ARB Fridge & Draft Beer Off The Grid?

[rino]

Being overlanding outdoorsman but also craft beer junkies got us thinking, how can we enjoy and share a draft brew at the campsite? A kegerator would be great, but space and mobile durability are major roadblocks... Then we started think of jockey boxes, great because you can keep kegs around 65-80* and chill it while serving it. But where would you get ice off the beaten path or on day 2 or 3?

All of this brought us back to thinking of our fridge freezers. We run them already in all of our rigs and they keep our food and beverages cold while being extremely efficient. So what if we could combine the ice-less efficiency of the fridge freezer with the concept of a jockey box? To the drawing board!!! :ylsmoke:

We ordered up all stainless steel components from micro matic.

The other needed component was a "box" that could house the coil and needed glycol to cool incoming beer. We found a RCI fuel cell that met our measurements perfectly!

Now to fit the 120' stainless coil in the brew cell (fuel cell) the bottom needed to be removed. Once the coil was fitted and lines ran through -8an bungs, it was time to stich it back together!

 

[rino]

With the brew cell back in one piece, the -8an caps had to be modified to act as furreals and allow the ss line to pass through the opening and the fitting to seal the connection to the cell. The idea behind this is that the beer touches nothing but stainless steel the entire was through the system.

After testing for leaks, it was time to fit the cell in the fridge. Like a glove!

Lines bent and connected, not easy to in coil and then bend the ss lines neatly but it will do!

Finding a CO2 tank to fit inside the dairy compartment of the ARB 82qt was no easy task. It was finally narrowed down to a 24oz paintball tank that fit the requirements. A Drake off road fire extinguisher mount was used along with well nuts and stainless hardware to secure the tank mount and regulator. The regulator was taken apart and put back together and together to find the right combination to fit snugly in the fridge.

 

[rino]

Test fit in the JKU :beer:

 

[1leglance]

Wow, I don't drink beer, but if I did that would be the most nifty way to to do so...
I am impressed by anyone who would dedicate a new fridge for beer, plus the stainless work, plus the paintball CO2, and planning, and welding and it just goes on and on...
Very cool and I really hope it works well after all that effort.
Enjoy!

 

[Hound]

Hats off to you.

 

[plh]

Layout & Workmanship! Fabulous!

 

[Maxcustody]

Awesome job Rin! I have seen this amazing setup and it is outstanding!!!

 

[CaliMobber]

dang so clean, nice job.

 

[Lucky j]

Lol!

I though drawf beer was supposed to settle for few hours before serving!

Remind me a post, necessary or unnecessary?

But still, very cool!

 

[LPIII]

Rin has crazy skills and passion, a deadly combination. I had a cold brew from his wizardry contraption and it was great.

 

[Richietherocket]

Love the engineering but isnt it easier to buy a 128oz SS growler and refill it every time you come in for food/gas?

 

[DaveNay]

Love the engineering but isnt it easier to buy a 128oz SS growler and refill it every time you come in for food/gas?

Or learn to drink room temperature stout!

 

[chrishaynesusa]

Beautiful setup!
I would have left the Co2 tank outside the refrigerator.
no reason the pressurized gas needs to be cold.
space saved could have chilled shots to go with the beer.

Kudos,

 

[rino]

Thanks for the kind words :beer: Since finishing it we have run about 4 kegs through it and I finally have a decent CO2 pressure chart for various brews. Don't get me wrong, buying canned beer or filling growlers is much easier ( I do it often) but that is not what pushed us to try building this. We wanted a fun project that everyone could enjoy as much as ourselves and a great way to share a favorite brew with folks or a lot of folks!

 

[MANUCHAO]

^^^ Like BOSS !!!!:bowdown::bowdown::clapsmile
Hats off to you eh !!!