Getting Ready for the Big Game

More aptly titled: How to convince your wife to let you buy a keg.

This all started with my planning for the Super Bowl Party that we’re going to be having in a few weeks. Considering the number of people coming (I’ve ordered CASES of wing sauce) and the fact that they are all college aged – I decided that I wanted to get a keg for the party – save some $ and do my part for the environment 🙂 . Beyond my dads 3rd marriage and a few times in college, I had never had any keg experience, so naturally I went online to see if it even made any sense for me to do.

Eventually I stumbled upon Micro Matic – a great source of all things draft beer related. On the site, they sell Kegerators and Kegerator Kits – something I had only heard of but never scene. My DYI side was intrigued so I began considering building my own kegerator. Ordering the kit wouldn’t be a problem – it was finding a fridge to fit 1/4 or 1/2 kegs that would be an issue. I looked on Craigslist and couldn’t find anything the right size, but then I remebered that Home Depot had been having a sale on chest freezers – and those could be used as long as they had the right temperature controls.

So off to Home Depot I went and in the clearance section I found the chest freezer that I remembered seeing. At $169, the chest freezer would put the total cost of my kegerator project over $300 – depending on which package I went with. Then, I noticed another freezer next to the one I was looking at – and after a few minutes, it dawned on me what it was – there standing next to the standard white freezer I was thinking about buying was a kegerator!

At $250, it was definitely cheaper then building my own (said the calculator in my head) and I quickly went to the register and paid. The Danby Kegerator was clearanced down as it was the floor model (read: scratch & dent) and at more then 50% off, I was convinced I had a bargain.

Now – I had run none of this by the Ex, so on the 3 minute drive home, I had to do some quick thinking and figure out how to break the news to her and still be on her good side. So I went with the “it’s a real money saver” (read: in 8-10 kegs, it will actually pay for itself) schpeel and she bought it. It also helped that she knew I was having a crappy week (leaving one job to take another and job one isn’t playing nice) – and that most of the people that we’re having over for the Super Bowl are her friends and they would love it.

This thing came as is – and while it does have some scratches and dents, I was happy to see that all the parts were there and in perfect condition. So I set to putting it together and then we ran out to buy a keg. Fortunately for us, here in the Houston area there’s a giant liqour store chain that sells kegs and one happens to be just down the street from us. Here’s a list of all the kegs they sell – though the location near us doesn’t have everything (but they deliver!)

I went with a 1/2 keg of Miller Lite to start, I didn’t want to waste a good micro brew while I figured out how to work the thing. Set up was a snap – requires only a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. I was worried about getting the Co2 canister filled, but lucked out in finding a welding supply company that filled it for $10.

The first few pours were all foam, which was corrected after getting the Co2 PSI right. I was pretty lit by 1pm due to the drinking of all the test pours (no beer was wasted) and once I finally got the head to less then 2 inches, I was happy. I did some more research online and found that due to Miller Lites massive foamy quality a longer beer line is needed, which I ordered online for $5. By the time the Super Bowl gets here, I’ll have all the kinks worked out and we’ll be getting a perfect pour every time!

Cheers!