Club Kegerator
What would prompt a group of homebrewers to build a system that can dispense 11 different beers at the same time? For the past 10 years, the Carolina BrewMasters (a homebrew club from Charlotte, North Carolina) has organized a beer festival known as “Charlotte Oktoberfest.” In 2007, over 6,000 beer lovers attended and sampled from over 240 homebrewed and commercial beers. The event raised over $50,000 for charities, including the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Serving 25–35 5.0-gallon (19-L) Cornelius kegs of homebrew to thirsty event patrons over a 6-hour period was becoming increasingly problematic. With a desire to showcase club homebrew at the festival, the organizing committee agreed to fund the materials to build a custom festival draft dispensing system. Two design plans were proposed to the committee. The design selected is actually the smaller of the two! It was quickly determined that the larger design, although impressive, would have blown the budget. So, it was shelved for the smaller design that was approved and has come to be known as “Junior.”
The call was put out to Carolina BrewMasters for parts donations. The local Charlotte homebrew shop (Homebrew.com) came through and donated a great many of the draft parts needed. Long time club members Scott Wallace and David Jones stepped up to assist with the build. If you are considering building a similar system of this kind, support cannot be underestimated!
Overall System Design Features
• Lift-off draft towers and bar top with folding bar base.
• 8 Ventmatic forward-sealing stainless steel faucets. Stainless steel shanks and tail pieces.
• 2 stainless steel stout faucets for the dispensing of stouts and porters with beer gas (85% nitrogen – 15% CO2).
• 2 oak “Irish Coffin” style draft towers.
• Rolling oak cart to support the CO2 and beer gas tanks.
• Redundant CO2 manifolds with shut-off valves and back flow preventers for each line.
• Extra large tubs to hold up to 5 pin-lock or 6 ball-lock kegs on ice each (Note: ball-lock kegs are typically narrower than pin lock kegs).
• Rolling tub carts for mobility.
• 2 self-draining stainless steel drip trays under the faucets — a drain hose runs from the drip plates through bar top to small plastic containers that sit beneath the rolling carts. It’s maintenance free.
• Quick setup and portability — the bar breaks down and folds to permit transport in the bed of a full-sized pickup truck.
Draft System Parts List
• (8) Ventmatic forward-sealing stainless steel faucets
• (2) stainless steel stout faucets
• (1) Chromed tap and faucet tower for “The Hopinator”
• (10) 2 1⁄2” beer shanks, nuts, and tailpieces (stainless steel)
• (10) Black plastic faucet flanges
• (10) Black plastic tap handles
• (2) stainless steel drip trays: 20” x 5”
• (80’) Beer hose — 3⁄16” thick wall
• (2) Dual-gauge CO2 regulators
• (1) Dual-gauge beer gas regulator
• (3) Regulator cage guards (optional)
• (10) Plastic CO2 regulator to tank washers
• (2) CO2 gas manifolds (each with 5 or 6 outlet flared shutoff valves with back-flow prevention)
• (1) SS tee splitters (3 way or 4 way) – optional
• (12) “Beer In” Cornelius keg connectors – 1⁄4” Flare end (ball lock style)
• (6) “Beer In” Cornelius keg connectors – 1⁄4” Flare end (pin lock style)
• (12) “Gas in” Cornelius keg connectors – 1⁄4” Flare end (ball lock)
• (6) Gas In Cornelius keg connectors – 1⁄4” Flare end (pin lock)
• (50) 1⁄4” female hose end flare fittings
• (50) Oetiker stainless steel step less hose clamps (for 3⁄8” thick wall beer line)
• (80’) 1” x 3” solid oak trim hardwood
• (40’) 1” x 6” solid red oak (draft towers and tank cart)
• (4) 1⁄2” x 4’ x 8’ clear premium oak-veneered plywood
• (24) Premium-grade 8’ x 2” x 4” pine or maple
• (1) Large tube aquarium sealant
• 20” water filter with clear acrylic housing (Pentek 3G — no: 150568)
• (2) SS tower cylinders (1/8” x 6 1/2 x 10”)
• (2) 3⁄8” threaded rod, nuts and washers (for SS cylinder attachment)
• (4) 1” x 1” x 10” Aluminum cross members (for SS cylinders attachment)
• (10) 5⁄16” T-Nuts (to secure bar top to the fold out base)
• (10) 5⁄16” x 2” hex head bolts and washers
• Assorted screws, nails, staples as needed.
• (1 qt./1 L) Dark red wood stain — color: Merlot (Olympic)
• Waterproof wood glue – (Titebond 3)
• (2) Locking slide bolt latches (secures base when closed)
• (2 qt./2 L) marine spar urethane
• (25–35) Cornelius kegs of your finest homebrewed beer (5 gallons/19 each)
*** THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART ***
• (2) Very large plastic tubs (US Plastics)
• 3⁄4 plywood double for bases to tub carts
• (8) non-swivel 8”-10” pneumatic wheels (Harbor Freight Tools)
• (16) 5⁄16” x 1 1⁄2” bolts, nuts, washers (secure wheels to tub carts)
