Is there anything more refreshing than a cold can of beer on a hot summer day? If your answer is no, the next thing you want to do, after buying a couple of six-packs, is to cool them! Some people might find the regular refrigerators in our kitchens enough, while some might need a separate one for their beverages in their garage, dormitory, office, etc. If you are one of them and thinking about purchasing a portable beverage cooler for yourself, here are our top 8 picks for the best mini fridges whether it's for cans, bottles or food!
8 Garage Ready Mini Fridge Picks
1. Best Overall - Koolatron Miller Lite Compact Fridge
Here is our top pick: the Koolatron Mini Fridge! This freestanding fridge has eye-catching Miller Lite artwork on the front. It comes in at 17.5 x 18.75 x 33 inches and has 3.3 cubic feet of storage to store your cans and bottles!
Top Pick
The classic design of Miller Lite combined with the high-quality Koolatron fridge!
This fridge is made out of stainless steel, so the durable finish makes it safer when cleaning. On the front again, the built-in bottle opener stands within your arm's reach. You'll just take your beverage out of the fridge and open it without an extra tool!
It's possible to set up the door in a variety of ways, open it in any way you desire, and then secure it with a magnetic seal.
The two removable glass shelves are adjustable as desired. To store longer bottles, simply remove one of them! And if they get dirty over time, remove and clean both. Additionally, there is space for up to five cans in the dispense-a-can compartment on the door’s interior side.
This fridge has a dependable compressor system that can maintain a temperature range of 28 °F to 50 °F for your beverages. Besides, it has seven different pre-set temperature control settings that can be adjusted using the dial panel that’s located inside.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
2. Best Looking - Black+Decker BCRK32V Mini Refrigerator
The next fridge on our list has a beautiful, stainless-steel body with a glossy finish and comes in three color options; gray, black, and white! The Black+Decker mini-fridge comes in at 19.29 x 17.52 x 32.72 inches. It offers a total capacity of 3.2 cubic feet for storage.
In addition, it features a door to turn in either direction and a top-mounted freezer that is 8” x 2” to store frozen meals (like fries and pizza rolls, etc.) for some time.
It has leveling legs, and Because these legs are level and adjustable, assembling this product couldn’t be easier, no matter where you decide to do it. Speaking of adaptability, we should mention that it has a temperature adjustment feature as well as a low-sound operating system that makes less than 45 dB of noise!
Sophisticated
Low noise and high quality when all you want is a cold can of beer!
Last but not least, two glass shelves can be removed and are ideal for standard cans and bottles that are stored vertically. On the other hand, if you want to keep your bottles in a horizontal orientation, you might want to experiment with the shelves and take them out!
What We Like:
What Some Don't Like:
3. Best Steady - hOmeLabs Beverage Refrigerator
The hOmeLabs Mini Fridge is the third product on our list. The body of this under-counter mini refrigerator is black, and it has a stainless steel frame that surrounds the glass door. There are three adjustable and removable wire shelves. It has dimensions of 17.32 x 18.9 x 33.07 inches and a capacity of 3.2 cubic feet, which indicates that it can hold up to 120 cans of the standard size.
Everlasting
Even if the power goes off, your hOmeLabs fridge got your back with its memory function.
While you can tell what’s inside by looking through the glass door, the LED lights placed inside make it easier to select items after you open the fridge. You’ll also find a touch control panel for adjusting the temperature (which goes down to 34 °F) and a large display for quick monitoring. The display can be used for the memory function to restore the pre-set temperature. So you don’t have to worry about your stored items even if the power goes off!
The hOmeLabs Mini Fridge also has energy-efficient advanced technology that uses up to 120V and 240 W of energy. In contrast to its power, it has a quiet compressor that operates as silently as a whisper! Also, there is an additional temperature sensor for auto defrost mode.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
4. Best Customizable - NewAir Beer Fridge
The next fridge on our list has a different print on the sides; “Beers of the World”! However, it also has a black onyx option if you are a fan of the classics.
NewAir is a freestanding mini fridge with a 3.4 cubic feet capacity which can store up to 126 standard-size cans and comes in at 18.6 x 18.5 x 33.3 inches.
Personal Pick
For parties or just relaxing on the couch with friends.
Inside the refrigerator are five wire shelves that are both removable and adjustable, allowing you to customize their layout to store your beverages.
This product requires 110V power, consumes 85W, and has an automatic defrost feature.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
5. Best Compact - Whynter BR-130SB Beer Cooler
The fifth product on our list is so compact that it’ll fit under the countertop! It comes in at 33 x 17 x 18.5 inches, making it the smallest on our list. Pro TIP: make sure there is enough space to allow air circulation, so the fridge does not overheat when installing it under the countertop!
This mini fridge has interior LED lights for easy access, an ON/OFF button, and mechanical temperature control that ranges from 30° F to 60° F. The device operates at 85W and requires 115V of power. In addition, it has a low noise range and is efficient with energy. (max 44 dB). Besides, the fan-forced circulation is used to maintain an evenly-cooled space and consistent temperatures.
Also Great
With room for 120 beers on five adjustable shelves, this fridge is both compact and powerful.
This product is both appealing to the eye and easy to use! The towel bar handle on the door is made of stainless steel, making it very easy to maintain and clean. In addition to that, there are five-wire shelves that slide out and can be adjusted to suit your needs! This product has a storage capacity of up to 120 standard cans, giving it a storage volume of 1.5 cubic feet.
What We Like:
What We Don't Like:
6. Best Freezing - Galanz Top Freezer Refrigerator
If you are into retro products, you will love the Galanz fridge! It is not the typical mini fridge with its higher capacity and bigger dimensions. It has five color options; red, blue, white, black, and pink! This freestanding refrigerator also has four capacity options; 7.4, 7.6, 12 cubic feet, and 10 cubic feet. We pick the biggest one on the list! Precisely 23.74 x 27.48 x 61.81 inches.
Freezy
Removable glass shelves to easily organize your storage needs.
As distinct from the other products on our list, this fridge has two doors, and the top one is for the freezer. It has four removable glass shelves and a crystal crisper for your fresh vegetables and fruits. Also, energy-efficient LED interior lights are included.
A high-efficiency and low-energy-consuming R600a compressor is used in the Galanz refrigerator. It also features an adjustable thermostat control with a temperature range from 32° F to 72° F.
What We Like:
What Some Don't Like:
7. Best Mobility - Whynter TBR-185SR
The following product on our list stands out with its unique design, making it look like an actual toolbox. In a word, it is! The Whynter mini fridge has a door on the bottom for your beverages, while the top two compartments can be used to store non-food items!
The powder-coated red stainless-steel external design gives the toolbox effect. With the wheel casters at the bottom, which were included for mobility, and two of them can be locked for security, you can move it around your workshop freely!
Easiest to Move
Moves anywhere at any time, leveraging wheel casters.
It has a storage capacity of 1.8 cubic feet for your beverages. The two roller-guided drawers at the top are ideal for providing additional storage space for your other belongings.
17 x 21 x 32 inches make it very portable and simple to set up.
What We Like:
What Some Don't Like:
8. Best Budget - RCA IGLOO
The final product on our list is a freestanding mini-refrigerator that has eight vivid color options! It comes in bright colors such as; blue, black, lime green, orange, purple, red, grey (stainless-steel), and white. All of them have a glossy finish except for the grey option.
The RCA IGLOO has 3.2 cubic feet of capacity and comes in at 20 x 18.5 x 33.5 inches. The colored doors are reversible, so you don’t have to worry about the way they are placed after installing them.
Affordable
Basic yet stylish look with many sets of features.
This refrigerator can be the perfect fit for any space with its adjustable legs. The thermostat lets you figure out exactly how cold it should keep your drinks and maybe snacks. The RCA compressor cooling system ensures the highest level of performance, even when the temperatures outside are at their peak.
What We Like:
What Some Don't Like:
Things to Consider When Choosing Beer Fridge for Garage
You’ve got a garage and want to fill it with stuff. This is cool, but one will need to do some research first, and we did to save you the trouble and time. So now, we’ll talk about the essential things to consider when buying a beer fridge for your garage.
Size & Capacity
The first thing you’ll need to consider is the size and capacity of your fridge. The larger the capacity, the more beer you can store! The size of the fridge you need will depend on how much beer you want to store, while capacity is measured in liters.
A refrigerator’s capacity depends on its size: fridges with bigger dimensions have larger capacities than those with smaller dimensions. That’s why you need to measure your garage space before deciding which type of fridge would work best for your needs and preferences.
If you are dreaming of an even a smaller kind of a fridge, you can also check COOSEON mini beauty fridges which can even store food to some extend or single-door fridges for the sake of simplicity.
Automatic Defrost
Automatic defrost means that the ice will automatically be removed from your fridge, so you don’t have to worry about it. Although this is a great feature to have, it can be more expensive than manual defrost models and may not be necessary for most people. Some argue that automatic defrosting is better for the environment because they use less energy than manual models; however, other research has shown little difference between these two types of fridges in terms of energy usage or overall effect on the environment.
Cooling Power
A high-powered refrigerator will keep your beer at the perfect temperature without wasting money on electricity or causing you to run up your electric bill.
How Much Cooling Power Is Enough?
A good rule of thumb is that if you want to buy a good quality beer fridge, it should have at least 10 cubic feet of cooling space, which translates into approximately 42 bottles of beer. This may seem like a lot, but when you consider how many friends and family members come over throughout the year, this will be more than enough room for everyone’s favorite drink.
You also need to consider how much space you have available in your home and how many drinks each person likes so that they won’t get too warm before guests enjoy them!
Temperature
Temperature affects beer taste, so it’s important to choose a beer fridge that will keep your beers at their best.
The right temperature will help preserve the crispness and carbonation in your beers. You’ll want to keep some beers cold (between 35°F and 45°F), while others should be stored at room temperature (around 60°F). If you’re storing wine, too, then making sure it’s kept at just the right level can be an extra challenge—but one that’s worth tackling if you want all your bottles to taste great.
Design & Color
A good beer fridge will fit the decor of your garage and other appliances in the garage. Consider these things:
- Will it match the other appliances? If you have a slate-gray refrigerator and a cherry-red oven featured prominently in your space, it makes sense to pick up something more neutral for your beer fridge. (Note: if you’re going for a vintage theme, this isn’t an issue.)
- Is there enough space for it? This is especially true if you’re putting it on wheels so that it can be moved around easily—if its size interferes with other functions in the garage, then its usefulness might be limited.
- How much cleaning will need to be done? Make sure any product has been thoroughly tested before purchasing to ensure its ease of use!
Noise
Noise is a topic that comes up a lot when people discuss the differences between loud and quiet fridges. If you’ve ever heard the word “decibel,” then you know what we are talking about. But if not, here is a quick guide to the decibel scale:
- 0 dB - conversation level
- 10 dB - rustling leaves or wind blowing through trees
- 20 dB - falling rain or small waves crashing on shoreline
- 30 dB - soft music in the background (like playing from your phone)
Will you also store wine or other beverages?
If you are planning to store wine in the fridge, it is a good idea to check whether or not your chosen beer fridge has wine racks. Make sure that whatever you choose will have enough room for storing your bottles.
If you are going to be storing other beverages in addition to beer, such as soda or juice, make sure that each door of the refrigerator offers enough storage space for such items as well. You may also want to consider the space between each shelf so that taller bottles won’t fall over when pulled out from their slots.
Conclusion
We have reviewed eight compact beer fridges for every kind of beer lover and budget. If you are still undecided, we recommend the Miller Lite Compact Fridge from Koolatron because it is an all-around great product that will accommodate to most people’s needs while being affordable when features are considered.
Not only that, it comes with the Miller Lite logo on it, which adds an extra touch for those who are die-hard fans of the beer. As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or comments! Now go get some cold ones and enjoy!
