Home Brewers - Have you used the mini-kegs before?

[icantbejon]

So I'm looking into getting some of those 5 liter mini kegs as opposed to bottling. I just hate bottling. I don't have the room/supplies/money to set up a full scale kegerator/keggin operation, so these mini-kegs seem like a good alternative to me. Has anyone tried them before? Do they maintain the beer quality over long periods? What is the downfall...as I assume they have them?

[BeerAdvocate]

Are you talking about the Heineken mini kegs?
They do make smaller 3gal homebrew kegs, but for the price you might as well just use the 5 gallon soda kegs.
I built myself a little kegerator that holds 2 five gallon soda kegs.
I used craiglist for the fridge and I have less than $200 in the whole setup!

[ODLS1]

I don't know much about it, other than that Midwest has equipment for the 5L kegs.

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/kegging/kegging-systems/mini-draft-systems.html

[icantbejon]

Are you talking about the Heineken mini kegs?
They do make smaller 3gal homebrew kegs, but for the price you might as well just use the 5 gallon soda kegs.
I built myself a little kegerator that holds 2 five gallon soda kegs.
I used craiglist for the fridge and I have less than $200 in the whole setup!

What size fridge did you use? Did you have any trouble converting that? I have thought about going that route, but when I read about DIY kegerators, I read that if you hit one of the cooling lines, the whole thing is ruined. That didn't appeal to me.

[BeerAdvocate]

Here is a great guide with an easy way to miss the coolant lines. This is the same model I used. Found it on Craigslist for $50

http://brother-buford.livejournal.com/18157.html

[kaisersozei]

I've used a system like this before:

http://beerloons.wordpress.com/2009/10/20/how-to-use-a-mini-keg-system/

Was never really pleased with the CO2 cartridges and over time, the metal kegs got all banged up and unusable. I think I still have the tap handle somewhere, you're welcome to it if you go this route. It *did* save considerably on bottling time.

Can't wait to do my chest freezer conversion!

[J0eybb]

We use 5 gallon ball locks kegs. The fit in the fridge nice.

[icantbejon]

Can't wait to do my chest freezer conversion!

I've been slowly trying to convince Jen that I need to do this. She has already given the green light to "keep an eye on Craigslist" for a fridge or chest freezer. I have a mini fridge and a chest freezer at the house already...so I just can't see buying another one. I gotta convince her to let me convert one of them.