When I first built a man cave, one of the first questions I asked was “is it worth it to buy a kegerator for my man cave”. You are the one that needs to make that decision, but this article will give you some information about exactly what you need to know about having a kegerator, and how much you can expect to save.
If you buy a $90 half keg, you are paying $1.10 per 12oz beer. Beer from a keg usually costs 50% as much compared to buying in a store. If the biweekly maintenance doesn’t bother you, and you have friends to share your keg with, it can absolutely be financially and socially worth it.
Many guys dream about having a beer tap in their man cave. If you are here, it’s because you are wondering if it is possible, what it takes, and if it is even worth it. This article will hopefully shed some light on these questions.
Types Of Drafts To Consider:
Before we get too much into this, let’s make sure we know what our options are. The two options that will be relevant to you and your man cave are a direct draw set up and a hand pump setup.
What Is A Hand Pump Draw Setup:
A handpump setup works by forcing air down into your keg with a hand pump. The pro’s of using a handpump draw from a keg is how cheap it is. You can get one for anywhere from $40-$50. If you are looking for a quick fix, and you don’t plan on having many kegs in your man cave or home, this is probably for you.
There is some pretty significant downside to using this system though. Like I mentioned, this pump works by forcing air into the headroom of the keg which then allows your precious beer to flow. As soon as this air comes into contact with your beer, it starts growing bacteria. This bacteria changes the flavor profile of your brew.
Because of this, once you tap your keg with a hand pump, the beer is only going to be good for 24 hours. So you better be planning on drinking fast with some friends.
Another con that you will want to consider is it can sometimes be a little messy. You will also have to find some way to keep your beer cold.
What Is A Direct Draw Kegerator:
If you plan on not drinking your beer in 24 hours, a direct draw kegerator system may be for you. These can run you anywhere from $400-$750. If you plan on this being a more permanent fixture in your man cave, a kegerator is probably your best bet.
Unlike the hand pump system, these use CO2 instead of air to force the beer out of your keg. Because of this, there is fewer bacteria introduced into your keg. This means your beer lasts longer. After tapping, your beer is good for 30 to 45 days. Also, as the “rator” part suggests, these kegerators keep your keg cold as well!
A direct draw system is not without its cons though. Not only are they more expensive, but they require MUCH more effort.
On top of cleaning the entire system every 2-3 weeks, you will need to keep an eye on your CO2 levels and pressure.
There is definitely more know-how needed when working with these. You will also need to buy a special cleaning solution. There are cleaning solutions that are specially designed to be used on your unit’s beer lines.
What Does Maintenance Look Like For A Kegerator?
No matter what draw method you are choosing, you are going to need to clean your pumps. Anything that beer comes in contact with needs to be cleaned. A kegerator needs to be cleaned every 2-3 weeks to make sure your beer doesn’t start tasting funky.
For a hand pump, this cleaning process is going to entail pumping this cleaning solution through the pump itself. Kegerator’s process is more involved.
You are going to need to take it all apart, let the smaller pieces soak, and force cleaning solution through the beer lines. You will then want to let the solution sit in the lines for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. They sell specialized kits for this.
This cleaning process is probably going to take you anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour every other week. Another piece of maintenance you will need to do is keep an eye on the pressure of your CO2. Different beers require different pressures.
Another thing I wanted to mention is the temperature of your beer. The suggested serving temperature is 38 degrees Fahrenheit. This is easy enough to maintain if you buy a good quality kegerator.
Is It Possible To Have a Kegerator In Your Man Cave?
It is not unheard of to have a beer tap in your own home. If you do a quick search, there have been plenty of home options in recent years. If you have the floor space in your man cave and room in your budget, a kegerator is an awesome idea.
Getting a kegerator for your man cave is an awesome step, but it should be taken seriously. It isn’t as easy as just buying your favorite beer and always having a cold perfect draft whenever you want one. You are going to want to do a little homework of your own. My goal for this post is to give you a good starting point.
I hope you have gotten the message by now that the dream of having a draft beer in your man cave is totally achievable. The question is remains…
Is It Worth It Financially To Buy A Kegerator?
The first thing I need you to ask yourself is it worth the money. In my head, this is how I have broken down the math. A decent kegerator is going to cost you $500. After figuring out how much the maintenance solutions cost and the CO2, you are probably looking at an initial investment of $550.
A half keg of beer is going to run you around $90. A half keg (quarter barrel) is 7.75 gallons of beer or 992 ounces of beer. This is around 82 12oz beers. This means when you buy a half keg for $90, that is like paying $1.10 per 12oz beer.
This is all a long-winded way to say that the cost per 12oz can is half of what it would normally cost from a store. Depending on how much or how often you and your friends are enjoying your draft beer, it wouldn’t take too long until that kegerator has paid for its self.
Is A Kegerator Worth the Effort?
The next question you need to ask yourself is how worth it the effort is. If you are the only one enjoying your draft beer, that effort may not be worth it. Especially since I doubt you would be able to get through a full half keg on your own.
Having to clean the beer lines every two weeks is a pretty significant commitment. By this point in the article, you probably have a pretty good idea of which way you are leaning.
Is it Worth it Socially?
At the end of the day, a kegerator is one of the best ways to make your man cave the go-to spot for your group of buds. I am sure they would even pitch in if you wanted to get the money to get this process started.
When you buy a kegerator, stock it with your favorite brew, and set it up in a prominent spot in your man cave. It is the perfect addition to your man cave’s bar. The way I look at it, we put so much effort into our man caves because they are the perfect place to bring people together. What do people want when they are all together having fun? You guessed it.
How To Integrate A Kegerator Into Your Man Cave:
I am excited that you are interested in getting a kegerator of your own. When trying to find a spot in your room’s floor plan for a kegerator, treat it like you would a minifridge. The back of it is where the CO2 tank with be, so you make want it in a spot that you can get access to that if needed.
The things you to keep in mind are: it needs to have an outlet handy, it should be in a place that is easy to get to (no one likes long walks to get their brew), and there should be room in front of it for its front door to open up.
Depending on what your space looks like, I would start with it next to your room’s fridge, and then figure out if there is a better spot for it. Another option is to make a dedicated corner for it where you have glassed and coasters ready to go. You have all of these cool ideas to try out.
Final Thoughts:
Remember, at the end of the day, it’s pretty hard to mess up when you have good company and good beverages.
Until next time,