The folks over at Yelp, the online business review community, have developed one heck of a gadget during the Yelp “Hackathon”: behold the Kegmate. Combining Beer and technology, the geeky engineers have hacked an iPad and combined it with a supply of beer to create the ultimate tech beer accessory.  According to GeekSugar.com, the ipad attaches to your keg, measures the amount of beer you (and others) drink, how much beer is left in the sacred keg, and keeps track of who is drinking how much (drinkers must scan an RFID chip to use the keg). It even allows users to rate the beer.

Check out the Yelp Hackathon KegMate Video

Behold! First photos of the new dual tap kegerator in development at Kegerator.com:

Above: Dr. Frankenstein (John) and the beer monster he created (John, you couldn’t find a nicer beer glass? It looks like you’re drinking out of a urine sample beaker…)

Below: Rudy fine-tuning the pressure hoses for the dual tap kegerator

Below: Shiner Blonde 1/4 barrel & Sierra Nevada sixer ready for drinkin’ (Looks like the pressure lines and beer hoses could use some rearranging though)

Below: Pair of chalkboard tap handles installed and decorated accordingly = no beer confusion

With a fully-functional prototype now completed, the folks behind the project must now focus their efforts on manufacturing and marketing the new product.

And while dual tap kegerator setups are nothing new, the target price point of this double tap kegerator is sure to turn some heads. The kegerator is expected to carry an attractive price tag — at or below $600. In comparison, the majority of dual tap kegerator setups and homebrew specials (with twin corny keg capacity) we’ve seen cost anywhere from $700 to well over $1,000.

For the project, a refrigerator box with larger internal dimensions is required to accommodate the dual slim quarter (1/4) barrel kegs and house the CO2 tanks internally. The slim quarter barrel is essentially an elongated version of the pony keg.

Here in Austin, we were pleased to find most domestic beers come in the slim quarter barrel, and even more impressed by the veritable cornucopia of craft beers and import choices available in that size from Spec’s Wines & Spirits. (You’ll notice that for the maiden voyage of the “experimental kegerator” they tapped a slim 1/4 barrel of Shiner Blonde and a 1/6 barrel of Sierra Nevada.)

This kegerator should also be quite attractive to the aforementioned homebrewers, who will have no problem socking away two cornelius kegs in the cavernous confines of the kegerator.

Stay tuned for more exclusive photos/updates and chime in with other features you’d like to see on your “dream” dual tap kegerator setup.

Just in time for Christmas, I received my EdgeStar KC2000SS kegerator from Kegerator.com.

When referring to gifts, people often say it’s the thought that counts. However, when it comes to choosing a kegerator, I’ve found that the key criteria are aesthetics, an “ease of use” factor, performance, and cost. After using the KC2000SS for more than two weeks, I’d give the model highest marks in spite of a couple things I wish were built a little differently.

The Good:

1. Ready to dispense beer in less than 30 minutes. Assembly was truly easy, thanks in large part to clear directions and ready made components. The directions sheet has large, full color photos that show every step in detail (including how to adjust the CO₂regulator). I’ve seen directions for many other kegerators—including MicroMatic—that pale in comparison with the quality of these. For construction, the only tools you’ll need to complete the assembly are a pair of needle nose pliers and a flathead screwdriver. Most components are designed to be interlocking, while some “snap” together.
2. Extremely well-packed. Honestly, I was impressed with how much styrofoam, protective plastic, and cardboard were used to protect the KC2000SS while in transit. Mine arrived without a single blemish which is surprising considering it shipped UPS.
3. The stainless and chrome accessories are beautiful and worth the extra coin. The stainless steel door looks much sharper in person than on the website and gives the kegerator a high end look. I also like the fact they’ve used a chrome tower rather than black. It looks more professional. The railing on top is a nice touch, but purely aesthetic (more on this below).
4. Casters are essential. We have wood floors in the room, and the casters make transportation effortless while protecting the flooring. I look forward to wheeling it out on the back porch this summer for some out outdoor parties
5. Perfect pours from the get-go (after a minor adjustment to the CO2 regulator). I had an issue with too much foam on the very first glass, but quickly realized it was CO2-related. I bumped the pressure up to 12 pounds, and it has been perfect ever since. I periodically check to make sure it stays between 12 and 13 pounds of CO2 pressure to keep it that way.
6. Pricetag less than $400. This was the lowest price I could find on the net or otherwise.

The Bad:

1. Box has little room to spare. The KC2000SS kegerator uses a fridge box that is built just large enough to fit a full size (half barrel) keg. I purchased a keg of Shiner Bock and had plenty of height to spare, but getting the door on the fridge shut required a little extra effort. I had to reposition it to dead center and making contact with the back wall in order to get the door to close completely. There is no way one of those oversized, Coors-style half barrel kegs will fit in this unit.
2. Would prefer the railing and tower be more securely fastened. The way these components are designed, no drilling or hardware is required. While this is great for speed and ease of assembly, I found that the tower had a little play even after attached (note: this issue does not compromise performance). And as aforementioned, the chrome top railing looks slick but it isn’t fastened down using bolts or screws. More than once I made the mistake of trying to pull the kegerator by the railing which caused it to dislodge.
3. No digital thermostat. It’s a moot point for my keg of Shiner (I like it served as cold as possible), but should I ever get a keg of good Lager or Stout, I’ll be much more interested in storing the beer at their optimal serving temperature in order to preserve all the flavors.

Overall, I’m very pleased with this kegerator. The value, easy setup, and design are the strongest attributes. This will be a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year indeed!

We recently added a new product to the site. It’s an EdgeStar 118 can beer and beverage refrigerator. I think the units we received look much nicer than the original sample we ordered and took pictures of. So I went to the local supermarket to pick up some cans of Miller Light to fill one for new pictures.

Why Miller? It’s relatively cheap, the can is blue- which I think will play well off the stainless steel trim- and it’s a popular beer around the office.

Since the unit holds 118 cans, I bought 5 suitcases of Miller (24 cans each). After I paid, I looked at the receipt and remembered one of the great things about keg beer- I paid $93.04 for 120 12oz cans of beer (11.25 gallons).

The grocery store is just down the street from NXNW (see earlier post) and I could have purchased a 15.5 gallon keg of craft beer from them for $99 plus tax.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with Miller Light (that’s my argument and I’m sticking to it), but to get more, better, draft, beer for just a little more money- that’s the way to go!

My HEB receipt