How to Convert a Freezer Into a Beer Keg Cooler
There are many Kegerators, or refrigerators modified to store kegs of beer, available for purchase. However, if you are the kind of person who prefers to build your own, and save some money doing it, here are instructions on how to convert a freezer into a beer keg cooler and dispenser. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Freezer
- Temperature controller (such as Brewer's Edge Digital Temperature Controller)
- CO2 bottle
- CO2 regulator
- CO2 line (5')
- Beer line (5')
- Keg adapter
- Faucet with tower
- Power drill
- Screws
- Screw driver
Instructions
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1
Control the temperature in your freezer. For an ideal beer pour, you will need a freezer that can get down to 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature to pour beer. In order to control the temperature, if your freezer doesn't already have a temperature control, you will need a device such as the Brewer's Edge Digital Temperature Controller (see Resources). If your freezer does have temperature control, a simple thermometer can be enough to control the temperature.
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Drill a hole into the top of the freezer, just large enough to mount the faucet with tower comfortably. Make absolutely sure to avoid any of the freezer components, and just drill through the empty insulation. If you hit an electric circuit, or other freezer part, the freezer will break. Then place the tower on the hole and screw the tower onto the top of the freezer. Make sure to make a large enough hole to run the beer line through, but not such a large hole that the tower does not cover it completely, since this will cause the freezer to loose insulation.
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3
Run the beer line from the tap to the keg adapter, once the taps are mounted. Make sure the seal is water-tight, since you don't want beer leaking out on its journey into your cup. To do so, once the Kegerator is complete, check for any leaks in the beer line and patch them accordingly, by tightening the connector to the tap and keg adapter.
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4
Hook up the CO2 system into the keg. This step is pretty simple. You pretty much just have to hook the CO2 bottle into the CO2 regulator into the keg adapter using the CO2 line. More specific instructions should come with the CO2 regulator, so make sure to follow them, since not all regulators are the same.
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Tips & Warnings
1) Never drill into the sides of the freezer. You can drill through the insulation, but if you hit a freezer component, the freezer will break.
2) Make sure to keep extra CO2 bottles handy. There is nothing worse than running out of CO2 before you run out of beer.
3) Never set the freezer temperature below freezing. If you've ever left a beer bottle in the freezer, you will notice that it explodes.
