam is out of control. You clean your lines and scrub your faucets like a good barkeep should. So why do you still have so much foaming? This is always a tricky one to answer without knowing all the information about the kegerator setup.

Excessive beer foam can be caused by so many different things ranging from temperature swings, escaping CO2 during transport, dirty beer lines, wrong pressure setting, beer line length, temperature or hardware failure. I’ve heard and seen just about every problem you can have regarding kegerator beer foam issues.

Because foaming is such a huge problem for the average kegerator owner, companies are creating products to allow more control of the beer flow and help you solve that foam issue for good. Here’s 5 new foam control devices to help control your kegerator.

Keg King Flow Control Kegerator

Keg King has integrated flow restricting faucets into a new line of flow control kegerators. You set your CO2 tank pressure to the highest level based on the temperature and level of carbonation needed using our carbonation chart and then use each faucet’s flow controller as a secondary regulator to dispense beer at different flow rates. These Keg King kegerators also have a built-in tower chilling fan to keep temperatures balanced inside the refrigerator chamber and the draft tower.

Inline Flow Control Secondary Regulator

Another new product that will achieve basically the same level of control is an inline flow control secondary regulator paired with an inline CO2 regulator gauge. This is a good option if you already have (and are happy with) beer faucets and don’t need to invest in expensive flow control faucet replacements.

Kegerator Flow Control Shank Adapter

You can also control and restrict flow using a new adaptor that mounts between the shank and faucet. The kegerator flow control shank adapter can change any faucet into a flow control faucet. The flow is adjusted using an Allen wrench and then is locked in place, so this is a more permanent solution with less ability to adjust on the fly.

Draft Tower Chiller Sleeves

Most kegerators are not equipped with a draft tower cooling fans to keep cold air blowing into the draft tower. If the beer lines extending into the tower are not cooled, they become a few degrees warmer and CO2 escapes causing more foam than wanted during the pour. The draft tower cooling sleeve paired with a tower chilling fan will reduce excessive foaming caused by temperature swings. It’s like a coozie for your tower and it will insulate and reduce condensation.

In-Line Flow Control Restrictor

Add the perfect amount of restriction to any beer line to reduce foam with the In-Line Flow Control Restrictor. Eliminates the need for flow control in the faucet itself. Great for use inline with varying levels of carbonation. The biggest advantage to using one of these is that you can use shorter beer lines and still have perfect restriction or use larger ID lines and adjust as necessary.

Beer Line Length Calculator

Old dirty beer lines are a very common problem for foamy beer pours, but sometimes the length of the beer line is the issue. If you are looking to replace your beer lines and want to calculate the perfect length use the beer line length calculator.

Price Drop: Full Size Keg Dispenser $379.05

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Chief Kegerator Officer — No Comments ↓

Today Only – Get 25% off this full sized keg fridge plus no sales tax, FREE ground shipping and a FREE 1 year subscription to Brew Your Own magazine. Great deal for $379.05. Probably the lowest price you will see until after Christmas, so I would jump on this if you are gift shopping or getting ready for holiday parties.

Full Size Keg Dispenser – $379.05

Use coupon code 20OFFKEGOCT to get this discount.

Via Kegerators.com

10 Weird Things to Convert into a Kegerator

Posted on October 20, 2010 by Dylan M. Blackthorne — No Comments ↓

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:

Arcade 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 Kegerator Lake
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.

Bikerator Bike
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
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 Trunk VW
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 Kegerator Trash 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 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
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 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.

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

Posted on September 5, 2010 by Chief Kegerator Officer — No Comments ↓

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.

What's so Special About Kegerator Beer?

Posted on October 19, 2009 by Dylan M. Blackthorne — No Comments ↓

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.

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.

Mini Kegerators

Posted on October 28, 2008 by Dylan M. Blackthorne — No Comments ↓

When discussing mini kegerators, it is important to make the distinction between which type you are talking about. There is the kegerator that is made from a mini refrigerator, and then there is the mini kegerator gadget. The mini kegerator that is made from a mini fridge is a compact, but still largely immobile device that is usually home made, using half sized or even smaller fridges. The mini kegerator that is a gadget is a new appliance on the market. It is quite portable, and a good way to enjoy draft beer while on the go – that is what we are talking about here.

"Gadget" Mini kegerators are a new retail item that helps you to enjoy cold beer without the expense of owning a full-on kegerator. Mini kegerators are becoming a more and more affordable way to ensure that you have draft beer on the go. Most brands come with a variety of options, such as DC power, cleaning kits, and temperature control. Mini kegerators that dispense 5 liter mini kegs are made by Krups, Heineken, Avanti, EdgeStar, Vinotemp, and other companies as well, so there are a variety of models to choose from.

These gadgets are currently priced right around $200 – $300. For all practical purposes, the less expensive units do just as good a job as the more expensive ones. For example, the Avanti Mini-Pub Kegerator retails for about $230, and the Vinotemp Mini Keg Beer Dispenser retails for about $100 more – $330. The Avanti has the benefit of being more compact, and the Vinotemp has a better temperature regulator. So, unless you have really exacting temperature requirements for your beer, you might as well get the more inexpensive brand – it is more likely to fit in the trunk or boat, or whatever you are traveling in. General compact-ability is a feature of most mini kegerator gadgets – at least, compared to the mini fridge kegerator or a full-blown kegerator. For this reason, these compact mini kegerators have enjoyed popularity among the draft beer fan crowd.

One of the great advantages of the mini kegerator is that they come with AC and DC power supplies. This allows you to run the mini kegerator off of your car, RV, or boat battery, even solar systems can power these mini kegerators. This makes it easy to take a small amount of beer (standard mini kegs hold 5 liters) out for a picnic, boating, or car camping trip. Mini kegerators can also be easily installed into your RV or boat as a semi-permanent appliance.

New advances in refrigeration technology may see a whole revolution in the way we cool all manner of things, including beer. Researchers at Penn. State have made headway in electromagnetic cooling devices. These devices operate without the use of a compressor or of Freon, and, if commercially viable, will produce machines that are much more compact than the bulky fridges we are used to. On top of this, Ben and Jerry’s, the famous ice cream men, have developed a way to cool their dessert via sound waves. By using a machine that employs pressurized helium gas and ethyl alcohol as a cooling medium, they keep their ice creams at a delightfully cold level.

The increased popularity and availability of kegerators is likely to create an industry that is capable of harnessing these new technologies and putting them to good use. It seems clear that, with this latest invention of the mini kegerator, the kegerator industry is willing and capable of incorporating new, inventive ideas into its arsenal of products. In short, we are sure to see more and more interesting forms of kegerators in the coming years.

The new options that these mini kegerators provide give fans of draft beer an excellent opportunity to enjoy draft beer in a variety of settings. While in the past, draft beer fans have gone to great lengths to install kegerator systems in their R.V.s, now it as simple as shopping around for a convenient new appliance. Some day, we may see mini kegerators replacing coffee makers in the office (certain offices, anyways), or at least be seen side-by-side with them. As it is, we will see them on the beach, the mountain retreat campsite, at sea, and at the omnipresent tailgate party. Draft beer to-go has become a reality at last.

This Fall’s Ultimate Kegerator Guide

Posted on October 4, 2008 by Chief Kegerator Officer — No Comments ↓

Make Space This Fall For These Kool Kegerators …

EdgeStar Kegerator

EDGESTAR HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED

EdgeStar Kegerator
Under $400.00
This kegerator from EdgeStar is the most affordable full-sized kegerator on the market today. The kegerator stores up to a full sized half shell Sankey standard keg and is perfect addition to your home for fall entertaining. See Kegerator Details

Haier BrewMaster Kegerator
$529.99
This is the Honda Civic of kegerators. Durable, dependable and you will get a lot of mileage out of this machine. The kegerator will hold a full sized keg or multiple homebrew style kegs when modified with a dual or triple tap tower. The auto defrost, temperature control and cooling plate are nice features too. See Kegerator Details

Beverage Air Kegerator
$1,399.00
With this heavy-duty kegerator you can keep your keg cold with precision. Perfect for the serious draft beer aficionado, this kegerator comes with a stainless steel worktop and high quality refrigeration components. This kegerator would probably last a lifetime, so if you need a workhorse this is your kegerator. See Kegerator Details

Mini Keg Dispenser
$159.99
Ever seen the 5 liter mini-kegs at the supermarket? Well here is a 5-liter dispenser/cooler that will keep your favorite beer or soda ready-to-serve cold. Features include an easy flow design, drip tray cover, brushed aluminum door panel and indicator light. HelmanGroup.com

Kenmore Kegerator
$594.99
This kegerator is a nice full sized unit with all the bells and whistles of the Haier BrewMaster kegerator. This unit stores a half-barrel keg, so your favorite beer is always on tap. You can also store quarter-barrel kegs and mini kegs. Store pickup at Sears is a nice option for those looking to save a few bucks on shipping costs. See Kegerator Details

Sudsbuddy Kegerator
$1,399.98
A truly stylish kegerator that definitely is thinking outside of the box. Made of polyethylene plastic, this kegerator is dent-resistant and weighs less than 60 lbs making it easy for portability. It even has a cigarette-lighter adapter. How cool is that?. See Kegerator Details

Viking Kegerator
$2,899.00
If you are an appliance snoot that only lives for the finer things in life, then I would like to introduce you to the Viking kegerator. This is the Lamborghini of kegerators. Stick this beauty next to your outdoor Sub-Zero and Wolf range to wow your guest and serve delicious draft beer. See Kegerator Details

Perlick Kegerator
$2,889.00
This ultra-slim kegerator defines luxury. It is designed with fully integrated depth to allow flush fit with surrounding cabinetry. If you are thinking of installing a kegerator into your cabinetry or you are a contractor designing a home bar, you can’t go wrong with this ultra modern kegerator design. See Kegerator Details

Fridgidaire Kegerator
$1149.00
This is for all you old school beer lovers that built a kegerator when you were in college out of an old refrigerator. Well, here is a beautiful replica made by Fridgidaire. It features a freezer on the top to store cold mugs and accommodates Up To a 16-Gallon Keg. See Kegerator Details

Kegerator Gadgets