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Keg Temperature

Kegging and bottling discussion

Keg Temperature

Postby miguelito » Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:50 am

I invested in a mini fridge that I am going to convert to a kegerator. For now I am using it as my bottled beer fridge. The lowest temp I can get out of it is 40F. My beers that I keep in there are a tad warmer than I like when I go to drink them. Now, I am concerned that it will not keep my kegged brew cold enough when I start to use it for draft. Will this be a problem? Did I pick up a bum product? Any thoughts?
Primary: Apfelwein (cider), American Amber Ale
Secondary: Nada
Bottled: California Common
On Tap: Anchor Liberty Clone, Irish Red Ale, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA (commercial guest tap)
Coming Soon:English Pale Ale
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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby curlyfat » Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:15 am

I, personally, wouldn't worry about it. I keep my kegerator at 40F or so anyway. But if you like your beer cooler, that's your prerogative. I don't have any suggestions on getting it cooler, unfortunately.
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8oz IPA (Cascade)

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Blonde1 (Boring Blonde, working on "clean" beer)
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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby Wild » Sat Aug 08, 2009 5:33 am

If 40°F is too warm than use it for lagering and find something else. I tend to serve my ales in the mid to upper 40's.
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Secondary - Chipotle Smoked Porter

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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby shineman » Sat Aug 08, 2009 2:40 pm

i keep my kegerator at 38F according to the controller, but my beer pours about 42F, thats fine with me because the temp. here is usually around 100F. my fridg. keeps my bottled beer at 35F and most of my friends prefer that, so it's what ever you like. i have no idea how you can kick up your kegerator short of an upgrade, sorry.
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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby Stihler » Mon Aug 10, 2009 4:50 pm

I believe around 40 F is about as cool as you are going to be able to obtain with a converted refrigerator.

To get much cooler you would need to use a freezer with a temperature controller.

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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby GuitarLord5000 » Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:32 am

My brother and I both have a kegerator that we converted out of a mini fridge. His kegerator didn't have a freezer compartment. Mine did. His kegerator gets to 38 degrees at its coldest. Mine can probably get a keg of beer down to freezing, though I haven't tried. I keep my kegs at around 38 degrees, and the fridge thermostat is only at a little over halfway.
If I had to do it over again, I'd probably get a fridge like his. It was WAY easier to modify his fridge than it was mine. 38-40 degrees is cold enough for me.
I'm sorry, but I can't think of any way to increase the efficiency of your kegerator. Getting a freezer is always a good idea, but it'll cost. The upshot is, you'll be able to get your kegs colder, and it'll be faster. Also, it'll probably hold more kegs, which is a big plus!

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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby jeepguy » Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:14 am

You could get an external temp controller and bypass the stock one. Not cheap and you need to know how to bypass the other one. Thats assumming that its not getting cold enough because it shuts off. If it runs all the time then it wont go lower.
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Re: Keg Temperature

Postby wyo wino » Sun Nov 01, 2009 12:45 pm

If it is used you might consider changing out the gaskets, or even putting lube on them. Other than that I think you have to have it re-charged. Probably not worth it. I read a lot of posts before I bought my kegerator. Bought a regular kegerator fridge which included valves, hoses, a small CO2 tank, and dual gauges. Almost as cheap as buying new small fridge and converting. I didn't really see a savings unless I could pick up a used fridge.
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