Cold, malty, and refreshing. Beer is the perfect drink to enjoy a football game with friends and family. And there’s no better way to have it than from the taps!
An outdoor home bar keg is every homeowner’s dream. And alcoholic or not, it’s a wonderful investment for anyone who enjoys outdoor entertainment. Plus, who wants to clean up all the bottles and cans after your friends leave the venue, or pay a premium for a drink or two at a local pub?
Thankfully, building a pre-made keg unit into an outdoor draft beer bar will provide you with an easily accessible beer dispenser. You may even convert your refrigerator into a kegerator—if you’re an experienced DIYer!
In this guide, we’ll walk you through easy-to-follow steps on building your own keg bar. We’ll also discuss the advantages of adding a keg to your outdoor bar and we’ll answer some of the questions you may have in mind (see FAQs).
Advantages of Adding a Keg To an Outdoor Bar
Whether you have a freestanding or built-in kegerator, you can enjoy draft beer at home, any time. But, if you’re still on the fence about installing an outdoor bar with your keg, consider some of its advantages.
Saves Money
Getting your dose of booze at your local pub may cost you up to $15 per beer—it can add up if you drink more than one can or bottle. And that cost doesn’t even include the bartender’s tip.
With a kegerator, costs can drop to as little as $2 per glass. And if you’re a homebrewer, you may save a bit more, depending what kind of beer you are making. While building an outdoor bar with a keg is a serious investment, having one will save you money over time.
Got a fridge? You may want to consider a kegerator conversion kit that lets you convert into a beer dispenser!
A typical conversion kit should include a CO2 gas line, beer line, shank, faucet, and handle. You’ll also find newer models that include a draft tower and allow for a number of different tap lines. Also, make sure that you have a CO2 gas tank, regulator, as well as a keg coupler to complete the construction.
It will require a great deal of time, effort, and some tools to complete an outdoor bar, but the process is simple. If you want the process to be a bit easier, you can go for a single purpose kegerator with an easily accessible cabinet.
More Than Beer
You can also have endless coffee, soda, cocktails, or even kombucha. A single kegerator can serve a range of beverages using barrel kegs with two or three faucets.
High-Quality and Better-Tasting Beer
One of the best things about having an outdoor keg bar is that you’ll have fresh beer available at all times. Keeping your drinks in a stainless steel keg will retain their flavor and freshness.
A chilled keg in a CO2 kegerator will normally last 6 to 8 weeks, but it depends on what type of drinks you keep inside. For pasteurized beers, you can keep them chilled and fresh for three to six months at an adequate temperature, although I wouldn’t recommend storing for that long.
Note: Check that your fridge can achieve the required low temperatures. However, we recommend going for a purpose-built kegerator instead of converting your fridge into a keg. A single purpose unit will guarantee proper temperature, keeping your drinks fresh.
You Have Your Own Home Bar!
You can have a fresh beer any time you want without having to drive to your local convenience store or bar. Having a home bar allows you to relax at home, watching your favorite show on TV, while enjoying a glass of your favorite brew. And there’s no need to sober up in order to drive yourself home or spend extra money on taxis!
Now, let’s learn how to build a kegerator into an outdoor bar.
Building a Kegerator Into an Outdoor Bar
How do you build a keg into an outdoor bar?
The process of completing this project can be quite messy and laborious, especially for beginners. But, with the right tools and approach, you should be able to finish the job and enjoy your cool brews in no time.
Step 1: Plan Your Outdoor Kitchen Design and Layout
It’s important to allow a dedicated space for your outdoor keg bar.
Then, consider how many faucets you want to have. This will determine how many draft lines you’ll need for the keg. It’s also important to consider where you’ll be installing the cabinet that will house the barrel or the keg.
Placing your unit away from direct sunlight will help the keg run more efficiently. Keep in mind that the cooling capacity of your unit will impact the beer’s quality in terms of taste and foaminess.
Step 2: Get Your Kegerator Cabinet Ready
You need to make sure that the electrical power supply is accessible inside the cabinet. This is a very important step since there’s no way to pull or remove the kegerator out of the cabinet to connect to a power outlet once the tap is mounted.
Measure your kegerator’s height, width, and depth, making sure it fits your cabinet. Doing so also helps you cut the right holes required to mount it and connect the beer tap.
Then, mark and cut out the proper holes. Where you measure or cut depends on the location of the tap. Some models have them on the top, while others have the beer tap in the door.
Next, place your keg unit into it and align it with the tap slot on the cabinet’s top. Make sure to lay the counter first before attaching the tap if it is on top.
Step 3: Place the Tap and the Bar
Start by adding the shanks. There should be a durable sheet to support the shank since this is where you’ll drill holes for the taps.
Next, run the draft lines. Drill holes in your keg collar’s backside and direct the draft lines out to the shanks. You can go as long as 3-feet, and you can also add some insulation for the foaming.
Following the installation of the draft lines, fix the taps to the shanks. You can connect a tube from the drip tray’s underside to a waste container to prevent stepping on a beer swamp.
For purpose-built kegs, it’s best to follow the manufacturer’s guide on how to install the tap.
Step 4: Add Finishing Touches
Your cabinet has gone through a lot, with the keg sliding in and out and trying to fit it in. It makes sense to jazz it up a bit to impress the guests. You can paint it, or polish the exterior. For a cool upgrade, you can even install a digital touch screen to easily control taps.
Step 5: Enjoy Your New Outdoor Keg Bar!
Plug in the keg and start the party once it cools to the ideal temperature. Keep in mind that your kegerator will need periodic cleaning and maintenance to keep it running smoothly, and serving premium drinks. Clean the faucets after each keg.
But before you do all that, enjoy your beer!
FAQs
Can you put a kegerator outside?
Yes. Ideal for hosting parties, outdoor kegerators are designed to work best in the backyard or patio. They will work flawlessly regardless of the weather. If you have ready-to-finish cabinets, they are easy to build into an outdoor bar.
Can you put a kegerator in a cabinet?
Kegerators that are not intended for built-in use can be placed in cabinets. Just make sure to allow space for airflow to negate the heat produced by the keg’s compressor.
How much ventilation does a kegerator need?
You should leave at least a 2 to 3-inch gap behind the kegerator, allowing air to circulate. If your keg isn’t properly ventilated, it won’t perform optimally and will not last long.
How much room do you need for a kegerator?
It depends on the size of the unit. A multi-keg system will typically require 2 to 3 square feet of floor space or more. When looking for a suitable location, consider the fact that many kegerators have a draft tower on top. This can raise the height to about 4 feet.
Is a keezer worth it? Is it cheaper to get a keg or cases of beer?
A keezer is a chest freezer that has been converted into a kegerator. But is it worth it?
If you prefer serving beers instead of getting them in bottles and cans, a keg is a more efficient option. According to outdoor bar owners who enjoy hosting cocktails parties, kegerators help save money in the long run and make the drinks taste better.
Do kegerators need a drain line?
Most kegerators have a drip tray without a built in drain, so you need to empty once it’s full. You can add a drain line to the drip tray by using a drain conversion kit – these make it easy to connect your drip trays to an existing drain line.
Now Is Your Turn!
Building a keg into your home bar makes drinking and hosting guests a lot easier, giving you convenient access to your favorite beverages. And we hope you find this helpful in building your dream bar station.
Cheers to life, friendship, and the quest for fantastic beer!
