Buying guide for best beer dispensers
Pouring yourself a beer from a home beer dispenser is an authentic way to enjoy your favorite beverage. Whether you’re an avid homebrewer, a regular party host, or just someone who drinks a pint now and then, a beer dispenser offers drinking convenience in a stylish package.
One element most beer dispensers have in common is the faucet, which usually mimics a real tap handle. However, capacity varies widely, with some models holding a couple of bottles and others holding over 100 pints. Many beer dispensers are pressurized, though carbonization systems can be powered in a few different ways.
In short, beer dispensers come in a range of styles to suit the needs of different beer drinkers. To choose the best beer dispenser for you, consider where you get your beer, how often you drink, and where you plan to enjoy your beer.
How much beer should your beer dispenser hold?
The answer to this question depends entirely on your drinking habits. With options from single-can dispensers to full-size kegerators, there is likely a model that meets your needs.
- Small options hold one to two cans and are typically used for special occasions rather than daily use.
- Medium dispensers hold from 64 to 128 ounces, or from 2 to 4 pints. For those who drink a few beers a week, these keep you well-stocked and can often fit in a fridge door.
- Large dispensers hold from quarter kegs to half barrels or 1.32 gallons to 15.5 gallons. They are almost always refrigerated and can keep beer fresh for months.
At-home vs. portable beer dispensers
At-home beer dispensers may be made for the countertop or as freestanding or built-in fixtures, as in the case of many kegerators. How and where you plan to enjoy beer should inform this decision. Many portable beer dispensers look good on a counter or in your fridge, giving you the best of both worlds. However, a countertop dispenser or kegerator is typically more stylish and easier to use.
If you opt for a portable dispenser, note its refrigeration capacity and how long it stays cold in warm environments, especially if you plan to take it camping or on picnics.
Brass will often give beer an unpleasant metallic taste, so avoid brass taps when possible.
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Refrigerated beer dispensers
If you enjoy your beer cold, consider a dispenser that keeps beer cold on its own. That way, you don’t need to reserve valuable space in your refrigerator for it.
Kegerators work like regular refrigerators with coils of coolant that maintain the desired temperature. Almost all kegerators have adjustable temperature settings.
Inexpensive dispensers may rely on removable ice tubes to cool beverages. These dispensers must be filled with ice, and the dispenser won’t keep beer cold for long stretches without refilling the ice tube. However, it will work for a few hours at a time.
Some portable dispensers have no cooling system but are insulated. You could chill them in the fridge and then take them on the go, keeping your beer cold for hours.
Should you get a pressurized beer dispenser?
This depends on two things: how important it is to you to pour your beer like a bartender, and how long you need your beer to keep.
If you’re just looking for a stylish way to serve beer to guests on occasion, the extra cost of a pressurized model and CO2 cartridges may be beyond your budget. However, if you homebrew large amounts of beer or need a container to fill at your local brewery, you will need a pressurized dispenser to prevent your beer from going flat.
Pressurized dispensers use gas in the form of CO2 to keep beer carbonated and dispense it at a consistent flow—not unlike a genuine tap. Less-expensive models are battery- or USB-powered and use vibrations to foam beer as it pours. Both styles result in a classic head of foam if the beer is poured properly.
DID YOU KNOW?
Leftover beer can be used for cooking, cleaning, and baking. It can also remove rust and add shine to metal cookware.
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Types of beer dispensers and features to look for
From single-can models to full-size kegerators, beer dispensers come in a range of designs.
Countertop dispensers and drink chillers
These inexpensive dispensers are usually compact with minimal features, though they work well as occasional dispensers. They serve a few purposes: cooling beer and keeping it cold, pouring beer, and foaming beer. Most countertop dispensers hold a single can to a few cans of beer.
The majority of countertop dispensers use an ice tube or similar system to chill the beer. This makes them suitable for outdoor use. Some are powered by batteries or USBs, which often serve to both pour beer out of the tap and create foam.
Kegerators
If you’re serious about your beverages and have a big budget, you’re probably looking at kegerators. These fridge-like appliances tuck a keg away in the cabinet and dispense beer from the tap on top. Full-size kegerators can hold a standard keg, and some two-tap models can hold two sixtels to offer a different drink from each tap. Kegerators may be designed for indoor or outdoor use. Some small models can sit on your countertop.
While this is a fun and flashy way to store your beer, kegerators are not only expensive, but they’re also maintenance intensive, requiring you to regularly clean out the lines. You also need a CO2 tank for pressure and will need to replace it regularly—an additional expense to keep in mind.
Pressurized growlers
While you can pour beer from a regular growler, pressurized models keep your beer carbonated for much longer and pour without the aid of gravity. Some can even force-carbonate your beer, which is useful if you’re a homebrewer.
Pressurized growlers take small CO2 tanks, which are less expensive than those needed for kegerators but still an additional cost.
Dispenser style
Like any kitchen appliance, beer dispensers range in looks from utilitarian and plain to sleek and eye-catching. The style is entirely up to you, but if you plan on your dispenser being a fixture of your home bar or kitchen, you should choose one that you enjoy the appearance of. You may be able to customize some parts of your dispenser, like the faucet.
Tap handles are often replaceable, so you can swap them out for more creative designs or for handles from a certain brewery.
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How much do beer dispensers cost?
Depending on the size, pressurization method, and refrigeration, dispensers can be quite affordable or major investments.
Inexpensive
For $25 to $50 are a handful of growlers and basic countertop dispensers. In most cases, these lack features like pressurization or foaming, though they may be insulated or have an ice tube for cooling.
Mid-range
Most beer dispensers cost from $50 to $250 and include anything from pressurized countertop dispensers to mini kegerators and pressurized growlers. These will meet the needs of many beer enthusiasts, but they lack the capacity for hosting large parties or storing home-brewed beer.
Expensive
Most home kegerators cost from $250 to $1,000 and can hold up to a keg of beer, keeping it cold and fresh for extended periods. They may be freestanding or built-in, and some are robust enough to be used outdoors.
Tips for storing and pouring beer
- Drink it while it’s fresh. In an unpressurized container, beer will go flat after a day or two. Don’t fill your container until right before you plan to use it.
- Avoid sunlight. Putting your dispenser in sunlight not only risks warming your beer but can also cause skunking if the container is transparent.
- Clean the dispenser between fills. Sticky beer can jam up the tap handle, and it can also collect in the line and inside the container, which is unsanitary and makes for an unpleasant taste.
- Don’t hold the glass far below the tap. The glass should be as close as possible and tilted at an angle to prevent excessive foaming while still allowing a head to form.
- Plan for drips and spills. Unless your dispenser has a collection tray, it’s going to make a mess on the counter or floor. Be mindful of the surface directly below the tap, and if it is likely to be damaged by beer, consider laying down a dishrag.
FAQ
Q. Can I pour bottles and cans of beer into my dispenser?
A. There’s no reason why not, especially if you don’t brew your own beer or frequent a local brewery for growlers. Just be sure to wait until you plan to enjoy the beer before pouring all of it in.
Q. Are growlers and kegs more affordable than bottles or cans?
A. Most of the time, buying beer in larger quantities is cheaper by the ounce. If you know how much beer you drink in a given period of time, you might be able to calculate how much a kegerator will save you over time.
Q. How do I know what pressure is right for each beer?
A. If you get your beer from a local brewery, they will likely tell you the correct psi. In general, most ales and American hoppy ales require 8 to 15 psi; lagers require 10 to 14 psi; and stouts require 35 to 38 psi. Temperature also plays a role in properly adjusting pressure.
