Commercial Beer Dispensers
A commercial beer dispenser provides an all-in-one solution for keeping kegs cold and dispensing fresh mugs of beer. To save space in front-of-house areas, commercial kegerators combine a refrigerator with a built-in dispensing tap, streamlining bar service. More
Units with black exteriors are usually more economical, but the finish may not be as durable as stainless steel.
Stainless steel is a popular material for commercial equipment because it is resistant to damage, but it may be more expensive.
Commercial Beer Dispensers: What You Need to Know
Because of the immense demand for draft beer – especially craft beers and microbrews – having a commercial draft beer system in your establishment can be profitable. Great for high-volume bars or restaurants, a commercial beer kegerator can dispense a half-dozen or more beers from various keg sizes.
A commercial kegerator is also great for keeping a few seasonal or small-batch beers on the menu, as these models feature dozens of configurations, including beer taps that can be moved. Choosing the right configuration for your business depends primarily on how many beers you feature on tap. If you're going to use your draft beer system to store an extra keg or even some bottled and canned drinks, there are units to accommodate those needs as well.
Common Questions About Commercial Kegerators
How does a commercial draft beer system work?
The keg is connected to your kegerator by a coupler, which is attached to an air line that uses CO2 or a gas mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide to push the product up the beer line, to the column, and out the tap.
What exterior styles are available for commercial beer kegerators?
The two most common finishes for a commercial beer dispenser are stainless steel and black laminate. Some models even offer the option of a stainless steel front with black laminate sides.
Stainless steel is simple to clean and is resistant to scratches, dents, and rust; however, black laminate is priced lower than stainless steel and may not need to be cleaned as frequently. While scratches on black laminate aren't as noticeable as on stainless steel, laminate isn't as damage resistant. In busy bar environments, collisions with other equipment are inevitable, so durability is an important consideration.
How many kegs, columns, and taps should I get?
Columns are the stainless steel poles that rise out of the cabinet's top and carry beer lines to the taps. After the beer has traveled from the keg to the column, the beer is then dispensed out of the tap. Commercial beer dispensers are available with one or two columns, with one or more taps on each column. For low- to high-volume serving, options are available from 1 to 12 taps, and some commercial beer kegerators even have built-in refrigerated storage for keeping extra kegs or cans and bottles close at hand.