Beer Fridge for Man Cave?

[BentBierz]

Good morning,

I am getting to the point on my 37'x41' steel building (odd sized due to big Water Oak trees on property and another steel bldg that dictated where/size of new bldg) to where all my rough-in electrical wiring is done and I am ready to put up wall coverings.

The front half of my building will be a bar on one side and a media room on the other...the backside of the building will be all shop.

For many years I knew that when I was finally able to build my forever man cave that I was going to get a True or Beverage Air, commercial glass front fridge for my beer like this one:

Only problem is that I just found out that True and Beverage Air will not warranty any commercial equipment if it is used in a residence. I cannot see spending what it costs for these things knowing that it is sold "as is."

I was curious what other people that decided to go the commercial route did...did you find manufacturers that warrantied these for residential, did you bite the bullet and buy one anyway sans warranty or did you go a completely different route?

I look forward to hearing from anyone that struggled with the same issue...and struggle it is when trying to make sure your beer is properly taken care of!

 

[ChaseDE]

Sometimes you can find these being sold at auction or CL after a restaurant or something goes belly up, I would check that out too.

Can't help with other stuff. Luckily my house came with a really nice SS Samsung fridge, already had a nice SS Bosch so the Bosch is in the garage and is the beer fridge as well as overflow.

 

[ducksface]

I would certainly check on the wattage and db level those.
Some used to be absolutely miserable on both levels, maybe still are.
They're a Craigslist away for as many as you want used. Many try them, many hate them....

We bailed on the plan to get one, even for the free it was offered at.
Loud, watt hungry, ugly, re-estimating party size and realizing at the seldom party big enough to justify one, you don't want a congregation around it, you want beverages at scattered places to promote movement of guests about the room.

If for personal use and not party use, I'm not a beer drinker so I don't know the ramifications of having a six month supply as they relate to freshness.

No private use we could find for one made any sense(and we have a 2hp five gallon Margherita machine we could justify and had a full size slushy machine... Just not a fridge that size for some beverages readily available at the store we go to once a week or more, so my suggestion is not from a random thought)

 

[BentBierz]

Sometimes you can find these being sold at auction or CL after a restaurant or something goes belly up, I would check that out too.

Can't help with other stuff. Luckily my house came with a really nice SS Samsung fridge, already had a nice SS Bosch so the Bosch is in the garage and is the beer fridge as well as overflow.

I wish we had a nice kitchen fridge that I could take out to the barn (after buying my wife another nice one of course) but we sold our last house and left a two-year old stainless steel fridge in it. We are currently using my old, old beer fridge (wife absolutely hates it) in the kitchen until we get around to remodeling it.

 

[BentBierz]

I would certainly check on the wattage and db level those.
Some used to be absolutely miserable on both levels, maybe still are.
They're a Craigslist away for as many as you want used. Many try them, many hate them....

Wattage isn't too much of an issue but many people do complain about the amount of noise and heat they throw off. I think with the size of our building and the layout it shouldn't be too much of a problem though.

 

[BentBierz]

No private use we could find for one made any sense(and we have a 2hp five gallon Margherita machine we could justify and had a full size slushy machine... Just not a fridge that size some for beverages, so my suggestion is not from a random thought)

Funny you mention a 'rita machine...I have rented one 3 times now over as many years and keep thinking I would love to have one but just can't pull the trigger on it...plus, worried about 'ritas being TOO readily available!

 

[ducksface]

We had the old sixties style slushy machine, which we kept as flavor free so you could mix your own at a mixing station.
We had the three container new slushy machine with three flavors, alcohol free, so you could add vodka or tequila or Rum as your choice, not mine. .
We still have the five gallon machine and we now mix virgins in it so you can add the liquor of choice.
We just gave the original computerized Margheritaville unit away. Worked perfectly, just too small to use without a designated bartender. Constant rinsing to switch drinks... Not for big parties at all, but fun with 8 or ten folks.

The slushy machine was a lot to clean but only took up about 2sqft of space and sparked stories of youth and Kmart.
The three flavor unit was a turd to clean.
The five gallon is a holdover from the scuba dive barge and gets seldom used now.

Look up
Garbage disposal Margherita machine.
If you can't find it, I'll send you pics of ours.
It'll cost you 300 bucks to build(we made ours as redneck looking as possible), but everyone loves that machine.

 

[BentBierz]

Look up
Garbage disposal Margherita machine.
If you can't find it, I'll send you pics of ours.
It'll cost you 300 bucks to build(we made ours as redneck looking as possible), but everyone loves that machine.

LOVE IT! Looked at a couple of websites and have now added a Garbage Disposal Machine to my to-do list!

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Good morning,

I am getting to the point on my 37'x41' steel building (odd sized due to big Water Oak trees on property and another steel bldg that dictated where/size of new bldg) to where all my rough-in electrical wiring is done and I am ready to put up wall coverings.

The front half of my building will be a bar on one side and a media room on the other...the backside of the building will be all shop.

For many years I knew that when I was finally able to build my forever man cave that I was going to get a True or Beverage Air, commercial glass front fridge for my beer like this one:

Only problem is that I just found out that True and Beverage Air will not warranty any commercial equipment if it is used in a residence. I cannot see spending what it costs for these things knowing that it is sold "as is."

I was curious what other people that decided to go the commercial route did...did you find manufacturers that warrantied these for residential, did you bite the bullet and buy one anyway sans warranty or did you go a completely different route?

I look forward to hearing from anyone that struggled with the same issue...and struggle it is when trying to make sure your beer is properly taken care of!

I have a single wide beverage air that was given to me by an individual who did the refrigeration work for a grocery chain and got it as a takeout during upgrades. I have had it about 17 years. Warranty? I have repaired it twice - myself - once a fan issue and once a sensor bulb. Look around and see if you can find one on the cheap and go for it!

 

[Texsun]

Here's a place located in Houston that sells used commercial beverage display fridges.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/used-beverage-cooler

I'd get this one!

 

[R68GTO]

I bought a one year old True beverage cooler for my garage and love it. Bought it off craigslist from a guy that deals in new/used restaurant equipment. No warranty....no issues so far....two years in.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

You guys with Man Caves...

I barely have enough room for a recycling bin, let alone a reach in box for 40 cases of beer.

 

[dw1]

You guys with Man Caves...

I barely have enough room for a recycling bin, let alone a reach in box for 40 cases of beer.

Time for a "South Wing Expansion"

 

[PhantomEB]

What's wrong with a perfectly good mini fridge? I just need to get one more shelf and mines perfect to hold 120 cans of beer with room in the door for a couple waters and bottle of Pepsi!

 

[cheechi]

if you have the room for a commercial like that, get the biggest upright freezer and the biggest standalone fridge you can. They don't have to be a pair, but it's a better use of space, watts, much quieter, and you will enjoy the options you get better.

either one can become a kegerator for at least pony kegs, more depending on what sizes you get.

they don't run constantly and even though all appliances are made disposable now, like you said putting that money into an as is fridge vs you get not only a warranty but you can pay for extended warranty should you so choose. even though a commercial compressor made for 100% duty cycle is likely going to outlast the compressor in a home unit wiht a 40% duty cycle, I say the home unit(s) are the better investment.

many of the commercial units have sliding doors. When you make finger paints you can put them on the doors of a home unit and not get them messed up.

 

[GTFiero]

Many of todays brews in the US will get skunky in time. I'm going for a mid sized fridge that holds about 4 cases and some snacks, water, for my pole barn shop. That way keeping the beer fresh as possible.

Many 18-20 cuft models available with very low operating cost. They also have solid doors to keep the sunlight off the beer bottles. Also ice makers are available with this type fridge. You can also paint it to match your rides/shop.

Cheers

 

[BentBierz]

You guys with Man Caves...

I barely have enough room for a recycling bin, let alone a reach in box for 40 cases of beer.

I'm 61 yrs. old and finally getting my first, real man cave!

 

[BentBierz]

Many of todays brews in the US will get skunky in time. I'm going for a mid sized fridge that holds about 4 cases and some snacks, water, for my pole barn shop. That way keeping the beer fresh as possible.

Many 18-20 cuft models available with very low operating cost. They also have solid doors to keep the sunlight off the beer bottles. Also ice makers are available with this type fridge. You can also paint it to match your rides/shop.

Cheers

I'm a craft beer drinker and homebrewer for over 30 years so, yes, definitely always concerned about skunk beer. The fridge will be deep enough into my barn to not get direct sunlight and I won't have any fluorescent lights on the man cave side so shouldn't have "too" many issues with amber bottles. I am also starting to find a lot more craft beer in cans so no skunk at all.

 

[BentBierz]

What's wrong with a perfectly good mini fridge? I just need to get one more shelf and mines perfect to hold 120 cans of beer with room in the door for a couple waters and bottle of Pepsi!

Absolutely nothing wrong with a mini-fridge...the world is full of choices and in this great country we are free to make the ones that work for each of us.

 

[toomany]

I run a bar/restaurant all of our reach in coolers are True. They have a typical life span of about 10 years before needing any major work, which is usually the compressor. The kitchen has 5 coolers and 4 freezers, bar has 7 coolers. Biggest problem we run into is the door gaskets getting ripped. People open the door, prop it open with their back and when it closes the gasket rubs on them and eventually tears. Doesn't affect how they operate, but I can't have any torn gaskets due to health code.

In a residential envrioment I see no reason why they wouldn't last 15-20 years easily. I thought about picking one up for my barn but instead went with a mini fridge and designed my work bench around it.

They are noiser than a home fridge, but power wise I think it'd be a wash.

As a bonus with the comercial stuff. If you find a nice case you like it's easy retrofit newer equipment jnto it. As long as the coil on the inside is good.

 

[BentBierz]

I run a bar/restaurant all of our reach in coolers are True. They have a typical life span of about 10 years before needing any major work, which is usually the compressor. The kitchen has 5 coolers and 4 freezers, bar has 7 coolers. Biggest problem we run into is the door gaskets getting ripped. People open the door, prop it open with their back and when it closes the gasket rubs on them and eventually tears. Doesn't affect how they operate, but I can't have any torn gaskets due to health code.

In a residential envrioment I see no reason why they wouldn't last 15-20 years easily. I thought about picking one up for my barn but instead went with a mini fridge and designed my work bench around it.

They are noiser than a home fridge, but power wise I think it'd be a wash.

As a bonus with the comercial stuff. If you find a nice case you like it's easy retrofit newer equipment jnto it. As long as the coil on the inside is good.

Excellent info...I owned a True kegerator that held two 1/2 bbl kegs that I bought new...still kicking myself for selling it. I had no issues with it (had it for 6 years) and also didn't get a warranty with it. Maybe I'm getting more cautious in my older years. It doesn't happen often but, as an example, I brought home a brand new Yamaha A/V receiver 6-7 years ago. It was one or two levels below their top unit. Right out of the box it would not work. Took it back to the store, picked up a new unit and had no issues up until several years ago when lightening fried it, two satellite receivers, our microwave, etc.

 

[zyx5432]

Now this thread has me looking at a fridge for my barn. Like the True coolers. Also checked this one out.

http://www.sears.com/danby-4.4-cu-ft-compact-refrigerator-appliances-refrigerators/p-SPM7900651226