Mini Kegerator Refrigerator & Draft Beer Dispenser - EdgeStar

by EdgeStar

Product Features

• AC and DC compatible with DC adaptor cord included for easy portability
• Temperature Range: 38-54 degrees Fahrenheit
• Accepts Heineken 5 liter Draughtkegs
• Capacity: 1 standard 5L mini keg
• Dimensions: 15inches h x 15inches w x 13inches d

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 13 x 15 x 15 inches ; 29 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 29 pounds
• ASIN: B001LTJSU2
• Item model number: TBC50S
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,578 in Appliances (See Top 100 in Appliances)

Product Description

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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

103 of 104 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Alternative to the BeerTender from Krups/Heineken, February 18, 2009

By 

Richard Pelrine ".:Rick" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mini Kegerator Refrigerator & Draft Beer Dispenser - EdgeStar

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!

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning little 5L kegerator, June 24, 2009

By 

Vynny "Vynrod" (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mini Kegerator Refrigerator & Draft Beer Dispenser - EdgeStar

As I'm sure with many people looking for a 5 liter keg unit I was torn between the various ones out there and the Krupps BeerTender. I chose the Edgestar due to the low price, looks and the additional ability to utilise a CO2 cannister, which the BeerTender cannot. As far as I know the Heineken 5L keg is the only keg to come with its own CO2 built-in and only such kegs are usable with the Krupps model. Therefore, whilst I'm a Heineken fan, the BeerTender completely limits your choice of drinkto Heineken or Heineken Light.

So I bought the Edgestar, sight unseen - and I'm very glad I did. It's a light-weight unit comprising mostly of chrome plastic and a few actual chrome parts, and overall looks great and feel sturdy. The drip tray (not shown in the picture but supplied) is well thought out and easy to remove when full. The door is opened by a small button on top and swings outward. You only have to open it a short amount to place a keg in it, offering a small footprint for the unit. The keg is cooled by a plate and you have a blue backlit display indicating current temperature which is adjustable using the chrome buttons. There is also a small blue led inside the cabinet which is nice although not bright - it can be toggled on and off using the lower button on the front of the display.

The tap is solid. I was completely surprised by how firm it is and it works a treat. The small black beer tap is removable and so you could replace it with one of your own if you had the right sized thread.

The unit is supplied with an AC and a DC lead so you could power it from a car/RV/boat. It also comes by default with a Heineken keg connector which was supremely easy to attach.

A final sweetner is the ability to clean the lines, which the BeerTender amazingly does not have (you have to buy a new line for each and every keg you use with the Krupps). The Edgestar comes with a small plastic bottle which I filled with 2 parts water and 1 vinegar and it clips onto the line and you simply squeeze it as you open the tap. Took 20 seconds.

Now I haven't purchased the optional CO2 kit yet, choosing initially to use up my Heineken kegs, but I have no fear that the kit will work as advertised. The small black circle to the right of the tap that you see in the picture is for a CO2 gauge to fit into, and the CO2 bottle sits inside the unit so it's all tucked away neatly.

Ultimately, very happy with the unit and had my first pint last night.

Cheers!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A 2010 review after they worked out the bugs, August 7, 2010

By 

John Roberts (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mini Kegerator Refrigerator & Draft Beer Dispenser - EdgeStar

For a while now I've wanted a kegerator for the bar/theater, but I've lacked the space for a full- (or even mid-) sized one. So today, despite some iffy reviews here and there, I bought an Edgestar mini-kegerator to sit on top of the mini-fridge in my bar.

This little machine keeps a 5L beer keg chilled at 38 degrees and delivers the perfect amount of head for a pint glass...only you get used to the pour speed and nozzle strength. The unit is pretty much like the Krups BeerTender machines that support Heineken and Newcastle, but this one also supports non-pressurized mini-kegs. I have to admit that I'm not a beer expert by any means, but when I heard that Newcastle was FINALLY available in Atlanta in the 5L size, I jumped all over this.

After a short 4 hours with the unit, I'm breathing a sigh of relief (between beer pours, that is). As I mentioned above, reviews have been hit or miss. Some people complained the non-pressurized conversion kits weren't yet available. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I had no problem ordering the Edgestar-branded one two days ago, and it even arrived before the main unit itself. Some others complained Heineken was the only act in town. My local stores have all kinds of non-pressurized beers, in addition to the Heineken and Newcastle kegs, so again I'm probably just lucky to live in a fairly large city. Some folks said the unit was just cheap plastic junk. That last point will probably be true for me at some point, as the unit is just plastic and faux chrome, but at $140 I couldn't have expected too much more. Someone somewhere said that the door was constantly ajar and the cooling plate couldn't do its job. From what I've heard and now seen firsthand, this just isn't a problem. My mini-kegs set nicely on the cooling plate inside the unit and I'm able to close the door completely and securely.

My only complaints so far are 1) the internal fan or whatever parts make it go are a bit louder than I'd like, and 2) I dislodged a washer in the plastic cleaning solution bottle that came with it. The second part was just stupidity on my part when I first flushed the lines, and it's totally fixable, but the former point is indeed a minor inconvenience. It's no louder than my ice maker or mini-fridge, but it's something else whirring in the back of the theater. Oh well.

So at this point, my margarita machine quest is on the back-burner indefinitely as I work on my beer pour perfection and fish out that stupid washer in the cleaning bottle. But for anyone in my shoes who may be considering one of these units but afraid of the spotty older reviews of the unit, I'm pretty pleased so far.

Cheers.