Beer Fridge Guide: Temperature, Size and Type for Your Home Bar

A dedicated beer fridge keeps your drinks cold without crowding the kitchen fridge. Whether you call it a beer fridge, a drinks fridge or a bar fridge, the right one comes down to size, temperature control and where it will live.

What temperature should a beer fridge run at?

Beer and soft drinks are generally served cold, at roughly 2°C to 5°C. Some ales and craft beers are better slightly warmer, so a fridge with adjustable temperature gives you flexibility. If you also keep wine, a dual zone fridge lets you hold wine warmer than beer in the same cabinet.

Bar fridge, beverage fridge or dual zone?

• Bar fridge: the classic choice, a compact unit for bottles and cans. See our single door bar fridges.
• Drinks and beverage fridge: usually glass door with shelving built for bottles and cans, good for display.
• Dual zone: two independent temperature zones for beer and wine. See wine and dual zone beverage fridges.

How big should a beer fridge be?

Think about how many people you host and how often you restock. A 46 to 70 litre mini bar fridge suits a few drinks for yourself, while 100 to 200 litres suits regular entertaining. For parties, large double door units hold much more. Browse double and triple door bar fridges for high capacity options.

Fast chilling for party drinks

Some models include a blast chill mode that drops drinks to serving temperature quickly. The Schmick HUS-EX108 is an example listed with an under-zero blast chill mode for party use. Always follow the manufacturer instructions, and do not leave sealed bottles or cans in a blast chill for long.

Indoor or outdoor?

If your beer fridge will live on the patio, garage or by the pool, choose a tropical rated model so it keeps cooling in summer heat, and consider a corrosion-resistant outdoor model. See our alfresco and outdoor bar fridges.

Retro and branded beer fridges

A branded retro mini bar fridge turns a beer fridge into a talking point for a man cave or shed. Read our retro bar fridge guide.

Quick tips

• Do not overload shelves; airflow keeps temperatures even.
• Let drinks cool for a few hours after restocking.
• Keep the fridge out of direct sun and leave ventilation clearance.

For more detail on choosing between models, read our bar fridge buying guide.

Beer fridge FAQs

What is the best temperature for a beer fridge?

Most beer and soft drinks are best at roughly 2°C to 5°C. Choose a fridge with adjustable temperature so you can set it to suit your drinks.

Is a beer fridge the same as a bar fridge?

In practice, yes. A beer fridge is a bar fridge used mainly for drinks, usually with bottle and can friendly shelving and often a glass door so you can see what is inside.

Can I use a wine fridge for beer?

A single zone wine fridge runs warmer than ideal for beer. A dual zone fridge lets you set one zone cold for beer and another warmer for wine.