How to Make a Refrigerator Beer Tapper

Buying beer by the keg saves trips to the store and money.

If you like good beer and want to save money, buying beer by the keg -- also known as a quarter- or half-barrel -- is the way to go. Using a refrigerator that has been converted to a keg-erator to dispense the beer will keep it cold and ready to drink. If you are planning on buying beer in a keg on a regular basis it makes sense to convert a refrigerator to hold and dispense beer. You can customize the outside of the refrigerator to match your décor or a favorite sports team.

Things You'll Need

• Refrigerator
• Beer tap conversion kit
• Carbon dioxide cylinder
• Cutting tools
• Drill with bits
• Keg of beer
• Wrench

Instructions

1. Empty out the refrigerator. Remove all shelves, drawers and brackets that will be in the way of placing the barrel or keg. Some refrigerators have an uneven floor that you will need to even out by building a simple shelf on the bottom to set the barrel on.

2. Cut two holes in the refrigerator using the templates and recommendations of the conversion kit. You can do this with a drill or saw depending on how large the hole is going to need to be. One hole will be on the front or top of the refrigerator for the tap and one hole will be at the bottom for the carbon dioxide hose. Sometimes the carbon dioxide tank goes in the refrigerator; in this case you will only need to cut one hole for the tap. If you're using a mini fridge the tap will be on the top with a drip pan. When deciding where to place the tap on the front of the refrigerator take the height of the chosen tap handle into consideration so it is not obstructing access to open the fridge door.

3. Install the conversion kit as per the manufacturer's instructions. This will include attaching the tap and hoses for the beer and carbon dioxide. Leave slack in the hoses to the barrel and the carbon dioxide tank to allow for easy removal and replacement. When installing the tap you may want to reinforce the inside of the refrigerator with a piece of wood as it is flimsy and can buckle with the weight of the tap on the outside. Cut out a hole the same size as the tap hole out of a 1-inch by 6-inch piece of wood, attaching it with the fittings used to hold the tap in place on the inside of the door wall.

References

• Beer Masters: How to Make a Beer Keg Refrigerator
• Keg Kits: How to convert a spare refrigerator into your own home kegerator

Resources

• Bar Plan: Draft Beer Tap Systems & Fridge Conversion Kit Guide