Your Essential Guide

The bar fridge

Maybe a kegerator is for you, maybe it’s not – it can depend on how keen you are to drink the same beer for a week or more (depending on the size of the keg and how many/few friends you have!). Having a beer/wine fridge is not really an option, it’s a necessity for any garage bar. If you think a beer fridge is merely a mini-fridge, think again—there are fridges that lock (great to keep the kids out) and fridges that chill to specific temperatures that can adjust to match the beer inside. There are large ones, small ones, tall ones, glass-door ones, doubles, triples and pretty much any color or design you can imagine.

Here are a few things to consider…

Size

It all depends on what you’re looking for and what space you have to work with. One rule of thumb when considering size is to think of what beers you like. If you prefer cans, opt for a shelving situation designed for storing your beers. Keep in mind that some craft beers, hard seltzers and mixers come in different sized cans/bottles, so it’s helpful if the layout inside the fridge is adjustable. If you’re a wine drinker, make sure the fridge comes with removable shelves, or has a separate section for wine bottles.

Look

Having a glass door on the fridge is great to show people what you have in your bar. It usually ups the price a little, but will give your space more of a bar feel.

Reversible Doors

Details matter, so make sure a single-door beverage cooler has a reversible door to install the handle on either the left or right side. This will allow you to save space and make sure your unit functions exactly as it should within your space.

Noise

You will want a fridge that won’t disrupt your conversations or interfere with the game on the TV. The more industrial, larger fridges make more noise, and are probably unnecessary unless you have a huge space.

Temperature

When it comes to proper storage and taste preservation, temperature plays a key role in protecting your collection. Think about what you drink most – the recommended serving temperature for stouts is 50 to 55 degrees, pale ales at 45 to 55 degrees, and lagers at between 40 to 45 – so it does matter. Some beverage fridges come with dual temperature zones to make it even easier to properly house your entire line of beverages – a good choice to keep your regulars happy.

With that in mind, here are a couple of good choices…

Bar Fridge Recommendations

New Air 126-Can Stainless Steel Freestanding Beverage Center

Keep It Simple

New Air 126-Can Stainless Steel Freestanding Beverage Center

A basic, glass door fridge that’s perfect as a starting point for a garage bar.

N'FINITY PRO HDX

Money No Option

N'FINITY PRO HDX

Stores up to 35 standard Bordeaux wine bottles and 90 cans of beer or soda, has digital touch screen and includes 7 pull out shelves in the left zone and 4 fixed beverage shelves in the right zone.

Frigidaire Retro Bar Fridge Refrigerator with Side Bottle Opener, 3.2 cu. ft, Red

Cheap & Retro

Frigidaire Retro Bar Fridge

Retro Bar Fridge Refrigerator with Side Bottle Opener. A great looker that comes in a variety of colors – pretty cheap too.

Procool Refrigeration 3-door Glass Front Stainless Steel Back Bar Cooler

The Full Monty

Procool Refrigeration 3-door Glass Front Stainless Steel Back Bar Cooler

3 Door back bar beer beverage cooler with internal fan-assisted cooling system - commercial grade LG compressor and separate cooling fan.

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