So this Talk of kegerator got me thinking........

[Trollby]

I really would like to look into more kegging than bottling.

I have the 3 gallon mini kegs but I don't have room for a second fridge or kegerator.

I know Screwy Brewer had been using a 5L Mini-kegerator with Conversion Kit.

Just wondering how many out there have done this?

Would make bottling day much easier, do two kegs and done or one keg and about 15 bottles.

I think one reason my brewing has been down is I have to plan out two weekends so I can brew and bottle, kegging would cut bottling time almost by 50% or so

I really wish my condo had enough room for a small mini-fridge kegerator with my 3gallon kegs but already tight on space with gear I have.


Thoughts?

[DaYooper]

You may want to look into a TapADraft or Party Pig system. You can "keg" a portion and bottle the rest or just purchase multiple TaDs and/or Pigs. It is always nice to have some in bottles for easy transportability.

If you bottle prime, batch priming will also save you time. When doing LBKs I still usually bottle prime since on a whole I would rather spend the extra time rather than do dishes. I HATE doing dishes.

[bucknut]

I've done the party pigs - bit of a pain in the ass, they work ok most of the time but carbonation was always hit or miss, but they fit in the fridge on there side and don't take up much room. Since have moved on to 2.5 gal kegs and I use these in the same fridge (in garage), and they take up a little less than half the total fridge space and I couldn't ever think of going back to bottling or even using the pigs. I'd try and get creative with you existing fridge, maybe do some customizing with the shelves to get those kegs to fit.

[Trollby]

I did bottle prime twice, hated it plus more bottles ended up with more sediment.

I bought the gear and started batch priming, never looked back.

I do not have room in my fridge, I have one in my house that is Gluten free and rest not. SO our fridge is always really full with two of almost everything (Plus our condo came with SMALL fridge we had a 14.8CUFT and we replaced with 18CUFt still a small unit but better)

I am hoping to get a new fridge this next year since our current one is 14 years old, Maybe move the current one down in basement, but need to add power for it if I do down there.

I checked out the party pig, still need fridge space, for it.

I like the self-contained units and from what I have been reading 1.5L stay fresh up to 10 days max, so 5-7 days for me should be fine

[radonc73]

I love my TAD its good as long as you don't fill the bottles past 3/4 full. If you go too full it will blow your CO2 cart because of overpressurizing. Once I figured that out I was all good.

[bucknut]

Saw this on HomeBrewTalk site and thought you might be interested.....
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/entries/5-liter-kegs.html