Beer drinks are demanding, in terms of content, drinks. Staying in direct sunlight for several minutes or heating its contents spoils the taste of the product, which cannot be restored even after cooling. Therefore, the conditions of this drink should be thought out in advance. The best solution to this problem is a refrigerator for beer, which can be used both at home and outdoors. Most models of such equipment are small in size and have convenient operating parameter management systems.
Beer Refrigerator General Information
In essence, this is a conventional refrigeration unit with a chamber to house the product being served. The most common design in shape resembles a large microwave, but, of course, has the opposite functional support. When choosing a particular cooling system, it is important to consider how much draft beer is stored in the refrigerator, without losing its taste. The longest shelf life reaches 3-4 months. The specific time period depends on the features of the model. Especially for draft beer, for example, the so-called kegerators are used. This equipment not only supports the optimal temperature regime of the drink, but also has special devices for bottling.
Key Features
It’s worth starting with the dimensions of refrigerators. The segment is quite extensive, so you can find mini-devices and massive cabinets in it, which are suitable only for home use. A standard cooling unit can have parameters of 45x45x50 cm. The weight of such a device on average varies from 20 to 25 kg. Refrigeration cabinets have approximately the same parameters in depth and width, but in height reach 1.5-2 m. Obviously, the dimensions of the equipment also determine the number of bottles that a refrigerator for beer will intervene in a particular design. Portable models can have special cells for placing cans or bottles - the amount reaches an average of 15-20 units. If without a cellular structure, then the calculation is carried out in liters - the average modification accommodates about 40-50 liters.
Separately, it is worth considering individual devices and cylindrical ice refrigerators for temporary storage. If you need a refrigerator for home-made beer for one person, it makes sense to purchase a device in the form of a cup holder. Such models are designed to cool one mug or can. As for the cylindrical models, they are more often used for parties and feasts.
Draft beer kegerators
This method of cooling and storing beer can be called professional, but the advantages of kegerators were highly appreciated by ordinary beer lovers who use them at home. A feature of the content of drinks in this case is the use of kegs, which allow you to provide a temperature in the range of 0-6 ° C. At the same time, the owner can count on maintaining the taste of the product, and on the possibility of containing unfiltered drinks without preservatives. These advantages are achieved due to the special filling, which has a refrigerator for draft beer in the form of a kegerator. His work is based on the principle of interaction between the compressor, heat exchanger and fan. The functional coolant is freon refrigerant.
Beer cooler bags
The usual design of the refrigerator, even from the category of portable models, is not always possible to take with you on a trip. In addition to the beer itself, the equipment will give a noticeable load, so such models can only be transported using a car. You can lighten the load with the help of a refrigerator-bag. Its standard dimensions are 35x30x40 cm. The average weight is 5-7 kg, which is several times less than the weight of a traditional portable analogue. The cooler bag for beer can have different configurations of the distribution of space for the contents of cans and bottles. Usually special compartments are provided for short-term and long-term storage. The weak point of such devices is low productivity, so you should not rely on the long-term maintenance of the optimum temperature regime in them.
Homemade beer fridge
Usually, home-made cooling devices are made in order to maintain a certain temperature in conditions of removal from home - for example, when traveling to nature. Also for beer, this is the best option to maintain the necessary storage parameters. The creation of such a design requires the use of a metal frame with suitable sizes, polystyrene foam, adhesive tape and cold accumulators. These elements are arranged in one system, which will be a container that maintains a negative temperature. It is advisable to make a refrigerator for beer with your own hands using alkaline cellulose, since it has a high heat capacity. In the food industry, this substance is known as carboxymethyl. It is placed at the base of the structure and securely closed with insulators. Next, foamplex is fixed with adhesive tape and covered with a wear-resistant sheath of the same insulating materials.
Conclusion
A feature of beer refrigerators is their limited nature in terms of temperature range. For this reason, they cannot be called universal cooling equipment. Nevertheless, in organizing a picnic, fishing trips and trips to the cottage, a beer fridge can also be used for perishable products. Even inexpensive and small-sized models are able to maintain a temperature regime acceptable for most products during the day. More productive chillers like the aforementioned kegerators are capable of preserving the consumer qualities of drinks for months at all.