- Two faucets, built for ball lock corny kegs; fits up to three 5-gallon kegs or a 6-gallon fermenter, per the listing.
- Digital control in 1-degree steps, 32–75°F per the listing; fan-forced cooling.
- Electrical: 115V/60 Hz, 1.7 running amps; 25 × 24 × 33.25 in.; 3 in. clearance all round; indoor use, per Kegco's kit listing.
- Not for commercial kegs out of the box: you'd need a D-system coupler.
- Regulator and CO2 tank inclusion differs by listing; tanks ship empty.
This Kegco kegerator review covers the HBK309S-2, Kegco's two-tap stainless homebrew kegerator. Kegging replaces bottling day with filling one keg, and a kegerator keeps that keg cold and on tap. A dedicated unit like this saves you from converting a chest freezer or drilling a fridge door.
We read Kegco's product pages, the listings for the HBK309S-2 and its keg kit (HBK309S-2K) and published brewing sources. We did not install or run one. For more kegging gear, see the kegging and draft hub and the switching to kegs page.
Who it’s for, and who should skip it
- Are moving from bottles to corny kegs and want a ready-made two-tap unit
- Want to ferment in the same cabinet between serving batches
- Have an indoor spot with 3 inches of clearance on every side
- Prefer a digital thermostat to a dial
- Mainly buy commercial Sankey kegs (look at a D-system kegerator)
- Plan to keep it in an unheated or uninsulated garage that freezes or bakes
- Need to heat a fermenter, not just cool it
- Want more than two beers on tap (Kegco's K309SS-3HB has three)
Pros and cons
- Two faucets set up for homebrew ball lock kegs
- Holds up to three 5-gallon corny kegs, per the listing
- Digital control in 1-degree steps, °F or °C
- 32–75°F range lets it double as a fermentation chamber
- Fan-forced cooling for even temperatures
- Low running current (1.7 A) on a normal 115V outlet
- Ball lock only as shipped; commercial kegs need a D-system coupler
- Cools only; it can't warm a fermenter
- Indoor appliance; not for outdoor use
- What's in the box (regulator, tank, kegs) varies by listing
- Needs about 3 in. of clearance on all sides
Specs
| Taps | 2 |
|---|---|
| Kegs | Homebrew (ball lock) kegs |
| Temp range | Digital, 1° steps; dispense or ferment |
As stated by the maker or seller; confirm on the listing before you buy.
What temperature range does the Kegco HBK309S-2 have?
The listing says the temperature can be set as low as 32°F for serving and as high as 75°F to use the cabinet as a fermentation chamber, adjustable in 1-degree steps with a °F or °C display. Our catalog entry only records "digital, 1° steps", because the base listing's spec fields leave the numbers out; the 32–75°F figure comes from the listing text and Kegco's keg kit listing. A dealer listing adds a maximum ambient temperature of 100°F.
Read the top of that range carefully. A kegerator has a compressor, not a heater. Setting 75°F just means it won't cool until the inside rises above 75°F. In a cold garage in January it can't bring a fermenter up to 66°F. For lager season or a winter garage, add a heat wrap and a controller such as the Inkbird ITC-308; see our ITC-308 review. Kegco's kit listing also says not to use it outdoors.
Specs and what's in the box
Kegco HBK309S-2 at a glance
| Item | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Faucets | 2 | Listing |
| Couplers | Ball lock (homebrew) | Listing; Kegco |
| Capacity | Up to three 5 gal corny kegs, or a 6 gal bucket or carboy | Listing |
| Temperature | 32–75°F, 1-degree steps, °F/°C | Listing |
| Cooling | Fan-forced | Listing |
| Electrical | 115V / 60 Hz, 1.7 running amps | HBK309S-2K listing |
| Size | 25 in. D × 24 in. W × 33.25 in. H | HBK309S-2K listing |
| Clearance | 3 in. on all sides | HBK309S-2K listing |
| Use | Indoors only | HBK309S-2K listing |
| Warranty | 1 year | Listing |
Source: Kegco: 24 in. wide homebrew dual tap stainless digital kegerator
What comes in the box is the most confusing part. Kegco's pages for this family list a two-faucet tower, a dual-gauge regulator and a 5 lb aluminum CO2 tank; a dealer listing marks the regulator and tank as included in one place and optional in another. The keg kit version (HBK309S-2K) says it adds one ball lock keg on its listing, while Kegco's page for the kit mentions two. In every case, tanks ship empty, so you'll need to fill or exchange one locally. Confirm the box contents on the listing before you buy.
Kegco HBK309S-2K Homebrew Kegerator with Ball Lock Keg
- Taps
- 2
- Kegs
- Includes 1 ball lock keg; fits three 5 gal ball/pin lock
- Temp range
- 32–75°F
Best for Complete homebrew draft setup
Kegco HBK309S-1 Homebrew Kegerator, 1 Tap, Stainless
- Taps
- 1
- Kegs
- Homebrew (ball lock) kegs
- Temp range
- Digital, 1° steps; Deep Chill; dispense or ferment
Best for One beer on tap
Kegco K309SS-3HB Triple Faucet Homebrew Kegerator
- Taps
- 3
- Kegs
- Homebrew (ball lock) kegs
- Temp range
- Digital, 1° steps; Deep Chill; dispense or ferment
Best for Three beers on tap
Can the Kegco take commercial kegs?
The cabinet is big enough: the keg kit listing says it fits one half barrel, a pony or slim quarter, two sixth barrels or three 5-gallon kegs. The hardware is the problem. The HBK309S-2 is set up with ball lock connections for homebrew corny kegs, and US commercial kegs use a D-system Sankey coupler. To serve a commercial keg you'd add a D-system coupler and matching line. If you mostly buy commercial kegs, a kegerator that ships with a D-system coupler is simpler.
Carbonation, CO2 and safety
Most homebrewers force carbonate in the keg at serving temperature. Around 38–40°F, about 10–11 psi gives roughly 2.4 volumes of CO2 (10.2 psi at 38°F, 11.2 psi at 40°F), a typical level for American ales. The chart below gives the regulator setting for any temperature and carbonation level, and the keg carbonation chart tool adds an altitude correction.
Keg pressure (psi, sea level) by beer temperature and target CO2 volumes
| Beer temp | 1.8 vol | 2.0 vol | 2.2 vol | 2.4 vol | 2.6 vol | 2.8 vol | 3.0 vol | 3.2 vol |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F 0°C | 1.6 | 3.5 | 5.4 | 7.3 | 9.2 | 11.0 | 12.9 | 14.8 |
| 34°F 1.1°C | 2.3 | 4.3 | 6.3 | 8.2 | 10.2 | 12.1 | 14.1 | 16.0 |
| 36°F 2.2°C | 3.1 | 5.1 | 7.2 | 9.2 | 11.2 | 13.3 | 15.3 | 17.3 |
| 38°F 3.3°C | 3.9 | 6.0 | 8.1 | 10.2 | 12.3 | 14.4 | 16.5 | 18.6 |
| 40°F 4.4°C | 4.7 | 6.8 | 9.0 | 11.2 | 13.4 | 15.5 | 17.7 | 19.8 |
| 42°F 5.6°C | 5.5 | 7.7 | 10.0 | 12.2 | 14.4 | 16.7 | 18.9 | 21.1 |
| 44°F 6.7°C | 6.3 | 8.6 | 10.9 | 13.2 | 15.5 | 17.8 | 20.1 | 22.4 |
| 46°F 7.8°C | 7.1 | 9.5 | 11.8 | 14.2 | 16.6 | 19.0 | 21.3 | 23.7 |
| 48°F 8.9°C | 7.9 | 10.4 | 12.8 | 15.3 | 17.7 | 20.1 | 22.6 | 25.0 |
| 50°F 10°C | 8.7 | 11.3 | 13.8 | 16.3 | 18.8 | 21.3 | 23.8 | 26.3 |
| 52°F 11.1°C | 9.6 | 12.2 | 14.8 | 17.3 | 19.9 | 22.5 | 25.1 | 27.6 |
| 54°F 12.2°C | 10.4 | 13.1 | 15.7 | 18.4 | 21.1 | 23.7 | 26.3 | 29.0 |
| 56°F 13.3°C | 11.3 | 14.0 | 16.7 | 19.5 | 22.2 | 24.9 | 27.6 | 30.3 |
Formula: PSI = −16.6999 − 0.0101059·T + 0.00116512·T² + 0.173354·T·V + 4.24267·V − 0.0684226·V². Checked against the BYO grid (40°F and 2.4 vol: 11.19 psi by formula, 11.2 psi on the chart). Regulator gauges read relative to local air pressure. BYO notes that Denver needs about 3 psi over the sea-level chart; add roughly 0.5 psi per 1,000 ft. Sources: BYO: Carbonation priming chart; Brewer's Friend: Force carbonation chart; Brewers Association: Draught Beer Quality Manual.
CO2 is an asphyxiation hazard in a closed room. Keep the cylinder upright and secured, always run it through a regulator, keep it away from heat, and ventilate or leave the room if you hear or smell a leak. Never set a regulator above the rating of the kegs or fermenters it feeds.
Using it as a fermentation chamber
The listing says the cabinet holds a 6-gallon bucket or carboy. Between serving batches you can set it to your yeast's range and ferment inside it. Measure the beer, not the air: active fermentation runs warmer than the cabinet. A PET pressure fermenter such as the FermZilla can even ferment and serve from the same vessel; see our FermZilla review. The equipment checklist lists the kegs, lines and cleaning gear a first draft setup needs.
Homebrew on draft is easy to over-pour. Many homebrews are stronger than commercial beer, so know the ABV and the standard drinks in each glass. Brewing and drinking are for adults 21 and over.
Alternatives worth a look
EdgeStar KC3000TWIN Full Size Dual Tap Kegerator
- Taps
- 2
- Kegs
- Half-barrel, slim quarter, corny and sixth-barrel
- Temp range
- Adjustable, digital, Deep Chill
Best for Larger dual-tap setup
Two taps, mixed kegs: EdgeStar's dual-tap kegerator lists a digital display and Deep Chill mode and fits half-barrel, slim quarter, corny and sixth-barrel kegs, with a 32–50°F range.
EdgeStar KC2000SS Full Size Kegerator, Stainless
- Taps
- 1
- Kegs
- 1/2 barrel, pony, or two 1/6 or corny kegs
- Temp range
- Low 30s to mid 40s °F
Best for Commercial or corny kegs
Single tap: EdgeStar's full-size kegerator holds a half barrel or two sixth-barrel or corny kegs, with a 5 lb CO2 cylinder shipped empty; listed range low 30s to mid 40s °F.
VEVOR Dual Tap Kegerator, Full Size, D System
- Taps
- 2
- Kegs
- 1/6, 1/4, 1/2 barrels
- Couplers
- D system
Best for Commercial kegs at home
For commercial kegs: VEVOR's dual-tap kegerator ships with D-system couplers, an external CO2 bracket and a 32–75.2°F range.
We read the maker’s specs, the manual and the current listing, and checked them against published brewing sources (Palmer, BJCP, AHA, BYO) and safety guidance where it applies. We did not brew with, install or lab-test this product. We never show scores, star ratings or prices.