DIY keezer: turn a chest freezer into a beer tap

A keezer (freezer + keg) is a popular way to get draft beer at home: a chest freezer, a wooden collar to mount faucets, and a temperature controller holding 2–4°C instead of freezing. A 200–300 litre freezer usually fits three or four 19L corny kegs.

Shopping list

• A single-compartment chest freezer — measure the inside first to count how many kegs fit.
• An external temperature controller (a common one is the Inkbird ITC-308) that switches the freezer on and off from a probe.
• A 10–15 cm wooden collar between the body and lid, sealed with foam gasket.
• Faucets (flow-control helps with foam) and a shank for each tap.
• A CO2 cylinder with regulator, plus a gas manifold for several kegs.
• 19L corny kegs, ball-lock disconnects (gas and liquid), beer line and 9.5 mm push fittings.

Build order

1. Run the freezer on the controller for 24 hours at 3°C and check it holds steady.
2. Build the collar, seal it against moisture, drill shank holes 7–8 cm apart.
3. Run gas lines from the regulator to each keg, clamp them and leak-test with soapy water.
4. Connect beer lines from the ball-lock posts to the faucets; longer lines pour with less foam.
5. Carbonate the kegs at 10–12 psi for a few days before pouring.

Safety: CO2 is heavier than air. If the cylinder sits inside the freezer or a closed room, leak-check regularly and ventilate; always keep it upright and secured.

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