Having only recently set up my keg fridge, and living on the Central Coast, I thought I would run through my experiences.
Ball lock Kegs x 2 - ebay $119 with delivery
Tesuco dual gauge Regulator - ebay $92.45 incl postage
Stainless disconnects x 4 - ebay $66 incl postage (Do not get these. The gas disconnects are always leaking. Have since replaced the beer disconnects with standard plastics and I will be upgrading the gas disconnects to John Guest screw threads this week)
Beer/gas lines - Country Brewer, Toukley (a dollar or 2 per metre, and he thew in an extra metre on each of the diameters I was after)
Stainless Pluto guns x 2 - Country Brewer, Toukley $138
Long shank tap x 2 - ebay 68.80 incl postage
I find Duane @ Country Brewer, Toukley a lovely guy to have a chat with, and his hardware is not overly expensive when you take online postage into account. When the need is to have the gear now rather than waiting for postage, I give these guys a call. I will be picking up the John Guest disconnects from him @ $15 each. His grains are a bit limited but fine for price ($5 per kilo). Have only bought hops from him for my first brew, a tea bag of Amarillo for $3.50.
The Ultimate Home Brew store in Gosford I avoid. I find him expensive, and after he stitched up a neighbour of mine on a fridge beer tap, I have no trust in the guy. My neighbour is simply a kit brewer and was wanting to get something a bit nicer, and the advice he gave him (do an extract, it will only cost you $15 more) was not aimed at my mates experience and knowledge.
Now Mark's Home Brew in Newcastle is the real deal even though he makes me feel that I know bugger all just by talking to him. I get my grain and hops from Mark ($5 for 50g hops, $4.50 per kilo grain), and the last time I was in, he gave me 200g of Carafa 3 grain for free simply cause I showed a bit of an interest in it. He also does a wonderful all grain brew online ordering deal where you send in your recipe, and a day later it is all wrapped up ready to go - grains, hops and yeast. Dr Smurto's Golden Ale will put you back $26.65, and is perfect if you are not wanting to buy grain in bulk.
Here's my keg fridge with the plutos prior to the taps being added to the front of the fridge.
It's a simple setup but does the job
