If you’re looking for the best outdoor kegerators to get your hands on, make sure to stop and consider some important things first: temperature range and pressure settings, tap system, keg compatibility, installation, and parts and components. Keeping these factors in mind, I looked for the best in the business right now. If you want to find out what made our list and how to read on below!
I love having people over, especially for good beer and stimulating conversations. I’m not much of a party-goer nor do I enjoy going to crowded bars for a round of drinks. I much prefer to sit at home or out on the patio. What’s more is that it allows me to breathe in fresh, clean air as I enjoy my drink.
For anyone who likes having people over, good and tasty cold draft beer is a must. If you invite people over for outdoor barbeque and grilling parties, you should be stocking up your fridge with beers and beverages.
If you have an outdoor kitchen and prefer to receive and entertain people in it, an outdoor kegerator is something worth considering investing in for your at-home system kegs. For the best options in the market right now, I’ve got you covered below!
Types of Kegerator
Kegerators can come in full or mini sizes. If you want to store big and full-sized kegs of beer, a full-sized kegerator is a way to go. They can also store and house multiple barrel keg systems – whether you opt for a half keg or quarter keg or a combination of different kinds and sizes.
Mini kegerators are great if you have limited outdoor space or want something portable you can easily transport but can still hold mini kegs and other smaller kegs.
Kegerators can also differ in installation – it can be a freestanding or a built-in unit. Freestanding units can’t be built-in and placed under counter islands or countertops. They simply weren’t engineered for that like a built-in unit is. Built-in units have special ventilation systems that allow for built-in installation.
Our Top Picks for the Best Outdoor Kegerators
Product Image | Product Name | Price | |
Best Overall | EdgeStar KC1500SSOD Built-In Outdoor Kegerator | Check Price | |
Best Dual Tap Kegerator | ICEJUNGLE Beer Tap Kegerator | Check Price | |
Best Freestanding Kegerator | Kegco K309SS-1 Digital Kegerator | Check Price | |
EdgeStar KC2000 Kegerator | Check Price | ||
NutriChef PKBRTP100 Portable Pressurized Growler Kegerator | Check Price |
The Best Outdoor Kegerator
1. EdgeStar KC1500SSOD Built-In Outdoor Kegerator – Best Overall!
Our overall best outdoor kegerator pick is EdgeStar KC1500SSOD Built-In Outdoor Kegerator! This built-in kegerator is approved for outdoor use. Designed with a durable stainless steel body and exterior, this is able to withstand the constant changes in your outside environment, be it cold or warm weather.
A front ventilation design, allows for built-in installation under counter tops and islands. This single-faucet unit has stainless steel flooring to be able to support the weight of different keg sizes. This is able to accommodate one slim quarter, one 1/6 barrel, or a Cornelius keg for all your outdoor party needs.
It offers a variety of temperature ranges you can set from 32°F to 60°F. There is an electronic control panel and digital temperature display placed inside the unit. This allows you to customize all your settings including temperature and interior lighting settings. You can easily adjust all your settings with a simple push of a button. And, no more non-specific temperature settings for your beer needs!
The forced air cooling technology makes sure to distribute cold air throughout the entire fridge. With a unique forced air-cooled beer tower, this allows for a no-foam pour, which not many units allow. This promises a perfect pour every time.
This comes with all the necessary components and parts you would need to assemble the unit. This also comes with four removable casters for easy mobility and transport. It has a reversible and lockable door to keep your beer and settings untampered.
There is interior lighting that doesn’t emit any heat and also consumes less energy than most. One thing to keep in mind is this doesn’t have an automatic defrost function.
Pros:
- Approved outdoor use
- Front venting design for built-in installation
- Electronic control panel and thermostat
- 32°F to 60°F temperature range
- Forced air-cooled tower
- Reversible and lockable door
Cons:
- No auto-defrost
2. ICEJUNGLE Beer Tap Kegerator – Best Dual Tap Kegerator!
If you would prefer a dual tap kegerator system for bigger parties and a choice of two beers, check out ICEJUNGLE Beer Tap Kegerator! This is able to house a variety of keg sizes from one full size, one 1/2 barrel, or two 1/6 keg barrels.
This has a temperature range of 32°F to 72°F. This comes equipped with an electronic thermostat and an electronic temperature controller. This is also equipped with a low/high-temperature alarm. With the perfect and precise temperature, you’re sure to get a perfect pour every time.
This has been designed with front-facing vents to help dissipate heat as it runs. This allows for built-in installation. The interior and exterior are both made with stainless steel, promising maximum durability for outdoor use. The stainless steel construction also makes the unit very easy to keep clean. This has an automatic defrost function as well.
This boasts of a nice sleek appearance along with high quality and durable build. It has a more commercial-grade appearance and is sure to fit easily into any home for a sleek finish.
This has a lockable and automatic closing door for zero second-guessing if you closed the door. There is also an automatic light along with four removable casters for ease of mobility and transport.
This comes packaged with everything you need to have it set up and running in no time. The one downside a few have shared on this is they find the instructions included very minimal. The good thing is there are tons of tutorial videos you can watch for installation.
Pros:
- Dual tap system
- 32°F to 72°F temperature range
- Electron thermostat and temperature control
- Front vents for built-in installation
- Commercial-grade construction and appearance
- Stainless steel interior and exterior
Cons:
- Minimal installation instructions
3. Kegco K309SS-1 Digital Kegerator – Best Freestanding Kegerator!
If what you’re looking for is a freestanding unit to provide beer for all your outdoor barbeque parties, you might want to check out Kegco K309SS-1 Digital Kegerator! This is a freestanding unit that can easily blend into your home with two finish options – stainless steel or black.
A dual tap kegerator, this gives you multiple beers or beverage options for your friends and family to enjoy.
This prides itself in having one of the largest keg capacities in the market. This is able to house a single oversized or full-sized keg or even multiple keg setups with three 1/4 barrels or two short barrels.
With a LED screen and digital control, this allows you to customize your unit’s temperature settings to whatever your beer needs. The unit’s temperature range goes from 32°F to 74°F. You can even change the temperature setting from Fahrenheit to Celsius.
This has been engineered with 100% stainless steel parts and components. There is also a fan-forced cooling technology to make sure that cool air circulates all around the unit for even temperature distribution.
The special deep chill feature is perfect if you need to quickly cool a warm keg of beer. This function means the unit will work continuously for up to 24 hours to get your beer cool quickly.
This comes packaged with every component you need to get it up and running. A few shared that this can be a little loud due to the fan and can produce some rattling sounds. Many also found the temperature control and display not as precise as they would’ve wanted.
Pros:
- Freestanding and dual-tap unit
- Bigger than most units
- 32°F to 74°F temperature range
- Digital display and temperature control
- Deep chill function for booster cooling
- Fan-forced cooling
Cons:
- Can be loud
- Temperature is not as precise
4. EdgeStar KC2000 Kegerator
Our next favorite outdoor kegerator is EdgeStar KC2000 Kegerator! Another freestanding-only unit, this performs well with its commercial-grade and NSF-approved components and airlines so you know you’re getting the best.
This is able to house and hold multiple keg setups including the standard 1/4 and 1/2 keg sizes. Though keep in mind that this does not support Coors, Miller, rubberized, or other oversized kegs, according to the manufacturer itself. And with a dual tap system, this gives you multiple beer and beverage options ready to consume for your friends and family.
This has a temperature range going as low as low-30s to mid-40s. This promises to keep your beer and beverages cold and with the perfect pressure for that perfect pour every single time. This is able to keep and maintain its temperature even as it sits in warm and hot summer weather.
This comes packaged with all parts and components you would need to set it up. This is very easy to assemble and use as well. This also comes with removable casters you can use to transport it from and out of your house.
And though a freestanding-only unit, this fits well in any home and doesn’t take up much precious floor space. This operates rather quietly and is able to keep drinks cold, not even at its lowest temperature setting.
This has 4 inches less width than most standard full-size kegerator units. Though slimmer in appearance, this is still able to house different sizes of kegs without issues.
This one doesn’t have an automatic defrost function so you would have to do that manually from time to time to keep it clean and running smoothly.
Pros:
- Commercial-grade and NSF-approved
- Dual tap system
- Low-30s to the mid-40s temperature range
- Keeps and maintains temperature well
- Freestanding and slim unit
- Removable casters
Cons:
- No auto-defrost
5. NutriChef PKBRTP100 Portable Pressurized Growler Kegerator
And the last item to make it into our list of the best outdoor kegerators is NutriChef PKBRTP100 Portable Pressurized Growler Kegerator! If what you’re looking for is a mini and portable kegerator, you might want to check this one out.
This promises to keep your beer fresh and cold. This works to keep beer vacuum pressured so your beer stays fresh and ready to drink for up to two months. All of this unit’s parts are constructed with food-grade 304 stainless steel to ensure its safety.
This fits in your home fridge to get your beer to your desired temperature and maintains that temperature longer.
This comes packaged with all necessary components including the stainless steel unit, brass tap, and assembly hardware. This is very easy to assemble, fill, and get up and running.
If you want to be able to transport kegged beer, this lightweight unit is the way to go. It’s also very easy to disassemble and clean in between fills. And if you’re someone who likes changing up beer options frequently, this is a more convenient option than a full-size kegerator.
One thing to keep in mind is that this doesn’t come with its own CO2 gas cartridge like the rest of the items in our list of favorites. No worries though as any brand of CO2 tank will do the trick.
And though it is advertised that it comes with a neoprene koozie in the box, upon receiving their package, buyers must first leave a review for them to receive the koozie to keep beer colder for longer. If you don’t mind going through those steps, go on ahead with this one.
Pros:
- Mini and portable
- Keep beer cold and fresh
- Food-grade construction
- Fits in the home fridge
- Lightweight and easily carried
- Frequent changes in beer options
Cons:
- No CO2 cartridge
- False included koozie advertisement
How to Choose the Best Outdoor Kegerator
Temperature range and pressure settings
One of the first things to look at is the temperature range and pressure settings.
You want your beer cold, so you want to get a unit that has a range of temperature settings. It should be able to go for low temperatures and actually maintain that temperature.
Regulating your unit’s pressure is key for that perfect pour. Most units out in the market come with pressure and CO2 regulators. This allows you to adjust accordingly to your taste.
Tap system
Another important thing to consider in kegerators is the tap system. Does it have a single, dual, or three-tap system? Having more than one tap will allow you to store different kinds of beer.
If you don’t mind sticking to only one variety of beer, a single-tap kegerator should suffice.
Keg compatibility
Different kegerator units have different barrel keg compatibility. How many kegs can it fit inside or what keg sizes does it accommodate? Not all kegs can fit in all kegerators and not all kegerators can fit all sizes of kegs.
Unfortunately, it’s not a one size fits all situation. Make sure the keg you’re planning to buy will fit in the unit.
Installation
Kegerators can be installed either as freestanding or built-in units. Freestanding units require space around it to dissipate heat as it runs. Built-in units have front-venting designs so they can go under countertops and islands.
Freestanding units can’t be built-in but built-in units can be freestanding.
Parts and components
Most kegerators come with a complete set of parts and components needed to get it up and running. This includes a beer tower, faucet, couplers, CO2 tank, gauge regulator, airlines, and drip trays, among others. Make sure to always check this information before you settle on what to buy.
Conclusion
If you like your beer cold, fresh, and always ready to drink, you might want to consider a kegerator. And an outdoor unit is perfect for receiving company and entertaining guests just outside the four walls of your home.
Our number one pick is EdgeStar KC1500SSOD Built-In Outdoor Kegerator! With a durable stainless body, this is approved for outdoor use. The temperature settings range from 32°F to 60°F you can monitor and control with a digital thermostat and control panel. And with a unique forced air-cooled beer tower, this gives you perfect pours.
If you want two taps in your unit for beer options, check out ICEJUNGLE Beer Tap Kegerator! This holds up to two different kinds of beers and beverages, with temperatures going from 32°F to 72°F. This has an electronic thermostat and controller. This also allows for a convenient built-in installation with its front-venting design.
And if you’re planning on a freestanding installation, do consider Kegco K309SS-1 Digital Kegerator! Its stainless steel or black finish easily blends into any home. It also has a dual-tap system for different beer options with temperatures from 32°F to 74°F. This features a deep chill function for when you need to cool warm beer quickly.
And that has been our list of the best outdoor kegerators!