Saving by Kegerator: Can you really save more by buying one?
What would be more practical, homebrewing or buying pre-made beers? It would be simple to answer this. It is not exactly a hard question.
Just think of this: A pre-made porter may cost $8.99 per six-pack from the liquor store. Seven of those would cost $62.93. Next, imagine this: To brew the equivalent of seven six-packs of porter, the entire cost of the ingredients for one batch would be $35. That is almost half of the cost of the pre-made beer!
So, of course, if the brewer is really a regular drinker, homebrewing would be the more practical way to acquire one’s favorite beer on a regular basis. Of course, too, that’s excluding the costs of the equipment since they’re not bought every time someone homebrews, anyway. Another advantage is he/she can have more control over the taste of the brew based on preference.
Now, the reason why that was discussed is to be able to answer another question: How much can you save by buying a Kegerator?
See also: Growing Your Own Beer Hops for the Perfect Homebrew
Save more with a Kegerator
Let’s put it out there already. Buying a kegerator to store brewed beer can be much more practical than buying bottled or canned beers and stuffing them in the refrigerator. While it will cost a certain amount of money at first upon purchase, it will be less costly and more beneficial in the long run.
If an interested buyer is more into numbers, know that having a kegerator to hold draft beer in can help save 40% to 60% in costs. Buy the same volume of beer in cans or bottles and he/she’ll be paying 40% to 60% more in costs. So getting a kegerator for home use can be such a sweet deal.
At the start, one will flesh out money to purchase a unit. By the first batch of beers, the benefits, cost-wise, may not be felt easily. By around the 10th keg or the next keg after, however, that’s when there’s going to be a break-even. The money spent buying the kegerator would be gained back, in a manner of speaking. The cost would be offset by then. It’s really basic economics.
To simplify, this chart should help explain by giving a few examples and comparisons:
A Comparative Table: Craft Beer Keg vs Regular Beer Cases
| Beer Brands | Ave. Cost of Half-Barrel Keg (15.5 gallons) | Ave. Cost of a Regular Case of Beer | Savings Per Keg ($USD) | No. of Kegs Needed to Break-even |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budweiser | $103.75 | $23.50 | $57.93 | 8.61 |
| Miller Lite | $103.75 | $22 | $47.61 | 10.7 |
| Coors Light | $94.75 | $20 | $42.8 | 11.64 |
Therefore, for example, a half-barrel of Coors Lite costs $94.75. A case of a regular Coors Lite (24 bottles) costs $20. The number of cases needed by volume to equal the keg is approximately 6.88.
To compute:
$20.00
x 6.88
——————-
$137.60
– 94.75
——————-
$ 42.85 Savings Per Keg
Now, it is important to note that a half-barrel of brew is already equal to 165 cans of beer. That alone is worth taking into consideration.
See also: Growing Your Own Beer Hops for the Perfect Homebrew
There are various benefits to buying kegerators. But none concerns clients more than the cost of buying one. The calculations above should explain how exactly beneficial kegerators can be. More importantly, it explains why buying a kegerator unit (and homebrewing) would be much better than buying bottled/canned branded beers from liquor stores every time.
Fortunately, kegerator suppliers like Keg Fridge can better explain those benefits. Why not visit their site, KegFridge.com? They can surely help anyone in deciding whether or not to get a kegerator especially for storing delicious homebrew.
Make sure to ask any possible concerns. We know you’ll make the right choice. Enjoy your beer!