Three pieces of bar refrigeration look similar on a floor plan and do different jobs. Buying the wrong one usually means either warm beer on a busy night or a cooler that is half empty. Here is what each is for.
At a glance
| Back bar cooler | Bottle cooler | Glass chiller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opens from | The front, through doors | The top, through sliding lids | The top, through a lid |
| Holds | Bottles, cans, mixers, garnishes on shelves | Bottles and cans, loaded in bulk | Empty glasses and mugs |
| Sits | Along the back wall | Under or along the front bar | Near the taps |
| Choose it when | You want product on display or organized by shelf | You sell a lot of bottled beer fast | You serve draft beer in frosted glasses |
Back bar cooler
This is the general-purpose bar refrigerator. Shelves let you keep beer, wine, mixers and garnishes separate, and glass door models put the range on show. See all bar refrigeration for the widths and door styles we carry.
Bottle cooler
A horizontal bottle cooler is a deep, top-loading chest built for volume. Bottles go in by the case and come out fast, because the bartender reaches down rather than opening a door. Capacity is stated in cases or bottles. In the True range, the TD-36-12-HC is 36 inches wide and listed at 11 cases, and the TD-80-30-HC is 80 inches wide and listed at 30 cases. The stainless TD-50-18-S-HC is listed as holding 396 bottles and the TD-65-24-S-HC 528. Dukers offers a horizontal bottle cooler in 36, 50 and 65 inch widths.
Glass chiller
A glass chiller and froster stores empty glassware cold, so a draft beer goes into a frosted mug. It is not for bottles. Capacity is stated in mugs: the True T-24-GC-HC is 24 inches wide and listed at 90 mugs, the T-36-GC-HC at 180, and the T-50-GC-HC at 250.
How bars combine them
- Beer-led bar: a bottle cooler at each station for the fast sellers, and a glass door back bar cooler for the wider range.
- Cocktail bar: back bar coolers for mixers, juices and garnishes; a bottle cooler is often not needed.
- Draft-led bar: a glass chiller beside the taps, with a back bar cooler for everything else.
Before you order
- Work out your busiest night in cases of bottled beer, and size a bottle cooler to that.
- Measure the space under and behind the bar, including the height under the bar top.
- Check the voltage and plug type on each spec sheet. Several units on separate circuits is normal behind a bar.
Ordering and delivery
Delivery within the continental US is included in the price on each product page, and freight orders include liftgate service. If you want help checking a measurement or a power requirement before you order, call +1-877-558-2253.