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Beverage fridges

For drinks you'll finish this week, the questions are how cold it gets, how the shelves flex, and whether it can go where you want it.

Illustrative close-up of cans and glass bottles on the shelves of a generic drinks fridge.
Illustration of a generic fridge, not a specific model or a test.

Beverage fridge guides

How a beverage fridge differs from a wine fridge

Beverage fridges are built around turnover. They’re usually sold by can count, and they tend to reach colder settings than wine fridges. NewAir lists its ABR-960 at 36–66°F and its AB-1200 at 37–65°F.

If corked wine is going to stay for months, a wine fridge is the better starting point.

What to check first

  1. What “cans” means. NewAir’s ABR-960 page says 96 “standard cans” without giving a size. The NWB076BS00 manual does specify 12 oz cans. Tall cans and bottles will reduce the count, so treat the number as a maximum.
  2. Shelf flexibility. If you keep tall bottles or mixed sizes, look for removable or adjustable shelves. The AB-1200 page describes removable shelves for taller cans and bottles.
  3. Placement rules. A compact size doesn’t mean it can go under a counter. The AB-1200 manual says it “should not be built into surrounding cabinetry” and asks for ¾ inch at the sides, 4 inches on top and 2 inches at the back. The ABR-960, in the same 15-inch width as a NewAir wine fridge, is sold for base cabinets as well as standing alone.
  4. Garages and patios. Check the manual first. The AB-1200 page mentions garages, but the NWB076BS00 manual rules them out and tells you not to install that model outdoors. These rules are specific to each model.

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