Mini keg vs kegerator: which one do you actually need?

People searching for a mini kegerator are often after one of two very different things: a fridge-style kegerator that lives at home, or a portable mini keg that pours cold drinks anywhere. Here's how they compare so you can pick the right one.

A kegerator is a fridge with a tap. It plugs into power, keeps a keg cold indefinitely, and usually uses beer lines and a regulator. Great for a permanent home bar, but it's bulky, needs a power point and stays in one place.

A portable mini keg, like the Tipzey Mini Keg, is an insulated stainless steel keg with a built-in tap. You fill it with pre-chilled drinks, add a small CO2 cartridge and pour. No power needed. The Tipzey holds 2 litres and keeps pre-chilled drinks cold for up to 12 hours.

Power: a kegerator needs electricity; a mini keg doesn't.

Portability: a kegerator stays put; a mini keg goes to the beach, the park, a boat or a mate's place.

What it pours: kegerators are usually set up for beer; a mini keg pours beer, cider, seltzer, batch cocktails or cold brew.

Cleaning: kegerators need regular beer line cleaning; a mini keg is just the body and tap.

Cold time: a kegerator keeps things cold as long as it's plugged in; the Tipzey keeps pre-chilled drinks cold for up to 12 hours.

If you want a permanent tap at home and have the space and power point, a kegerator makes sense. If you want cold drinks on tap wherever the party is — and something you can pour cocktails from as easily as beer — a portable mini keg is the better fit.

The Tipzey Mini Keg is $249.99 AUD (down from $299.99), comes with a 16g CO2 canister, and is backed by a lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects and a 30-day money-back guarantee.