Outdoor Patio Bar

[JamesMD]

So, I am building a large patio bar apx 10' x 3" [outside dimentions] with cinderblock [CMU] walls and stone vineer [how people build in grills]-

What is the best option of installing Beer Refridgeration / storage? for both multiple Kegs and possibly mixed use - Cans / bottles / food even?

thoughts are:
#1 - buy a True or Turbo Air Double Commercial Kegerator [59" long] - fit the top of the Kegerator under the Slab top of the outdoor bar and extend the beer towers up to the slab top.. concerns / negatives are: 59" wood doors [huge] that would need to be made for the bar [so you can access and yank out the unit if needed - depth of the counter [to be able to enclose the entier kegerator + Wall thickness, etc]

#2 - buy a Danby portable [2 duct] AC unit like: DPAC120068 12K BTU and vent it out the side via the in / out duct 4" - put a store it cold / cool bot ctrl on it - and insulate the inside of the CMU with Foam Decking - and a wood door with insulation and latch?

Thoughts - is this a crazy idea? I guess I wonder why more people are not designing outdoor beer garden keg applications - In TX we have HUGE Grill kitchens - but, no one [that I know of] has a 3 keg storage set up.... like a mini walk in....

Thanks,.

[Scott Zuhse]

Folks are designing outdoor draught systems for patios. Since this is an outdoor application, there is a hesitation to place the refrigeration components outside. Preferably, they designed the system using commercial remote glycol system components and then place a back bar unit in a protected area such as a garage. This back bar unit serves as your keg storage and then the beer is remoted via a refrigerated trunk line to the dispensing tower mounted wherever you desire.

Most certainly this design hinges on one huge word - budget!