Soon to be new to kegging

[TimmyR]

Easy question:

What should I buy for a starter kit. I assume I am looking for a basic 2-keg system that will fit in the fridge or my chest freezer (I have not acquired yet.)

B3? Northern Brewer? kegkits.com?

Thanks....

[SphericalCamel]

I can't talk from experience, but one of the other forums I'm on a lot of people like http://www.brewersdiscount.com/

They charge for shipping though, so it's best if you're on the east coast. For me I was able to get kegs from morebeer cheaper cause of free shipping (and they'll be here on friday!).

I'm not really sure about where is best to get the other parts, I got my tank & reg on craigslist for free.

[mfischer2]

Easy question:

What should I buy for a starter kit. I assume I am looking for a basic 2-keg system that will fit in the fridge or my chest freezer (I have not acquired yet.)

B3? Northern Brewer? kegkits.com?

B3 of course. The sell one kit that contains everything you need to do one keg setup. Add the following:

one more keg
2 more disconnects with lines
a dual-output manifold
a 2 foot piece of tubing to go from the CO2 tank to the manifold

IMHO, you dont need the dual-pressure regulator (the one with 3 dials), just a manifold. That means that both kegs are under the same pressure, but hasnt been a big deal for me.

Be SURE to put "RAT PAD" in the order comments, they LOVE it.

[The Finn]

this might sound corny (yes pun intended), but get more kegs. two kegs sounded right to me too, when i started kegging (all of 3 months ago).
Now i have 5, and i'm looking to get a few more.
The extra kegs allows you to age your beer correctly, as opposed to just drinking it all in the first month.
also, if you want to brew a really big beer, it will take more than a week in the keg, before it's drinkable
of course SWMBO might be part of the shopping equation (was for me), so maybe a multistage purchase is the way to go.
Just so long you dont wander around, thinking that you'll never need more tanh two kegs....

[TimmyR]

Anybody know if the Magic Chef 3.6 cu ft is large enough or worth the $99.

It seems like a possibly better option than dual zone on a free chest freezer (then the chest freezer can just be used for fermening...)

http://homedepot.shoplocal.com/homedepot/default.aspx?action=entryflash&categoryId=523472&cookies=true&THD_MINICART=0&THD_MINILIST=0&THD_USERREF=%2d1002&THD_USERREGTYPE=anonymous

[jeremymm]

I think you should keep your money local and buy a system from your LHBS store if they carry them. But that is just my two cents.

[mfischer2]

NO, the 3.6 cu ft is NOT large enough. You need at least a 4.7 or 4.9 cubic foot one, and most of all one WITHOUT the freezer compartment.

Re: LHBS vs B3... I bought the starter kit from B3, and from my LHBS, I bought one keg and set of lines and disconnects and extra tubing. Since B3 supports TBN and the LHBS supports my local club, I try to split my purchases. All ingredients do come from the LHBS.

[TimmyR]

RE: LHBS, B3 and kegkits.com...I'll honestly say I agree. I will check out the LHBS in Bellville, IL. I lke to support B3 because I had no homebrew club until I found TBN. Now I am follower in the TBN Army.

I'll check out the local guy...I've been meaning to for several weeks.

Thanks!

(Hopefully I'll have my inherited chest freezer soon)