Suppose you’re just starting kegging and want your beer tap system. You’ve heard of Kegerators, but someone else has told you that a Kegerator is like a refrigerator for your beer line and to get what they call a “Keezer” instead. So, what’s the difference between a Kegerator and a keezer?
Difference Between A Kegerator And A Keezer?
A Kegerator is just a refrigerated place to keep your beer kegs cold and dispense beer through draft lines. An alternate term you might hear for this kind of system is “Keezer.”
On the other hand, a Keezer (sometimes spelled “Keezer”) is an entire homebrew draft beer system built into a custom cabinet. A keezer can function as its refrigerator or refer more accurately to the whole cooler cabinet that houses everything needed to dispense draught beer from two, three, or even four taps: chilled CO2 gas tanks, glycol cooled serving lines & tap towers, faucets, drip trays, etc.
A Keezer
A Keezer (also spelled keg-er or kegerator) is another name for a decent, self-contained draft beer dispensing system. The term originated in the homebrewing community as slang for the Keezer Box, developed by Charlie Papazian during his days at The Brewery Outlet. A keezer is essentially an icebox with taps used to serve beer from a keg.
Video Credit: NorthernBrewerTV
Keezer Pros
- Cost savings of a kegerator.
- A sleek, modern look can match decor better than an icebox.
- Easier to find space for than a refrigerator; if you don’t have room for a full-sized model, the mini-Keezer is the smallest option and will take up less space on your countertop or bar. The best alternative to a Kegerator is limited cabinet space because it doesn’t require installation (also found here ).
Keezer Cons
- There is no automatic temperature control and no CO2 line filter drip tray (see: Kegerator Pros).
- It can be more challenging to clean and care for than a Kegerator as beer lines are usually visible inside the cooler (making them easier to clean with a garden hose).
- There is no space for storage inside; you will have to find room in your garage, basement, or closet (or forget about the kegs and keep them stored outside).
- Installation is more expensive than a refrigerator because of the extra piping required.
- Beer gets colder faster in a Kegerator vs. Keezer, so CO2 consumption is higher. (Think of it this way: you’d get drunker quicker from drinking draft directly from the tap than out of a bottle.)
A kegerator
A kegerator, or “chill-box,” has become popular with the mass marketing of these systems over the last few years. They are technically anything you put your keg in to cool it, but Kegerators aren’t necessarily self-contained and may not have tapped on them.
Kegerator Pros:
- Many models have internal refrigeration allowing for temperature control of the serving temp (depending on the model).
- Cold beer is always available – no need to lift a full keg out of a refrigerator! No tapping required – pour straight out of the tap! Sometimes they come with built-in taps, air pressure regulators, and other options.
- Some units even allow you to add a second keg while the other one is still on tap Cooler is always sanitary – you can chill and forget about it until its subsequent use.
- Some models even have digital thermostats to regulate the temperature within inches of accuracy!
Kegerator Cons:
- Higher price than a Keezer (unless you make your own or purchase an older model used).
- There is no space for storage inside; you will need to find room in your garage, basement, or closet.
- A full keezer may be more space-consuming than a refrigerator with taps installed if all components are installed inside.
- Cold air tends to rise so you may want a fan or circulation system. Ventilation must be adequate for proper CO2 exchange when using carbon dioxide, or the beer may go flat.
- Some states and municipalities have strict laws on where a kegerator can be used in the home, so check with your local authorities before purchasing one for use in a residential area.
Kegerator-Keezer Similarities
A kegerator can be quickly converted into a Keezer by simply adding an ice chest enclosure around it if limited on cabinet space or saving money buying both units separately. A keezer can be turned into a Kegerator by adding taps and installing refrigeration inside.
A mini-keezer can take up even less space than a full Keezer but still offers the option of pouring from a tap directly out of the cooler.
