Quite possibly the coolest invention you have ever seen. If you have to ride the tread why not do it with fresh draft beer motivating you the whole time.
The KegMill: Walk and Pour system will pour your favorite beer and regulate your waistline in tandem. The inventors of the KegMill said “Dangle a carrot in front of a rabbit and you’ll see results fast!”
We couldn’t agree more.
Via: Kegerators.com
Is your home “Super Bowl” ready? The party is just around the corner, so now is the time to get that draft beer system in place for the big kickoff. Right now save an extra $10-$25 off with code SAVER at checkout! Shop Kegerators.com for up to 25% off on kegerators + FREE shipping on select items. Offer Ends 1/24 at Midnight MST.
Related post: Super Bowl Kegerator Parties
Black Friday deals have started early this week, so check back with this Black Friday Deal Center page often for the latest specials and deep discounts on kegerators, draft dispensing equipment and homebrew supplies. We’re getting exclusive deals and promo codes on kegerators, draft beer dispensers and homebrewing supplies from some of our biggest partners.
Make sure the check out the Kegerator Deals page for more savings coupons and discounts.
We’ve linked each of our partner stores to their kegerator and beer equipment pages to make finding Black Friday deals even easier!
Click on the store logo below to go directly to great deals!
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Door Mounted Kegerator Conversion Kit
Normally $124.00, now $106.00.
ThinkGeek: BLACK FRIDAY AND CYBER MONDAY DEALS!
All things geek and beer.
We’ve scoured the web for specials, deals and clearance items for homebrewers. Check out these homebrew deals!
Dual Burner Brew Stand – was $191.91, now $153.00 w/ free shipping
PSI Gauge – was $10.90, now $5.90
2.5 Gallon Corny Keg – was $119, now $99
Draft Beer Tower – was $90, now $65.70
Kegerator – was $623.75, now $447.81 w/ coupon 20OFFKEGOCT
S/S Blowoff Bucket – was $29.95, now $9.95
Weldless Bulkhead Kit – was $13.00, now $11.00
Scratch & Dent S/S 5 Hole Drip Tray – was $179, now $129.00
Cereal Killer Grain Mill – was $109.99, now $99
S/S Carbonation Cap – was $24.99, now $19.99
S/S Brew Paddle – was $36.95, now $ 29.95
Prices continue to drop, but this really is one of the lowest we have seen all year. With FREE shipping, this is a great deal for $347.00.
Full Size Keg Fridge – $347.00
No coupon needed for this deal.
Via Kegerators.com
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
Everyone knows that BBQ goes oh-so-well with beer. Having a kegerator around is sure to bring the two together, and in a major way. But when you are out of beer, and don’t have time to brew, there are a number of options to consider to keep that kegerator working for you. It can be used for canned and bottled beer storage, for sure, but also for brining and curing meats of all sorts.
Brining meat is, of course, also known as marinating meat. Brine is a form of marinade. The process can infuse exceedingly savory and sweet flavors into your steak, chicken, lamb or whatever meat you prefer. Often, a delicious marinade can make all the difference in the resultant taste of the meat, turning a pale slab of meat into a flavor sensation. Brining usually takes a longer time to come to fruition than marinating, but also ends up with a product that lasts longer in storage.
Although many marinades are designed to activate flavors with only a few hours of immersion, that time should, for health reasons, be spent in a slightly chilled environment. This will hibernate any potential bacteria that might be present in the meat that cause spoilage. Often, a marinade will also contain alcohol, spices, or vinegar that will be anti-bacterial in one respect or another, as well, but nothing prevents food spoilage as much as keeping the temperature down. Hence, the kegerator is an ideal place to store your brining and marinating meats, especially when your fridge is exceedingly full with the family goods.
Brining meat also moistens cooked meat. Bringing meat hydrates the cells of the muscle tissue before cooking. The process by which the cells are hydrated is osmosis. The surrounding solution of salt and water (brine) causes salt ions to diffuse into the cell, and then absorb water from the surrounding brine as well. This technique is often used in commercial chicken manufacturing to enhance the flavor and the weight of the fowl in question.
Losing moisture in meat is un-avoidable when any type of muscle is cooked. This is why brining is important to cooking and BBQ-ing meats. One problem, which may not be apparent initially, is that the meat may have already been soaked in brine before you even bought it. Always look for any kind of salt or sodium ingredient on your meat. A second brining can make the meat taste way too salty, and actually can be detrimental to the moisture absorbtion of the meat.
When preparing to brine meat in your kegerator, make sure to check the ratio of salt to meat, but also consider the surface area of the meat. Meat with more surface area needs to be brined for a shorter amount of time, because the salt-ion-water-osmosis happens quicker. For example, a 10-pound turkey must be brined for much longer than 10 pounds of shrimp, which have a relatively larger surface area per pound.
Just to give you an idea of what kind of salt ratios and brining times are suitable for brining meats in your kegerator, here is a simple chart of some commonly brined meats:
- Turkey (12-15 pounds) – 2 cups sea salt; 1 gallon water; 14-22 hours depending on size
- Chicken (2-5 pounds) – ½ cup sea salt; 2 quarts water; 3 ½ hours
- Shrimps (1 pound) – 1 cup sea salt; 2 pints water; 40 minutes
- Beef Ribs (3 pounds) – 1 cup sea salt; 1 gallon water; 1 cup sugar; 3 hours
- Smoked Salmon (4 pounds) – ½ cup sea salt; 1 quart water; ¼ cup evaporated can sugar; ¼ cup maple syrup; 2 bay leaves (crumbled); 1 Tablespoon Dill
- Brisket Brine (8-14 pounds)
2 cup warm water
1/4 cup rock or kosher salt
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 onion, diced
2 Tbs. Rosemary, ground
1 Tsp. Bay leaves, ground
1-2 Tbs. of your favorite exotic herb or flavoring (cardamom, caraway, mocha powder)
Also try coriander, powdered lemonade, coffee, chipolte, etc.
Add the following to the brine:
3 cans of beer
3/4 cup vinegar
1/4 cup Worcestershire saucePlace the meat in the brine, turning it once every 8 to 12 hours to insure coverage and penetration.
- Pork Shoulder (6-8 pounds)
1 cup sea salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup molasses
2 tbsp grains of paradise
8 cloves garlic (peeled and minced)
5 bay leaves, torn
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, washed and chopped
1 yellow onion, peeled and chopped
5 cups homebrew, dark style preferred
5 cups water
2 quarts ice
Sea salt is always advised for giving the best results in cooking. The industrial nature of other forms of commercial salt production may leave trace chemicals in the salt that can distract from the taste of a finely cooked meal.
Kegerators can also be modified with temperature controllers to chill above or below the suggested temperatures for serving beer. Thusly, you can modify your kegerator to store frozen meat or other foods that require bulk cold storage. Just make sure that you don’t let your beer freeze. If you are looking for more control of the cooling range of your kegerator, you can investigate a great array of temperature controllers from manufacturers such as Johnson Controls and Ranco. Such controllers are available in analog and digital formats, or even as power plug style regulators.
A custom temperature controller can be especially useful if you intend to cure meats in your kegerator, because you can keep the curing meats at an ideal, slightly cool temperature – 40 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This will help you to cure the meats without as much trouble from food spoiling bacterium, although certain molds are highly desired to add flavor to specific types of salami and other cured meats.
Keep your keg fridge working for you when the beer runs out and enjoy delicious kegerator brined meats on the grill or in a smoker.
If you’re heading to a retirement party in the near future, you may be at a loss for what to buy as a gift for the retiree. Often people that reach retirement age have most of what they want, or are very particular about what they like and don’t like.
So, if you don’t want to get a gift certificate to a local restaurant because you’re at a loss for something more personal, and if the person who is retiring is someone who enjoys drinking beer, why not consider getting them the rather unique gift of a full sized or portable keg dispenser?
Why a portable kegerator or beer cooler, you might ask? What is your retired friend going to do with that? Well, it’s simple. Many people who are retired love to spend their time traveling and going around doing all the things they might never have had the time to do while they were working the 9 – 5 grind. Once retired, they are free to pick themselves up to go wherever the wind may take them. If the person enjoys activities such as tailgating at sporting events, enjoying a picnic or fishing by the lake, or one of many other outdoor activities that can’t take place right in their own backyard, then they may enjoy having a portable kegerator or a portable beer cooler with them so they can take a bit of their favorite beverage along wherever they are headed.
What’s the difference between a portable kegerator and a portable beer cooler, and how would I know which one to buy? , you might ask. Well, of course, you first want to make sure the person likes beer before you buy them a gift like either one of them, or you’ll be wasting your money. But, if they do, then deciding between the two appliances is simple – it’s the difference between having draft beer or drinking beer from cans or bottles.
Portable kegerators provide the option of putting a small mini keg of beer inside which is kept cold and can be dispensed right from the tap, wherever you may be. This is a rather unique option that the person wouldn’t otherwise have. Portable beer coolers, on the other hand, are coolers that can be plugged into a car or truck to provide cooling space for cans or bottles of beer. They are similar to other types of coolers, except that if you are traveling somewhere far, you can actually keep the inside of the cooler cold for long periods of time because it is plugged into an energy source.
The nice thing about buying any type of portable beer dispenser for someone who is about to retire (assuming they like beer) is that it gives them the flexibility to take the beer with them wherever they want to go. If they like to travel or go camping, they can bring along some cold beer for the trip. If they like to spend the day on the beach or by a lake, there’s still cold beer to be had. If their preference is simply to go spend the afternoon visiting with other retired friends, they can bring along some beer to add to a relaxing afternoon or evening. No matter where the person may want to spend their time, they can bring along beer that will stay good and cold, so they can enjoy drinking it while savoring time with friends and favorite activities.
So, instead of getting stuck for a gift idea next time you know of someone having a retirement party, find out if they like drinking beer, and if so, consider the fun and flexibility that you can offer by giving them the gift of a portable kegerator or portable beer cooler. Even if these small appliances cost more than you’d like to spend, they are the perfect type of gift to split among a few friends or co-workers – and if you wind up with a few extra dollars in the pot, you can even throw in a bit of beer to get their retirement off on the right foot!
Every home bar needs a kegerator. There are many approaches to obtaining a kegerator, but making it your own requires some imagination and a willingness to apply yourself to the modification of the inner workings of your home draft system. Designing a unique and functional draft beer tower modification can be as simple as gluing fabric or fur to the draft tower, or as complicated as creating a LED light-up Plexiglas tube. When my home brewing friends and speakeasy acquaintances ask me what they can to do spice up their home bar, my first answer usually has to do with modifying the draft tower on their home draft system. I tell them what I will tell you – the only limit is your imagination.
There are many out of the box options for replacing your draft tower. Some companies offer kits that can add taps to the tower you already have, and others offer a stylish chrome plated alternative to the thicker tower that is stock on most kegerators. There are also the towers that allow for multiple taps: Single column double, triple, or even quadruple faucets are available, “T” Style, Mushroom style, Column, Elbow, and even Ceramic Draft towers are available commercially.
These draft towers can be good starting points, especially if you are interested in having multiple types of beers available at the same time. Many of these designs can stand alone to make your draft beer set-up unique while maintaining function, especially if you do not have a well developed theme for your home bar.
If your home bar does have a well-developed theme, you will need to go one step further with your draft tower to ensure that it stands out. Having a rotating seasonal theme on your home bar adds some added interest. This is where experience with set design and things like Halloween decorations can come in handy. What follows are a few examples of some of my favorite unique draft beer tower modifications.
The Orcish Mead Hall
One great home bar theme that is very unique is the Orcish Mead Hall. This room was outfitted with a large variety of weapons on the wall – swords, clubs, axes, and shields. There were grisly battle standards adorned with fake severed limbs and the tables and stools were made of rough-hewn wood and stumps. Naturally, a stainless steel draft tower did not fit in with the theme of the bar. It was a simple modification to make it fit in, however.
The first thing was to make a bar top that obscured view of the kegerator’s main body. The top from an old dining room table was cut down and a U shaped notch hole was cut and fitted over the kegerator. The draft tower was removed and disassembled. A large Styrofoam rock, or “Fake Boulder” was carved to allow the draft tower to fit into it, giving the impression of a natural spring spewing beer, mead, etc. The tap handle was removed and a cow bone was fitted with the properly threaded bolt to be mounted onto the tap as the new handle. The end result was very Orcish indeed.
The Boxing Ring
The Boxing Ring is a speakeasy that had a lot of old boxing memorabilia lining the walls. The tables had reproductions of old boxing posters from the 1800s through 1950s, stories of various boxers, all laminated with resin to make a smooth and easy to clean table top. The person who built the bar was a real fan of using that plastic resin to encapsulate different objects for artistic purposes. So what did she do? She made a resin cast block with gold painted beer lines and golden painted boxing gloves encased inside. The block looked for all the world like a huge block of ice with boxing gloves and beer lines frozen into place. The area immediately surrounding the end of the block was molded hollow with enough room to attach the beer faucet, which was screwed into the epoxy resin.
The Workshop
The Workshop was a home bar that was built into a wood and metal working shop. It was utilitarian and had a unique function as well – the kegerator, when beer wasn’t being dispensed, looked for all the world like a rolling tool chest with other tool boxes stacked on top. It wasn’t until the top tool box was opened that the beer faucet was revealed! Perfect for keeping visiting clients and newbies in the dark about the consumption and location of alcoholic beverages in the work site.
The Rolling Crypt
The Rolling Crypt was a parade float that was pulled by a bicycle and resembled a crypt. This was no ordinary parade float, however. The rolling Crypt had four soda kegs hidden inside it, and a variety of black and green tentacles dangling from the rear crypt door. Inside one of these tentacles was a beer spigot dispensing the Dead Horse Ale from within. While this was not technically a draft beer tower modification, the same principles of construction could certainly be applied to a draft beer tower, especially if your home bar has a gothic motif. A tombstone draft beer tower would be fairly easy to present – just make sure to stock up on Halloween decorations in the fall. Also, stone fountain statues may be easily converted into beer fountains – or at least dispensers.
LED Plexiglass Draft Tower
This project works well in a technological or futuristic environment. The LED draft tower acts as a kind of new wave lava lamp, and can be programmed to strobe, gently cycle through different colors, or maintain one color. Your local electronics shop can help you with the circuitry, and the Plexiglass and all the tools needed to build the basis of this draft tower can be had at TAP Plastics or a similar retail plastics outlet.
I hope this article has given you all the ideas you need to come up with your own unique draft beer tower modifications. Remember, there is no shame in using hot glue!
Let’s face it – bachelor and bachelorette parties are a time to have fun, let loose a little and enjoy a last wild night before the wedding. There are many options of what to do during bachelor and bachelorette parties, but most options include drinking, in some shape or form.
One way to really get a bachelor or bachelorete party rolling is to break out the draft beer dispenser! Because of its small size, you can take it with you just about anywhere you go (assuming it is legal to do so!) That means you and your buddies will have cold tasty beer with you, available at a moment’s notice, to keep your spirits high throughout the night.
So, what’s the point of bringing a mini portable kegerator with you during a bachelor party? Well, the answer is simple – you can have access to beer wherever you are. Many guys opt to rent a limo for the evening to take them to their destination (or destinations) during the bachelor party so they can live it up, and drink it up, without having to worry about who’s driving or how they’re getting home.
If you’re driving around in a limo, then chances are that you want to have a few beers along the way – and what better way to do that than to bring along a mini kegerator with you so you can dispense the beer yourself as you head to your intended destination.
A mini kegerator is sized to fit one of those small 5-liter mini kegs of beer. This size is probably perfect for you and your buddies for the night (or if not, you can bring a few) and provides the same great tasting, draft beer that you would get at the bar you’re headed to, for a lot less money. This means that you can have a few beers along the way and save some cash when you hit your destination, since individual beers at bars and clubs will cost way more than the price of the beer in your mini kegerator. If you’re headed somewhere rather far away, such as a casino, it also means that you can get the party started before you get to where you’re going.
If someone attending the bachelor party doesn’t already have a mini kegerator to bring along to the party, buying one for the groom-to-be can be a great gift. You can buy a mini kegerator for around $100 – $300 and fill it with a 5 liter mini keg for the bachelor party. The guys at the party can even each chip in a few bucks and make it a group gift that the groom will surely appreciate. The guest of honor will have a great gift to start his new married life with – and you will have a reason to head over and visit! Mini kegerators are a great addition to any home bar, and because they are portable, they can be taken to parties, can be used out by the pool or on the deck, or can be the centerpiece at tailgating parties.
Girls can get the same benefits from using a mini kegerator at the bachelorette party as guys can. Just as during the bachelor party, girls can take a mini kegerator with them in the limo while heading out for a night on the town so they can enjoy some great tasting beer along the way. Some mini kegerators even dispense wine. The nice thing about having a mini kegerator is that wherever the bachelorette party may go, there is some free-flowing fun along for the ride.
So, when planning your next bachelor or bachelorette party for a friend, think about bringing along a mini kegerator to add to the fun – and to lower the cost of buying drinks at the bar. It’ll be an addition to the party that all participants should truly appreciate!
