Mini Kegerator Refrigerator & Draft Beer Dispenser - EdgeStar Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The Background:
I first thought of the BeerTender from Heineken as the 5L kegs are simple, easy to use and a big hit at parties and keeping the beer cool and out of the fridge is a challenge. While in a specialty shop I saw several other foreign brands of beer also in 5L kegs, but to my surprise, their tap was at the bottom like a Gatorade cooler. I then learned that the Heineken Draft kegs have an internal pressure system and that the Beertender would only work with that particular type of keg.
The Search:
At first it didn't really matter that much to me because I love Heineken and Heineken Light. After seeing the variety of beers available in the 5L minikegs, I decided to start shopping for a kegerator that would work with more than just the Draftkeg line. A low price was important, but so was functionality and reliablility. While searching, I found several other options with most looking similar and having the same features. You can go crazy and get one of the $300+ models out there, but I'd only recommend doing that if you have that kind of cash-flow to spend on a counter-top beer dispenser.
The Product:
The EdgeStar Mini Kegerator jumped out at me first because of its low price, and second, because it's identical to the more expensive Avanti MBD5L Mini Kegerator. (Note: Although the Edgestar doesn't display a drip tray like the Avanti, one is included.) For about $50, you can purchase a CO2 kit to tap and use non-pressurized 5L kegs from any other brewer (I've even seen it suggested that home-made beer can be placed in such a keg.) The kit comes with three 16-Gram CO2 cartridges (the small silver ones that you can pick up at Walmart) which are enough to dispense 3 or more 5L kegs. If you don't feel like replacing the cartridge every time you change the keg out, the space provided for the CO2 canister is large enough to accommodate a larger (340-Gram) CO2 Cylinder which is enough to dispense up to 20 5L kegs! The EdgeStar comes with a direction booklet, a cleaner bottle to wash out the system, an AC cable and DC cable, and an adapter for the Heineken Draft kegs.
The Perks:
- Having draft beer right in your own home!
- Looks great and comes in silver or black
- Better than the BeerTender for the following reasons:
o Costs less even with the CO2 kit
o CO2 kit allows you to use any 5L keg
o Has a controllable temp fan (38-54 degrees Fahrenheit) for a variety of beer types
o Comes with a DC adapter for tailgate parties and RV use!
The Bad:
- Can be tricky for people who don't normally pour from a tap
- Pours a lot of head if not setup properly (I suggest coiling the tube and getting it as horizontal as possible to mitigate this.)
- Tap is plastic, not stainless steel
Five stars because even with the few shortfalls, it blows the BeerTender away!


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The EdgeStar 5-Liter Mini Kegerator (model: TBC50S) is an advanced beer dispensing system that uses DraughtKegTM carbonator pressure technology to deliver a pub-quality pour of beer everytime. In addition to being the perfect complement to the Heineken DraughtKeg, the TBC50S mini kegerator can easily be modified to tap and serve any (non-Heineken) standard size 5-liter keg using the optional CO2 accessory kit.The TBC50S mini kegerator features electronic temperature controls that preserve the mini keg at your preferred temperature for drinking. And the compact size, lightweight construction and included AC & DC power adapters enable the EdgeStar TBC50S to readily go from the home countertop to a tailgate party or RV application-perfect for the active beer connoisseur.Key Features Include:# Quietly and efficiently maintains optimum mini keg temperature# Metallic silver cabinet with window for displaying favorite brand of mini keg# Interior blue LED lighting with on/off switch showcases mini keg without raising beer temperature# Chrome faucet and design accents# AC / DC compatible with both adapters included# Easy upgrade kit available to fit any brand of mini kegs

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