If you’re looking for a way to keep your beer chilled and close to hand, you need a beer fridge! It’s the perfect addition to any home bar or man cave.
But these clever gadgets can be rather expensive. So before you shell out your hard-earned cash, make sure you know what you’re getting.
To help you do just that, we’ve reviewed seven of the best beer fridges out there right now. We’re going to take you through their pros and cons. And our buying guide will help you match their features to your needs.
So step this way to find the best beer fridge for you!
Quick Pick: The Best Beer Refrigerator & Cooler
The Best beer fridge on the Market 2023
1. Miroco Beverage Refrigerator
Miroco’s beverage fridge is finished in a smart glossy black that would look great in any interior. And with a capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, it offers plenty of space for your beers.
There are three removable shelves, and six shelf slots to allow you to customize the heights. With the floor of the fridge acting as a fourth shelf, that gives you plenty of scope for organizing your beer.
Depending on how you position the shelves, you’ll be able to fit in tall cans as well as bottles. And there’s enough depth for you to lie them on their sides if that works better.
There’s an effective compressor and convector fan to keep the interior cool, and both run very quietly. The door has three layers of glass for superior installation. You’ll be able to see the contents at a glance, and the low-e construction will prevent condensation and drips.
One thing to note is that you may find the temperature varies if the fridge is very full. If that’s the case, take a can from the back of the shelf, where it will be coolest.
The temperature can be set anywhere between 34 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, to keep your beer perfectly chilled. The controls are simple pushbuttons with an LED display. Just press one button to raise the temperature and the other to lower it.
There’s also a button to turn the interior light on or off. Keep it on if you want to spotlight your beers, or turn it off to save power. Note, though, that it won’t turn on automatically when you open the door.
The clever design is very economical in its use of space. It stands 33.3 inches tall and is 17.3 inches wide and 18.6 inches deep. It weighs 66 pounds and has adjustable feet so it will stand firm and flat on any surface. And you can switch the hinge so the door will open in either direction.
Pros:
- Good-looking with a generous capacity of 3.2 cubic feet
- Runs very quietly
- Easy to set the temperature with a clear LED display
Cons:
- You can’t set the light to come on automatically when you open the door
- You may find bottles or cans at the top or front aren’t as well chilled if the fridge is very full.
2. hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator (Our Top Pick)
The hOmeLabs fridge has the same generous 3.2 cubic feet capacity as the one from Miroco. It occupies roughly the same price point too.
With this one, the finish is stainless steel with black sides and top. The height and width are the same as the Miroco, but this one is slightly deeper at 18.9 inches. And it’s slightly heavier too, at just over 68 pounds.
It comes set up with the hinge on the left, but you can swap it over if that works better in your room.
There’s an interior light, and you can choose to have it on or off. But it won’t come on automatically when you open the door.
That door has a glass front, so you can see what’s inside at a glance. And you can set the temperature between 34 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
A digital display shows you the temperature you’ve selected, and it can be adjusted up and down with separate buttons. These are touch sensitive and work well. And the temperature is stored in the fridge’s memory, so it will revert to that setting if there’s a power outage.
It runs very quietly. The volume increases slightly if you reduce the temperature, as the fan and compressor work to bring it down. Once it’s reached the target, though, it will settle back to a gentle hum.
There are three shelves, all of which can be adjusted to different heights. Take care as you’re doing so, as some people have found the grooves on the side walls a little shallow. And if you’re using standard cans, you may find it tricky to get them the perfect height to avoid some unusable space.
You’ll be able to fit in about 120 cans or bottles. Note that, as with all mini fridges, the fan at the top will affect the amount of storage on the uppermost shelf.
Pros:
- Plenty of storage space with an attractive stainless steel trim
- Runs nice and quietly
- Easy to adjust the temperature, and the setting is held in the memory in case of a power outage
Cons:
- You can have the interior light on or off, but it won’t come on automatically when the door is opened
- The shelf spacing isn’t ideal for standard height cans.
3. Ivation 126 Can Beverage Refrigerator
This mini fridge from Ivation has many similarities to the one from hOmeLabs. It’s almost exactly the same size, and has a capacity of 3 cubic feet. It has the same glass door with smart stainless steel trim. And the price is very similar too.
The door can be hung on either the left or the right, whichever works best in your room. It’s glazed with two layers of glass to make sure the unit stays well insulated.
There are three removable shelves with no fewer than ten shelf heights to choose from. That makes the interior space very flexible, however large or small your cans and bottles.
There are five temperature settings to choose from, ranging from between 34 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. They’re selected via a simple dial – turn it to level 5 for maximum chilling. There’s no digital temperature display in this case.
There is, though, a soft interior LED light to help you see what you’re doing. As with many other mini fridges, the light can be switched on or off, but there’s no sensor for automatic lighting when the door is open.
The powerful compressor is pretty quiet. But one thing to note is that the rear and sides can get warm during operation. That means you’ll need to leave around 6 inches clearance at the back, and 10 inches to either side.
Pros:
- Flexible interior space with a choice of ten different shelf heights
- Choose from five temperature settings, from 34 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit
- Quiet operation from the powerful compressor
Cons:
- No digital temperature display
- You’ll need to allow several inches of clearance from the back and sides, as they can get warm during use.
4. Antarctic Star Mini Fridge
If you’re looking for a more compact design, Antarctic Star’s mini fridge could be for you. This one offers 1.6 cubic feet of storage capacity. It measures 17.4 inches wide, 17.8 inches deep and 18.6 inches tall. It’s great to fit into a smaller space in your office, bar or man cave.
And there’s still enough room for about 60 8-ounce cans. If your tastes run to wine instead, you’ll be able to fit in 18 full-sized bottles. There are two adjustable height shelves, giving you a total of three levels to arrange them on.
The door is made of glass, so you can see inside. It has two layers and an airtight seal to keep the interior nice and cold. And it’s finished in a smart gloss black that will fit into any interior design scheme.
The temperature is controlled by a dial marked simply “max” and “min”, so some guess work is required. The operating temperature is between 40 and 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
There’s a soft blue LED light to illuminate your drinks if you wish. But this is another fridge where you’ll need to choose between having the light on or off. It won’t come on automatically when you open the door.
The door can be hung to open from either the left or the right. And there are adjustable feet to ensure that the fridge sits level.
This isn’t the quietest fridge out there – it will make a churning sound as it gets to the correct temperature. But it’s still pretty unobtrusive. If you want to keep your beer in your study or TV room, it won’t be too noisy.
Pros:
- Great size to fit into smaller spaces – and will still hold 60 8-ounce cans
- Glass door and attractive blue LED light to illuminate the contents
- You can hang the door to open from either the left or right
Cons:
- The temperature dial only has “min” and “max” markings, so you’ll need to guess the correct position for your chosen temperature
- Expect some churning sounds when the fridge is getting to the target temperature.
5. RCA RFR322-B Mini Fridge
If you want a mini fridge that can do more than chill beer, check out the RFR322-B from RCA. This one incorporates both a fridge and a freezer. And because the door has a solid front, it also doubles as additional storage space.
It comes in a range of stylish finishes. Choose from smart stainless steel, classic black or white, or a range of brights – blue, green, red, purple or orange. It measures 31.6 inches high, 18.6 inches wide and 17.5 inches deep.
It has a capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, about the same as the models from Miroco and hOmeLabs. It is a bit lighter than either of those fridges, though, at under 50 pounds. And the reversible door means it can be positioned in any corner of your room.
There’s a simple thermostat operated by a dial to set the temperature. There are no markings other than to show the highest and lowest setting. And there’s no digital temperature display or interior light.
The biggest difference between this and most other mini fridges is that here you get a small freezer compartment too. If you’re looking for a fridge for a home cinema – lucky you! – this is an ideal way to store ice cream alongside your beer.
There are two adjustable shelves in the body of the fridge. The storage in the door is quite shallow, but retainer bars allow cans or smaller bottles to be held there.
You get all this for an exceptionally low price. It costs considerably less than either the Miroco or hOmeLab versions. If you just want to store beer, an option without the freezer compartment will be more convenient. But for ice cream lovers, this is just about perfect.
Pros:
- Range of classic and funky colors to choose from
- Incorporates a freezer compartment
- Two adjustable shelves plus storage inside the door
Cons:
- No interior light
- The thermostat has no intervals marked, and there’s no digital temperature display.
6. Black + Decker BCRK-17B Mini Fridge
The BCRK-17B from Black + Decker squeezes a whole host of features into a very compact package.
This fridge stands just under 20 inches tall, 17.5 inches wide and 18.5 inches deep. It has a capacity of 1.7 cubic feet.
It’s finished in matte black. There’s a solid door which incorporates storage, as well as a removable glass shelf. And it even manages to pack in a shallow freezer compartment.
The shelf here isn’t adjustable. It sits in the middle of the main compartment. But if you want to store something larger, you can simply take it out.
The storage inside the door provides additional space for cans or bottles. A shelf at the top will fit in two cans of beer or soda. The one at the bottom will hold one tall bottle, like wine or water, and two or three shorter ones.
The door can be hung with the hinges on either the left or the right. And there are adjustable legs to make sure the fridge sits level.
The freezer compartment is just 2.75 inches high. Its most practical use is for ice, and an ice tray is included. If you wanted to, though, you could fit in a ready meal. You will find you need to defrost the freezer section from time to time. Expect to do it no more than once every three months or so.
The temperature in the chiller area gets down as low as 34 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust it using the simple dial. Clear markings from 1 to 7 make it easy to do.
This is a nice, quiet fridge, and it looks good too. At just 33 pounds empty, it’s easy to maneuver. And it’s very cost-effective – the least expensive model on our list.
Pros:
- Lots of storage space and a small freezer compartment in a fridge with a very small footprint
- Extra storage inside the door
- Dial thermostat with seven clear temperature settings
Cons:
- The freezer compartment is very shallow – best for an ice tray or some popsicles
- There’s no interior light.
7. NewAir Beverage Refrigerator
NewAir’s refrigerator is designed specifically for beverages. The space for cans and bottles is maximized by a flat-backed glass door. And its funky design leaves you in no doubt what kind of beverages it’s holding. The top and sides are patterned with the names of different styles of beer!
It stands 33.3 inches high and measures 18.6 inches wide and 18.5 inches deep. It has an interior capacity of 3.4 cubic feet.
There’s a clever modular shelf design that allows you to get the most from the space. You’ll be able to fit in a maximum of 126 cans of beer. Because the shelves are half depth, you also have the option of placing taller bottles in front of them.
The temperature can get all the way down to 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Set it using the dial thermometer, which is marked with seven different levels for accuracy.
The door is made of two layers of glass in a stainless steel frame. That allows you to see everything that’s in your fridge at a glance, without any loss in insulation. There’s also an LED light which you can leave switched on to highlight your beers.
The main downside with this one is that it’s very expensive. You’re paying extra for the quirky design – but the fundamentals here are good quality too. And it comes with a one-year warranty for peace of mind.
Pros:
- Funky graphic design on the sides and top
- Clever split-shelf design allows lots of flexibility in how you use the space
- Easy to use thermostat with seven temperature settings
Cons:
- Pretty expensive
- There’s an interior light, but you have to switch it on and off manually.
Buying guide
We hope our reviews have helped you narrow down your search for the best beer fridge for your home. But if you’re still not sure, here are some questions to ask yourself before you make your choice.
How much room do you have?
Start by considering the space your fridge needs to fit into. Remember to check the height if you want it to sit beneath a desk or counter. And don’t forget that most fridges will require some additional clearance space at the sides and back.
If your fridge is going to sit in a corner, make sure that you’ll be able to reach inside it easily. If it will be in the left-hand corner of your room, you’ll need it to open from the right – and vice versa.
Lots of fridges give you the option of hanging the door on either side. But if you want to make your life easier, checking which configuration it arrives in will save you a job.
Make sure that wherever you’re going to put it, the cord will be able to reach a power supply. An extension cable is fine, but you won’t want it trailing over the middle of your floor.
What do you want to chill?
This might seem like a strange question when you’re looking for a beer fridge! But it’s worth asking yourself whether there’s anything else you want your fridge to be able to hold.
Some designs are built around beer cans and bottles. They’ll hold standard cans snugly, without wasting any space. And most will have flat backed doors, with all the storage on the shelves.
But if you want your fridge to hold other things too, you may prefer a different design. Some mini fridges have storage inside the door, which can be a good option for taller bottles. And others even manage to pack in a freezer compartment.
If you are looking at options with freezer space, check how large the compartment is. Some will be big enough for a carton of ice cream. With others, you’ll get just enough room for an ice tray.
Think about where you’ll put it
We’ve already talked about making sure you have enough space for your beer fridge. But it’s also important to think about the impact it will have on the space it’s in.
If you want it to be a focal point in a home bar, you may want an option with an internal light. That will spotlight your beer and make it look great. But if your fridge is going to be in a bedroom, you’ll want to be able to turn that light off. And you may prefer not to pay for a model that has one in the first place.
Finally, check reviews for comments on sound levels. The fridges on our list have all received positive feedback on their quiet operation. That will be particularly important if your fridge will be in an office or bedroom, where background noise could be annoying.
Time to chill those beers!
That brings us to the end of our round-up of the best beer fridges out there! We hope we’ve helped you find the perfect option for your needs.
Our top pick is the hOmeLabs beverage refrigerator. We love its neat design, cool internal light and easy to use thermostat. And if you prefer a black exterior, check out the Miroco, which has many of the same features.
But if you’re looking for a beer fridge that has a freezer compartment, consider the RFR322-B from RCA. It comes in a great range of exterior finishes too.
Whichever option is right for you, we hope you’re soon enjoying a perfectly chilled beer from your mini fridge!
