We’d like to point out, once again, that we Tap Trailers love gadgets! Beer gadgets are even better. Beer gadgets allow us to reach our full human potential. The good people over at the American Homebrewers Association have posted a pretty amazing gadget that I hope to try one day: The Trash Can Kegerator. It would be perfect for the backyard.

How to Build a Trash Can Kegerator

Becker’s goal was to create something to serve kegged homebrew that was easy to transport and inexpensive. You may have some of the following tools and materials on hand, which will make the project even cheaper!

Materials

  • 32-gallon plastic trash can
  • One stained piece of scrap wood*
  • Beer lines
  • Keg shanks, connects and taps
  • Optional: mountable bottle opener

Tools

  • Large drill bit and drill
  • Saw*
  • Wrench
  • Screwdriver

*The size of the piece of the wood will depend on the size of the trash can. A saw may be needed to cut wood to size.

Instructions

The entire process of building the trash can kegerator took Becker under two hours. Basically, a piece of wood is mounted on the front of the plastic trash can, which will hold the mounted keg faucets. The keg is set up inside the trash can, along with the CO2 tank, and ice is added to keep everything cool. That’s it! Here are the steps:

  1. Ensure the piece of wood being used is the size you want to be on the front of the trash can. Cut it to size, if necessary. Stain wood if desired.
  2. Using the appropriate sized drill bit, drill holes through the wood piece where the keg shanks will be mounted.
  3. Using the piece of wood that has been drilled as a guide, mark where the holes should be drilled on the trash can. Drill holes through the trash can.
  4. Fit the shanks through the wood and trash can. No glue or mounting of the wood is necessary since the washer of the shanks will hold everything secure.
  5. Optional: add a mountable bottle opener onto the piece of wood.
  6. Hook up all the beer and gas lines. Make adjustments to prevent foaming, if necessary.
  7. Place the keg in the trash can and surround with ice.
  8. Pull the faucet and watch delicious homebrew come from your DIY trash can kegerator!

Make sure to head over the American Homebrewers Association and take a look at the rest of their DIY gadgets on their “Pimp My System” section. Checkout below for our photo gallery of trash can kegerators that we found.