Best Beer Jockey Boxes [2019]
Also known as cold plate box or a coil box, a jockey box kit is a necessary accessory to everyone who desires to turn their keg portable and serve ice-cold beer during outdoor events. They are ingenious inventions designed to keep the beer flowing not just during outdoor events, but also during picnics or any other set up where ice-cold beer may be appreciated.
With them, you get the freedom and versatility to dispense your beer anywhere and at any time without worrying about using electricity. If you love your beer, and you don’t want to leave it behind when you venture outdoors, then you should do yourself a favor by getting a nice beer jockey box so that you never miss a drop of your adorable drink.
1. Mini Jockey Box – Portable Single Faucet Cooler
The Mini Jockey Box is a small single faucet cooler that provides a convenient and cost-effective way to dispense ice cold beer at parties and during events. Its small design ensures that you won’t have to worry about large storage or transportation space and it is also simple to use. All you have to do is fill the cooler with ice and water, and then attach your kegs, and you will be good to go.
Pros
• Lightweight
• Ideal for small parties
• Just as effective as the big coolers
• Double-wounded coils
Cons
• Suitable only for small parties
• Hose can easily slip off
Why should you buy it?
The mini jockey box is the best choice if you want to dispense beer to a small group of people. It is versatile and will accord you great performance just like the bigger ones. Get it now if you want efficiency and space economy.
2. Coldbreak Jockey Box, 30 Quart
Coldbreak jockey boxes were specifically designed for the craft beer industry, and this is one of the best beer jockey boxes you will find in the market today. It is designed such that the bear will have 100% contact with the cold stainless steel, to make it very cold when it lands on your glass. This set includes a stainless steel faucet that is fitted with a black tap handle to make the process of dispensing the beer easy.
Pros
• Features a stainless steel construction
• Have both internal and external shank plates for even cooling of the beer
• Marine grade; designed to withstand harsh environments
Cons
• Doesn’t include a dispensing kit
• Not suitable for smaller parties
• Slightly expensive
Why should you buy it?
Get this box if you want a box that was specifically designed for the craft beer industry and with a capacity large enough to ensure non-stop flow of ice cold beer during your outdoor events.
3. Bev Rite Double Faucet Beer Box Cooler
The Bev Rite Double Faucet Beer Cooler is a high-quality beer jockey box fitted with 120’ of stainless steel coils and designed to facilitate the smooth flow of beer during your outdoor events. For a leak-proof setup, the cooler is further fitted with washer, shank and wall coupling. A chrome plated faucet and knob are also included to make the dispensation of your beer easy.
Pros
• Features a stainless steel construction
• Leak-proof
• Has a recessed drain plug to allow for the removal of excess water from the cooler
• Comes when completely assembled
Cons
• None
Why should you buy it?
If you need a high-quality beer jockey box with sturdy stainless steel construction and that is also leak-proof, then you have every reason to consider the Bev Rite Double Faucet beer box. Also, if you need a beer box that you can use to serve guests faster easily, this will get the job done because of its double faucets. No need for your guests to wait in line.
4. NY Brew Supply Jockey Box
NY Brew Supply is not a stranger in the craft beer industry, and the NY Brew Supply Jockey Box is another worthy consideration if you want a faster and efficient way for dispensing ice cold beer during outdoor parties and events. All you have to do is fill the cooler with water and ice and then attach your kegs, and you will be ready to start dispensing your beer. It is made of stainless steel and fitted with a lot of tubing to allow for maximum cooling of the beer.
Pros
• Features stainless steel construction
• Easy to use
• Has two faucets with black handles for faster dispensation
• Comes with a bonus faucet wrench
Cons
• Not suitable for smaller parties
Why should you buy it?
This is one of the exemplary beer jockey boxes you will find in the market today. That is features stainless steel construction is an assurance of its longevity, as well as effectiveness.
5. Coldbreak Jockey Box, 2 Taps, 54 QuartCooler
Coldbreak Jockey Box is designed to provide your beer with 100% contact with the stainless steel for maximum cooling. With the beverage lines designed at the back of the box, the cooler has a very clean look on the pour side. With two taps, it is perfectly suited for parties and outdoor events where the attendants will be self-pouring their drinks. Also worth noting is the fact that it is easy to use, and provides a great deal of versatility in parties.
Pros
• Fitted with two stainless taps
• Includes stainless faucets featuring black handles
• Features stainless steel shank that can last a lifetime
• Easy to use
Cons
• Suitable only for large parties
Why should you buy it?
You can never go wrong with Coldbreak Jockey Boxes – they are among the best in the market. Therefore, if you want a beer jockey box that you will enjoy using for long, and that will guarantee you very cold beer with every pour, then you have every reason to consider this beer jockey box.
Things to consider while buying a Jockey Box
Buying a jockey box should be a fairly straight forward process. The first thing you should consider is whether you need a cold plate jockey box or you want a coil jockey box. Each of these comes with their merits and demerits which you should thoroughly consider before you make your final purchase decision.
After you have decided on the exact type you need, you also need to consider the capacity of the jockey box. It goes without saying that the boxes are available at different capacity, and it is imperative for you to know your cooling requirements so that you choose the correct one. If all you need is a simple box to help cool your beer when you are out on a family picnic, then the smaller boxes will do, but if you are need a cooler box for a relatively larger group of friends, then you should consider the larger boxes.
Finally, be sure to read reviews of the particular box you want to buy. Through reviews, you will know the kind of experience that awaits you with that beer jockey box and based on the experience by past users, and you will be in a position to tell if the beer box you want to buy will be the most suited one for your needs. Also, remember to compare prices between various vendors so that you don’t end up spending a lot of money on a box you would have gotten at a relatively cheaper price if you had continued searching.
Types of beer Jockey Boxes
There are two major types of beer jockey boxes: cold plate beer jockey boxes and coil beer jockey boxes. If you desire to keep your beer below 550F, then a cold plate beer jockey box would be the most suited for you, but that notwithstanding, here is a brief look at the two-:
Coil Jockey Box
In a coil jockey box, the beer is made to flow through a length of stainless steel coil covered by ice and water. The ice and water are in constant contact with the coil, and this, in turn, helps to extract heat from the beer flowing in the coils, thus leaving it as cold as ice. Coil jockey boxes are available in a variety of lengths, with the main major lengths being 50” and 120”.
One of the benefits you will find with coil coolers compared to plate coolers is that the coils tend to be longer and more flexible, and the longer the coils, the greater cooling surface, which leads to better cooling.
Cold Plate jockey box cooler
With these kinds of coolers, the beer is made to flow through a cold plate buried in ice, with aluminum being the preferred cold plate material. When the cold ice comes into contact with the plate, the plate will become cold, which in turn, will extract heat from the flowing beer to lower its temperature.
With this kind of jockey box, however, it is recommended that the melted ice should be continuously removed from the box and more cold ice pushed down the plate. It is recommended that cold plate coolers should be used only when the internal keg temperature can be maintained at 550F. With such a temperature, it is possible to continuously dispense beer from the faucet at the temperature of between 360F– 380F.
