A kegerator or beer dispenser will help you keep kegs chilled and ready to pour while above all keeping your beer and wine kegs fresh
Choosing a kegerator for your home can be confusing – there’s a lot of different kegerator configurations out there (more than 400) which makes choosing the right one tricky at best and very confusing – and downright frustrating – at worst.
Luckily we’ve tested all of the major players to take the sting out of your decision. So if you’re thinking of buying one and want to find out which is the best kegerator to choose, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve evaluated more than 100 of the best (and some of the very worst) kegerators and we retest them regularly too – so you can be sure the recommendations on this page are current and can be trusted.
What’s the best kegerator?
The best kegerator for residential use right now is the Beer Meister Digital BM101B. It’s the best all-round option for keg size storage and temperature control at an affordable price. A close number two is the Beer Meister Indoor/Outdoor Built-In Premium Series Kegerator which is a very versatile build-in kegerator that we like a lot – particularly the way it chills up to four kegs with a tower cooling fan and digital thermostat controls. And the third best kegerator in 2020 is the Flow Control Kegerator by Keg King – amazing for keeping foamy pours to a minimum.
If you want to see the best home kegerators in one place, then you’ll LOVE this (updated) guide. We personally review HUNDREDS of indoor and outdoor kegerators each year to compile our top picks so you don’t have to spend hours digging online. Read more about these kegerators and more below!
The best all-round home kegerator with quality components at a reasonable price
Number of taps: 1 | Location: Indoor | Temperature Range: 32-50 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 Half Barrel, up to 3 – ⅙ Barrel Kegs
Includes all the dispensing components
Easily accessible front digital temperature controls
Dual gauge regulator
1 year unit warranty, 2 year compressor warranty
External CO2 tank storage
Beer faucet is chrome plated and not stainless steel
Some reports of temperature setting changing randomly
Drip tray is plastic
[FREE SHIPPING] The Beer Meister BM101B delivered outstanding keg chilling speeds during our cooling tests, low decibel noise levels, excellent customer support plus a 1 year warranty.
Beer Meister offers three lines of draft beer dispensers to choose from for indoor, outdoor, built-in or commercial use. With Beer Meister you get free fast shipping and high quality compressors with quick cooling technology.
But that’s not all for Beer Meister. Want to make your own beer? They’ve got you covered with a huge selection of homebrew supplies and ingredient kits. What’s also really helpful is that there are loads of web-based guides in their online academy which are easy to follow to help you get up and running with the kegerator. Beer Meister also offers fast web and phone support, with agents staffed Mon-Fri to answer any questions you may have about their kegerators or installation.
Downsides? The Beer Meister BM101B Kegerator draft beer faucet is made of plated chrome which will eventually start to chip and need replacement. The drip tray is made of plastic and has the potential to be damaged if, like us, you like to wash it using the dishwasher. But if you want a reliable, quick cooling and solid refrigerator, the Beer Meister BM101B Digital Kegerator may be a great fit. While they do only offer a one year warranty on the unit, the compressor is covered for a full two years and they have a ‘no hassle’, 30-day money back guarantee if you aren’t happy with the kegerator. The available Beer Meister Value line configurations are:
The best built-in kegerator for multiple kegs
Number of taps: Up to 3 | Location: Indoor or Outdoor | Temperature Range: 30 – 50 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 Half Barrel, up to 3 ⅙ Barrel Kegs, Up to 4 Cornelius Kegs
Forced-air draft tower cooling fan
Digital temperature controls and LCD display
Build-in ready with front ventilation
LED interior lighting
No tube knockout for external CO tank location
Door is not reversible
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The Beer Meister Premium series is our number two pick mainly because of the price. The units are well constructed and can be used inside or outside as well as freestanding or built into cabinets and under countertops. The sticker shock of paying over a thousand dollars certainly deters buyers, but if you have ever owned a kegerator you will notice all of the high quality parts used in the Premium series and realize it might be worth the extra money. The compressor has a two year warranty and Beer Meister has a great selection of replacement parts like door seals, thermostats and compressors. Beer Meister has made kegerators since 1967, so they know what they are doing.
The standout feature of the Beer Meister Premium Built-In Kegerator for us is the draft tower cooling fan. If you are in an area with a lot of temperature swings you might find your draft tower gets warmer than the cold keg inside the unit. When you go to dispense the beer you will get a lot of foaming unless you have a tower fan blowing cold air and equalizing those temperatures.
All of the Indoor/Outdoor Premium series kegerators, which are available in one, two and three tap models can be used indoors or outdoors and are build-in ready with front ventilation. They seamlessly integrate into cabinetry under the counter and have a very quiet compressor. A strong door lock is another bonus we liked to keep unwanted kids and keg thieves away from the kegerator internals.
The main weakness for the Premium series is on the pricing front, as the different units are somewhat expensive. The control buttons are also all membrane touch buttons, which are not very responsive. All controls are located on the inside of the kegerator, so you have to open the door to adjust the temp up or down for example… not optimal as this lets all the cold air out each time you open it up. Another negative is power related. If the power goes out for some reason, the kegerator does not remember the temperature setting to return to once power is restored. It actually doesn’t even come back on until you push the power button again and adjust the temperatures manually. This could result in a hot keg if you aren’t nearby during a power outage. The available Beer Meister Premium Indoor/Outdoor configurations are:
The best kegerator for controlling foamy pours
Number of taps: Up to 3 | Location: Indoor | Temperature Range: 26 – 82 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 Half Barrel, up to 3 ⅙ Barrel Kegs
Air cooled draft tower
Flow control faucet
Easily accessible front digital temperature controls
Interior glass rack
Installation instructions are limited
Keg King Kegerators are the new kid on the block. They are manufactured in Australia and made with the homebrewer in mind. They designed the units to hold 3 homebrew kegs (will also hold a half barrel American keg) and also be spacious enough to be used as a beer fermentation chamber. Keg King poured the best glass of beer during our pour tests. The beer poured at a normal rate without over foaming or spill overs.
Keg King offers a few different models at different price points. You can choose from one, two or three faucets and then choose between chrome, stainless or stainless flow control faucets. There is even a Nitro model configured for stout or cold brew coffee. With Keg King you also get free fast shipping and forward sealing Intertap faucets (our favorite).
But Keg King also has more accessories to upgrade than other makers out there… like fitted kegerator covers, external temperature controllers and heavy duty “off road” castor wheel upgrades.
The Keg King team has put together a huge library of online video tutorials to assist setting up, dispensing and cleaning the kegerator. There is a 1 year warranty on Keg King kegerators and they have a ‘no hassle’, industry leading 60-day money back guarantee if you aren’t happy with the kegerator.
Downsides? Not many, but some have said the instructions included are not very easy to follow during installation. Because kegs come in various diameters, some people have had trouble getting three kegs to fit. We have successfully fit 3 homebrew Cornelius kegs in the unit, but buyer beware and check the sizes of your kegs before purchase. The available Keg King configurations are:
The best kegerator for outdoor kitchens and bars
Number of taps: Up to 3 | Location: Outdoor | Temperature Range: 33 – 42 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 Half Barrel, up to 3 ⅙ Barrel Kegs
Stainless steel interior and exterior
Front-vented RAPIDcool forced-air refrigeration
Air-cooled dispensing tower
UL-rated for outdoor use
Louder than other indoor units
The Perlick Outdoor Kegerator is the most versatile outdoor kegerator on the market if you are designing an outdoor kitchen or bar. It has different width models to choose from, build-in or freestanding units, multiple tap configurations, door hinge placements and door material options.
Perlick constructed the units using 304 stainless steel on the interior and exterior for maximum outdoor protection from the elements. The ability to use custom cabinet panels is why this is the number #1 outdoor kegerator pick for home owners and contractors along with the commercial grade stainless steel used in almost everything throughout the kegerator.
What else do we love about this kegerator? An interior LED light, manual defrost button, door lock, reversible door and an optional wood overlay door panel to match surrounding cabinetry. You can use a 24″ outdoor stainless steel kegerator trim kit if you are building this unit into an outdoor kitchen. They even have a mounting hole template you can download to help with the tower installation.
Another exclusive feature is an actual master power switch to turn the unit on and off. Surprisingly, this feature is not available on most kegerators. The outdoor Perlick kegerator has an impressive Three Full Year Warranty plus an additional three years on sealed systems.
Price is always a concern when you are shopping for an outdoor kegerator. You may be tempted to go with the cheaper models, but you get what you pay for. Remember that included in the price of this kegerator is that 3 year warranty, which from our experience with this unit, might not ever be needed. The available Outdoor Perlick models are:
The best wine kegerator
Number of taps: 2 | Location: Indoor | Temperature Range: 32-50 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 Half Barrel, up to 3 ⅙ Barrel Kegs
Stainless steel dual faucet draft tower
Stainless steel wine faucets
Easily accessible front digital temperature controls
Customize components at checkout
Plastic drip tray
Another offering from Edgestar that is top in its class is their dual tap wine dispenser. Dispensing wine takes some specialized equipment due to the increased acidity of wine and this wine kegerator is outfitted with the stainless steel faucets and fittings needed for pouring perfect tasting wine without any off-flavors. This unit comes with a dual gauge Nitrogen tank regulator and hose fittings ready to pour wine.
The ability to customize the components at checkout is a nice bonus, as some units don’t allow any customization. You can add in a Nitrogen tank (if needed) or wine kegs and disconnects if you are making your own wine at home.
The digital refrigerator that does the cooling lets you easily set, monitor and adjust the ambient temperature around your kegs from a front control panel, giving you total control of your beverage temperature without having to open the door! This wine keg fridge has a stainless steel front and is supported by 4 heavy-duty casters, making it very portable and simple to move. It will hold up to three homebrew kegs, 1 half keg or two slim commercial kegs.
The interior features a stainless steel base plate increasing the durability of your fridge, allowing years of kegs and gallons of delicious wine flowing in and out.
If you are thinking about wine on tap in your home, consider the flexibility of this dual faucet version now. You can have red and white wine on tap and everyone will be happy.
The best kegerator for portability
Number of taps: 1 | Location: Outdoor | Temperature Range: 36 – 40 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 Half Barrel, up to 1 ⅙ Barrel Kegs
Uses CO2 gas to dispense the keg
Sets up in 5 minutes
Breaks down to 27 inch height for storage
Large heavy-duty off road wheels
Uses ice to chill
Technically not a kegerator, the Bistro Bar Portable Dispenser is a CO2 powered draft dispenser that chills kegs using ice. This is basically a large jockey box on wheels that can house a full size keg. It is the best kegerator option when you need to get a keg in a not so accessible location. Think poolside, beach party, wedding, tailgate, BBQ, camping or other outdoor event.
The Bistro Bar is made of extremely durable material that can handle the wear and tear portable kegerators endure. The ability to break down into a 27″ high stack when not in use is a great feature for those space deprived event planners and garage hoarders. The unit popped up in less than 5 minutes during our install test and chilled the keg with just a few bags of ice.
The Bistro Bar uses durable rubberized all-terrain wheels and the shell is made of high density polyethylene to support weights up to 200 lbs. We liked the comfortable height of the bar top and tower compared to using a traditional jockey box that usually sits on the ground or table top. Having a place to set down your beer helps during service and created a natural place for people to belly up to the bar. See 6 More Portable Kegerator options.
The best mini kegerator
Number of taps: 1 | Location: Indoor | Temperature Range: 32 – 39 F | Maximum kegs supported: 1 – 5 Liter mini keg
Dispenses pressurized and non-pressurized mini kegs
Beer stays fresh for 30 days
Chills mini kegs within 19 to 21 hours
Small counter footprint and low noise levels
Limited keg selection
Mini kegs come in two types (pressurized and non-pressurized) and the SPT Mini Kegerator can dispense both. Most mini kegerators can do one and not the other without an additional kit being purchased. Most commercial mini kegs you buy from the store will already be pressurized like Heineken, Bitburger or Warsteiner. You can buy empty 5 Liter mini keg shells and fill them with homebrew or any beer you want which will be pressurized by the mini kegerator.
The SPT mini kegerator utilizes 16 gram CO2 cartridges to dispense non-pressuruzed kegs. During our pour test with this machine, one cartridge was able to dispense the entire 5 Liter mini keg with no problems.
Cons? Some foaming can be an issue with these small kegerators and kegs, but if you make sure to chill down the keg before pouring you will be ok. Even a mini keg that seems cold to the touch when it arrives from the store has warmed up during the journey. If you attempt to pour the keg right away you will experience foaming. Let the mini keg sit a day and cool down to the proper temperature so that it will dispense without all the crazy foam.
