Kegerator Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Kegerator?
A kegerator is a device that is used to dispense draft beer from a keg. It combines a compact refrigerator and a draft beer dispenser in one unit, allowing you to store and serve cold beer in your home or office. The kegerator keeps the beer at the ideal temperature for serving, typically between 0°C and 4°C, and dispenses it through a tap attached to the door or top of the unit. Kegerators can also be used to dispense other beverages, such as soda or wine, from a keg.
You can check out our Kegerator range here.
I find Kegerators quite confusing, what should I do?
If you're new to learning about Kegerators, they can be a little confusing in the beginning. But don't worry, with a bit of education, you'll be a home bar pro in no time.
That's why our Series X, Series XL and Series XL Pro Kegerators from Backyard Bloke include absolutely everything you need to get started. We've simplified the purchasing process so all you need to do now is choose a Coupler for your favourite beer brand (no Coupler required if only doing home brew) and add a CO2 Gas Bottle (unless you want to BYO). It's really that simple - gone are the days where you need to trudge around confusing brewing websites trying to work out how this all fits together!
What are the most important components of a kegerator?
Drip Tray
The drip tray on a kegerator is a shallow pan or tray that is located at the base of the draft beer dispenser. Its purpose is to catch any drips, spills, or overflow that may occur when a glass of beer is being poured. This helps to prevent messes and keep the area clean and tidy.
Guard Rail
The guard rail on a kegerator is a horizontal bar or ledge that is located near the top of the draft beer dispenser. Its purpose is to provide a barrier or "guard" to prevent glasses of beer from sliding off the top of the dispenser and creating a spill or mess.
CO2 Gas Regulator
The CO2 Gas Regulator in a kegerator is an essential component that controls the pressure of carbon dioxide in the keg. It determines the carbonation level of the beer and affects its taste and quality. The regulator is attached to the CO2 gas bottle and has a gauge that displays the pressure of the CO2 in the keg, as well as a valve that can be adjusted to increase or decrease the pressure. This allows for fine-tuning the carbonation level of the beer to personal preferences. The regulator also ensures a consistent flow of beer from the tap by maintaining a constant CO2 pressure in the keg, preventing foam and ensuring smooth dispensing.
CO2 Gas Bottle
The CO2 Gas Bottle in a kegerator is a vital part of a draft beer dispensing system. It is filled with compressed CO2 gas and is connected to the CO2 Gas Regulator. The size of the bottle will depend on the size of your kegerator and frequency of use. The bottle also has a pressure regulator that controls the flow of CO2 into the keg, ensuring consistent carbonation and freshness of the beer.
Gas & Liquid Lines
The gas (air) and liquid (beer) lines in a kegerator are key components of a Kegerator. The gas line carries CO2 from the regulator to the keg while the liquid line carries beer from the keg to the font & tap. They are usually made of food-grade plastic or stainless steel and are connected to the regulator and keg coupler, respectively, with clamps or fittings.
Choose from our 2.6kg CO2 Gas Cylinder or 6kg CO2 Gas Cylinder.
Keg Coupler
The keg coupler connects the liquid line to the keg, enabling the flow of beer from the keg to the faucet. The most common types of keg couplers are the A-Type (German Slider), D-Type (Twist On), and S-Type (European). The keg coupler opens the valve inside the keg when a lever or handle is operated, allowing the beer to flow.
Choose from our A-Type Coupler, D-Type Coupler and S-Type Coupler.
Keg
Last but not least, the Keg! You don't really have a Kegerator without a Keg full of your favourite beer now do you? The most common kegs are the 19L Cornelius "Corny" keg (home brew) or 30L and 50L commercial kegs.
How many kegs can our kegerator range hold?
The Series X, Series XL and Series XL Pro hold up to:- 4 x 9.5L Ball Lock Half-Cornelius Kegs
- 4 x 19L Ball Lock Cornelius Kegs
- 3 x 20L Commercial Kegs
- 1 x 30L Commercial Keg
- 1 x 50L Commercial Keg.
How many taps should I choose?
The Series X and Series XL can be configured to single, dual, triple or quad tap kits depending on your needs. The Series XL Pro can be configured to dual, triple or single tap kits (due to the T-Bar design). If you're a home brew connoisseur, a Quad Tap set up will likely be optimal since you can fit up to 4 x Cornelius Kegs. If you're looking to dispense only Commercial Kegs, then you can look at either the Single, Double or Triple Tap depending on which sized kegs you will dispense most often. Keep in mind you can fit up to 3 x 20L Commercial Kegs, so if you want to dispense three different types of your favourite beers at the same time, you'll want to go with a Triple Tap Kit!
If I only want to dispense home brew beer, do I need anything else?
Nope! All of our kegerator kits are complete and include everything you need for your home brew needs. Just pick your tap kit, select your CO2 Gas and you're good to go!
Do I need a Commercial Keg Coupler? Which one do I need?
If you want to dispense commercial beer, then yes, you will need a commercial keg coupler. Which one you need depends on what type of beer you like! You can play it safe and add all three so you'll always have the right coupler on hand, no matter what beer you choose, or you can choose a coupler for your specific needs if you know you only drink certain types of beer - the choice is yours!
A-Type:
5 Seeds, Balmain Brewing, Bridge Road, Brookvale, Bundaberg & Cola, Canadian Club, Carlsberg, Coopers, Franzikaner, Furphy, Guinness, Hahn, Heineken, Hills Cider, James Boags, James Squire, Kilkenny, Kirin, Kosciuszko, Kronenbourg, Little Creatures, Lowenbrau, Magners, Paulaner, Pipsqueak, Rocks Brewing Co., Sample, Sapporo, Spaten, Tooheys, Two Birds, White Rabbit, XXXX Gold, Young Henrys.
D-Type:
4 Pines, Bulmers, Carlton Draught, Cascade, Cricketers Arms, Crown Lager, Fat Yak, Great Northern, Kingfisher, Konig, Monteiths, Mountain Goat, Peroni, Pure Blonde, Reschs Draught, Somersby, Tiger Beer, Victoria Bitter.
S-Type:
Asahi, Heineken, Hofbrau, Cantillon, Leffe, Pilsner Urquell, Stella Artois, Strongbow Cider.
Choose from our A-Type Coupler, D-Type Coupler and S-Type Coupler.
What size CO2 Gas Cylinder should I buy and how long do they last?
The answer is of course, it varies - particularly on things like how much you use it! But generally, the 2.6kg CO2 Gas Cylinder will last for 2-4 50L Commercial Kegs depending on waste or spillage. The 6kg will last twice as long.
What are the benefits of the Series X Kegerator over the Series 4?
The Series X Kegerator is 10% more power efficient, 15% faster cooling, has thicker walls for improved insulation, and is more space efficient than the Series 4.
What are the benefits of the Series XL/Pro Kegerator over the Series X?
The Series XL is our latest model Kegerator which has a larger condenser and cools faster than the Series X. It also comes packed with extra features like the built-in roller wheels (castor wheels included), pre-assembled font and taps (huge time saver!), adjustable fan speed, interior LED light, and brighter LED display.
The Series XL Pro also takes things to the next level when it comes to quality and professionalism over the Series XL. The Series XL Pro comes equipped with professional T-Bar Font & Taps for that authentic 'in the pub' feel, and is finished in a gorgeous fully stainless steel design with the bench top and drip tray being stainless instead of plastic.